From Jan. 23 to 29, the York Federation of Students (YFS) is hosting its annual week of campus-wide cultural celebration. Through events that showcase traditional art, fashion, food, and music from across the world, CultureFest will bring the York student body together through the bridges of difference.
YFS’ Vice President Campus Life, Emir Skrijelj, says that “as the central undergraduate Students’ Union, our goal is always to put students at the forefront of our operational planning and vision — to lead in a way that puts students firmly in the driver’s seat; CultureFest is an example of this philosophy in practice. With over 40 participating clubs, CultureFest is even bigger than we’ve seen it before and we can’t wait to see how they showcase their cultures through dance, clothing, food, and art.”
CultureFest kicked off on Friday, Jan. 23 with a competitive Soccer World Cup game at The Downsview Park Hangar, where the North African Student Association won first place, followed by the United Caribbean Islands Association and the York University Tamileelam Students’ Association. On Monday, students will gather at the First Student Centre for the CultureFest Parade — an hour-long celebration of dance, music, fashion, and laughter that weaves through Vari Hall and Central Square to culminate in Curtis Lecture Hall. Afterward, members of various student clubs will walk the runway at the Cultural Couture Fashion Show, displaying a diversity of distinguished cultural wear.
Tuesday will begin with a food fair at the Second Student Centre, where sweet, savoury, and spicy dishes from across the globe will be available to sample. Students can grab a bite of Palestinian kanafa and Nigerian fufu while sipping on Indian mango lassi, all available in one spot. The day will end with a panel discussion on how to meaningfully bridge the gap between cultures on campus and support one another every day.
While panels and parties do not usually go hand in hand, the YFS believes that it’s essential to encourage cultural exchange and connection beyond the week’s end.
“The element of active participation is important,” Skrijelj explains. “The Student Movement is not only a movement of petitions and political pressure, but a movement that seeks to promote student leadership and representation in all campus matters. That includes having political teach-ins touching topics like the difference between appropriation and appreciation. In this way, CultureFest works to instill a consciousness of ownership in participants in their Student Movement — a consciousness that we are eager to support and uplift.”
On display for two days, the food court at the First Student Centre will exhibit visual artwork — photography, painting, drawing, collage, and mixed media format — representing what cultural heritage, identity, and social commentary mean to York students. Wednesday will conclude with the Global Tour in Central Square, where each club will have the opportunity to demonstrate their culture in multi-modal pavilion displays. Finally, the week will end with a bang at the Universal Event Space in Vaughan, where students will gather for the final event: the Cultural Explosion dance performance.
Prior to their World Cup win, the North African Student Association spoke to the importance of representation at York, which they say fosters belonging, pride, and confidence in students.
“When North African students see their cultures reflected positively on campus, it affirms that their identities are valued within the academic community. This visibility also challenges marginalization and creates pathways for leadership, advocacy, and inter-cultural understanding. Participating in CultureFest…allows us to move beyond abstract discussions of diversity and instead share lived experiences through music, food, language, fashion, and storytelling.”
Awards will be given during each event, with judges looking for innovation, creativity, and spirit from each performance. Click here for the full schedule and to learn more. YFS looks forward to seeing you there!
