Sunday July 29, 2018
The Ottawa Somali Community host their second annual Somali Cultural Festival Day at City Hall Saturday July 28, 2018. Fathiya Warsame snuggles with her son 11-month-old Jibriel Ali during the speeches Saturday afternoon. Ashley Fraser / Postmedia
The second annual Somali cultural festival, which
took place Saturday at Ottawa City Hall, featured a travelling exhibit
from the Somali Museum of Minnesota.
Minnesota is home to one of the largest communities of the Somali diaspora: about 80,000 people.
This
year’s cultural festival in Ottawa, called SOMFEST 2018, also featured a
concert and a traditional Somalian BBQ. It was hosted by
Somali-Canadian playwright and actor, Habiba Ali.
Organized
by the Somali Centre for Family Services in partnership with the City
of Ottawa, SOMFEST showcases the city’s Somali community and its
culture.
The Somali Centre for Family
Services has been serving the Somali community in Ottawa since 1991, and
provides assistance to refugees and immigrants in need of settlement
services.
Mayor
Jim Watson greet guests Saturday afternoon at the second annual Somali
Cultural Festival Day at City Hall Saturday. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia
Ashley Fraser / Postmedia
Mayor
Jim Watson and MPP Lisa MacLeod chat before the speeches started
Saturday afternoon. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia Ashley Fraser / Postmedia