CALGARY—Calgary’s Latin community had a chance to shine over the weekend as the Hispanic Arts Society held its 12th annual Hispanic Festival. Top Latino talent from North America and around the world came to Calgary to perform in the event, which ran from August 22-24.
Carmen Galvez, one of the founders of the festival who is also a flamenco dancer, commented on what the event, which was held on Price’s Island, brings to Calgary.
“The festival is really important for the community because we get to share our culture with everyone else. Family values are very important in the Latin culture, so when we go to a party we take the kids and we take the grandparents. That is what we really want to portray at the festival here too.”
The festival is one of many cultural celebrations held in Calgary over the summer. Galvez was quick to point out that though she is proud of the contribution the festival makes to multiculturalism in Calgary, Expo Latino does not content itself with being a mere ethnic festival.
Carmen Galvez, one of the founders of the festival who is also a flamenco dancer, commented on what the event, which was held on Price’s Island, brings to Calgary.
“The festival is really important for the community because we get to share our culture with everyone else. Family values are very important in the Latin culture, so when we go to a party we take the kids and we take the grandparents. That is what we really want to portray at the festival here too.”
The festival is one of many cultural celebrations held in Calgary over the summer. Galvez was quick to point out that though she is proud of the contribution the festival makes to multiculturalism in Calgary, Expo Latino does not content itself with being a mere ethnic festival.
Dubbed “Calgary’s hottest music festival,” the organizers of Expo Latino, on a yearly basis, manage to draw top talent to Calgary from the world of Latin music.
“We have tried really hard to get a name there that we are a professional music festival… We are very lucky within the Latin community to have very professional [artists]. We present the best of our culture that we can.”
Featured over the weekend were the Compadres, a Calgary band that blends the music of two Juno award winning artists: Chilean born guitarist Oscar Lopez and James Keelaghan, a Celtic folk singer. Also performing at the event was the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, a Grammy award winning band from New York.
“I think it is really important to develop the artistic community. It is really important for us to be working as professional artists, you know, performing Hispanic and Latin music in Canada.”
Under sunny skies, Calgarians attending the festival were treated to the romantic, spicy and festive music that wafted through the island. A couple of huge dance floors, large crowds and many a sombrero completed the setting. For a weekend anyway, Princes Island Park was a part of Latin America.
Calgarians not able to travel, said Galvez, “just have to come to Prince’s Island and it’ll be like traveling to South America.”
Graciously, Galvez said the event was also a chance for Calgary’s Latino community to give back to its adopted country.
“Canada has been very welcoming to us... We feel this is the way of sharing and paying back what Canada has given to us… we really put [on] this big show or party for everybody in Calgary”
