Culture of the Event
See what Canada is all aboot! As Canada is a Mosaic Culture, we will honor as many of our founding people as possible including First Nations.
Check out this interesting article about the founding of Canada and other historical facts of our neighbor to the north!
Our friends at the French Heritage Society have created this lovely resource about the French Heritage Corridor present in several of our neighboring Midwestern states. Consider a road trip to follow the historical steps of our French ancestors!
2024 Activities
Chainsaw artist Kris Kaleta of Custom Carvings will be demonstrating his carving art, with the finished piece being auctioned when he has completed it live at the Fest!
The Canada Car on display – Halle Halle is traveling all the way from Dundas Ontario to share her Art Car with us!
World Champine Poutine Competition Local and regional restaurants and food trucks will compete to create the best Poutine in the World!
New in 2024! Butter Tart Competition Open to all who want to bring their best version of this sweet Canadian classic, professional bakers and home bakers both! Bring a dozen buttertarts to the information booth and they will be judged by a panel of bakers, Canadians, and buttertart lovers. We’ll announce the winners from the stage in the afternoon! SIGN UP HERE: https://forms.gle/u5oztUnFxSpXQGXJ9
New in 2024! The Canuck Canteen! Festival founder and local chef and food historian Channon Mondoux leads a team that is making authentic Canadian favorites for purchase! The menu so far: peameal bacon sandwiches, poutine, and nanaimo bars. There will also be buttertarts and ketchup potato chips!
Children’s Culture Tent: Join us at the children’s tent for arts, crafts and cultural and educational activities about Canada!
Geneaology: Stop by and visit with the Kalamazoo Valley Geneaological Society! Find out about your heritage, and see if you have any Canada in your family tree!
Scottish Folk Dancing: Learn how with the Kalamazoo Scottish Country Dancers with the Kalamazoo Pipe Band!
Youth books! Le Caribou a lunettes will be bringing Francophone books and reading in the cultural center. Le Caribou promotes the French language and Francophone Cultures through youth literature and more!
Expanded in 2024: Canadian Sports Center and “Families Have Fun!”
Led by Canadian Olympic athlete and WMU Hall of Famer Heather Sawyer, teaming up with the YMCA of Kalamazoo, the Fest will host WMU athletes and local sports teams. Come out and enjoy skills workshops, experiences and learn the history of these sports! We will have:
- Live Curling! sponsored by the Kalamazoo Curling Club and Millenium Restaurant Group. Come throw a rock for charity! All proceeds to be donated to South Michigan Food Bank to fight hunger.
- Live Lacrosse! Canada’s official winter sport! Learn the art, history, culture and sacred nature of Native American sports with William Griffey, Iroquois educator and elder. Meet the athletes and coaches of many local teams like Kalamazoo United, Portage Central/Portage Northern, and Kalamazoo College.
- Hockey! Come learn street hockey and enter our slapshot contest, all led by WMU athletes!
- Basketball! Invented by a Canadian! We will have a dunk contest and a skills workshop.