Festival celebrates Haiti at Petrie Island
Posted Jul 22, 2010 By Charelle Evelyn
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EMC Events - Despite a slightly soggy start, the city's Haitian community came together for a beach party last weekend.
Charelle Evelyn, Orleans EMC
The fourth annual Haiti en Fete kicked off its two-day event with a music festival at Petrie Island July 17.
The fourth annual Haiti en Fete kicked off with a music festival at Petrie Island July 17, offering sun, sand, loud music and good food. It continued the following day with a barbeque and recreation day at Rideau High School.
Kombite Outaouais, a not-for-profit group founded in 2007 that works to promote the cultural heritage of the Haitian community as well as other francophone minority groups, organized the event.
While the festival usually serves to showcase Haitian musicians and demonstrate culture to the rest of the community, this year it took on a special meaning.
With plans for the event already underway prior to the January earthquake that devastated their home country, organizers said they knew they had to showcase Haiti's resilience and set the theme as "Together for Haiti."
"Even though we have brothers and sisters who are suffering we understand that life goes on," said Edy Joachim, co-founder of Kombite Outaouais.
"The festival is to pay tribute to the ones who survived and pays our respects to the dead."
Mr. Joachim said that people are still learning about what needs to be done with regards to recovery in Haiti.
"We're going to remind them they still need help."
In addition to paying tribute to their home country, organizers also wanted to use the festival as an opportunity to recognize the support from their adopted country of Canada as one of the first to have aid on site following the earthquake.
The music festival featured local and international acts such as Carimi, JCreole, Tap-Flap and Ferline, which got the crowd moving and drew onlookers from other areas of the beach.
For the members of the Haitian community, like identically dressed Rose and Tina Osirus, it was a chance to let their red, blue and white shine.
Although they've never been to Haiti, they said they take the opportunity to do anything to support their country.
That was a sentiment echoed by music festival attendee Edzer Charles.
"I'm here to support whatever we do," Mr. Charles said, adding that this year marks his third coming to Haiti en Fete.
He said that level of support is important because it reflects on the Haitian community both here in Canada and back home.
"The way we behave ourselves has to show unity," said Mr. Charles.
The beach party portion of Haiti en Fete was a good way to bring people together because Haitians love music, according to Mr. Charles.
"Regardless of what city you come from, (music) is a common thing we all do and appreciate," he said.
Another selling point for the day was the food. There were consistent lineups at the tent run by Tropical Space restaurant owner Guimard Anglade.
Along with sausages and barbequed chicken, Mr. Anglade was offering traditional fare such as deep fried tasso (beef), grilot (pork), as well as fried plantain rounds.
"Haitian food is some of the best in the world," Mr. Anglade said.
Organizers were hoping for a total attendance to match that of last year.
"If we don't have 2,000 people, we'll be disappointed," Mr. Joachim said.
Orléans Coun. Bob Monette said he has watched the event grow since its inception.
"I remember the first year there were only a couple of hundred people," said Coun. Monette, who is called the "godfather" of Haiti en Fete due to his support in getting the festival going in its first year.
"Not only is it a festival of culture but a festival of identity and trying to help a community in need," he said.
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