Immigrants And Locals Can Come Together Through Moncton’s ‘Culture Hub’
MONCTON – A new non-profit organization in Moncton aims to bring the community together through culturally-based events.
Culture Hub, founded by Romanian immigrant Camelia Radu, shared its plans at a press conference at the YMCA on Thursday.
“Our goal is very simple: to connect people with each other, doesn’t matter the nationality. Doesn’t matter from where they are,” Radu said.
Culture Hub wants to “boost the cultural capital of Moncton” through activities and events that entertain, educate and strengthen social ties. It plans to develop, host and promote community events that are fun an informative, such as Tunisian cooking classes, snowshoeing excursions, Samba dance classes, soccer games, book clubs and others.
It aims to increase the scope of social opportunities in Greater Moncton; offer immigrants the venue to express themselves culturally; and cultivate cultural exchange among all community members.
Individuals or groups who want to deliver a cultural activity or event can reach out to Culture Hub, which will evaluate the proposal, and then use its network to help find a space, gather other resources, and promote the event.
Larger-scale events, like tournaments, professional panels and performances will be hosted by Culture Hub itself.
Culture Hub, which is a volunteer-based organization, has an eight-member board made up of immigrants and locals.
The Culture Hub team is currently working on a schedule of activities, which it will post on its Facebook page. It plans to “start as soon as possible,” Radu said. The organization is backed by partnerships with the YMCA, among others.
Radu says it’s important for newcomers to find a sense of home in Moncton, especially by connecting with the community.
“For me, it was so hard to understand a lot of things. I came 12 years ago here, and I came from a communist country. Romania was a communist country. I grew up like that and I didn’t smile. I learned to smile here,” she said, reflecting on her own experience. “I didn’t speak English at all when I came here. I want to teach people how they can be involved in community. How can they volunteer for a lot of organizations.”
But she made clear that Culture Hub is not just for newcomers.
“Culture Hub is for everyone. It’s not just about immigrants. This is our goal, to connect everyone,” she said.
Myriam Mekni, the executive director of the Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA), says “Culture Hub is a good idea at the right time. It may even be necessary.”
“When you’re a newcomer, you don’t automatically know what the rules are when you come to a new world. You come with your own culture, your own expectations. You come with fear. And sometimes, when you’re afraid, the first thing you do is call a friend. But in a new world, you don’t have friends…It’s difficult,” she said.
“In my mind, Culture Hub is a potential antidote to all that. It’s an invitation to take part in the party. But not just any party. Culture Hub is a party that celebrates all cultures.”
A Second Home
Ali Ettarnichi, a supply teacher for the Anglophone School District, moved to Moncton in 2007. Originally from Morocco, he said he has seen a “huge” difference in the last six years.
“People stand up more for immigrants. They want more immigrants in the city because there are more jobs now created by immigration. There is more people interested to learn different languages because they see what different cultures bring, what different religions bring, they kind of become attached to that [diversity],” he said.
In his first few years in Moncton, Ettarnichi worked in a hotel front desk and later started his own cab company under the name Alibaba Cab. The name triggered negative comments – some people gave him the middle finger, some asked if he was a terrorist.
“My goal was just to open people’s eyes about multiculturalism. That there are different cultures and different people,” he said, adding that he tried to turn those moments into an educational conversation. “But no matter how you explain to people, no matter how open you try to be, it’s always like they have that vision that’s already in their head.”
He changed the name, and as Moncton’s diversity grew, people also became more open minded.
While he’s seen a lot of progress here, he said organizations like Culture Hub are still needed.
“We need it because we are already immigrants in a different country, we’re dealing with winter, with snow, with cold, our family back home, our friends back home….we want inclusiveness, we want to see something different, we want togetherness, communication, be altogether, sharing the same ideas, sharing food, sharing culture.”
For Ettarnichi, Moncton is “like a magnet” that pulls you back wherever you go. He likes that there’s no lengthy traffic jams, and that the beaches, nature and airport are all just a short drive away.
“I have that good feeling about it, I feel that attachment to it. I moved for 3 years and I came back. I went to Alberta and I came back,” he said. “Nature wise, it’s a good place to raise a family. It’s a good place to do anything, actually. That’s what makes Moncton my second home.”