Canadiana Fest

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2026-08-22 Miss the Tragically Hip? Join us Old Skool Bar in downtown Kalamazoo!

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🎸🇨🇦 BIG CANADIANA FEST ANNOUNCEMENT! 🇨🇦🎸

Here’s your SNEAK PEEK at something VERY special coming to Kalamazoo! 👀🔥

The Canadiana Fest crew and Old Skool Bar are teaming up to bring you a night of pure Canadian music, memories, beer, food—and The Tragically Hip!

📺 SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 • 7 PM
📍 Old Skool Bar
125 S. Kalamazoo Mall • Kalamazoo, MI

We’ll be LIVE STREAMING The Tragically Hip’s legendary 2016 concert, celebrating its 10th anniversary courtesy of the CBC!!🇨🇦❤️

🎶 All the Tragically Hip you can handle
🍺 Canadian beers
🍁 Canadian-inspired food
❤️ FREE ENTRANCE
💰 Donations encouraged, with proceeds supporting the Can-Am Peace Jam and helping fund its programming!

Come raise a glass, sing along, relive an unforgettable Canadian musical and cultural moment, and celebrate one of Canada’s greatest bands with us.

FREE TO ATTEND. CANADIAN SPIRIT REQUIRED. 🇨🇦😉

🎟️ Official event page here!

This is just a sneak peek of the kind of stuff that’s going to happen at Canadiana Fest…and trust us, you’re going to want to be there.

#CanadianaFest #TragicallyHip #TheTragicallyHip #Kalamazoo #OldSkoolBar #CanAmPeaceJam #CanadianMusic #Canada #KalamazooEvents #LiveMusic #CanadianCulture

2026-08-06 Your Move to Canada: Cross-Border Real Estate Transactions  

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Check out our latest webinar! Whether you’re an American planning a move to Canada or a Canadian returning home after living in the United States, your real estate decisions can have significant tax and financial consequences. 

The timing of a home sale, deciding whether to keep your U.S. property as a rental, qualifying for a Canadian mortgage, and navigating an unfamiliar real estate market are just a few of the important decisions you’ll face.

Join three experienced professionals for a comprehensive webinar designed specifically for people relocating from the U.S. to Canada. 

Hosted by Canadiana Fest, this session brings together three key professionals that are involved as part of a homebuyer’s journey: a cross-border tax CPA, a Canadian real estate agent, and a Canadian mortgage broker.

Some of the topics covered include:

  • The tax implications of selling your U.S. home, either before or after moving to Canada 
  • The cross-border tax implications of renting out your U.S. home 
  • Canadian and U.S. tax implications for your new Canadian home, including future capital gains
  • Foreign buyer restrictions and taxes, property transfer taxes, and other important home purchase costs 
  • Practical tips for navigating Canada’s housing market
  • Qualifying for a Canadian mortgage 
  • Whether your U.S. credit history can help you obtain financing in Canada
  • The key differences between Canadian and U.S. mortgages

Meet the Authors and Experts: Sonya Dolguina, Karli Shih, and Shahlah Bakar

Sonya Dolguina, CPA, CPA (IL)

Sonya is a dual licensed cross-border tax advisor, and is the co-author of the best-selling book, Your Move to Canada. She has a decade of experience working with Americans and repatriating Canadians navigate one of the most complex transitions of their lives.

 She currently works as a tax consultant in cross-border wealth management, and spends her days helping clients through decisions surrounding real estate, retirement, structuring employment and businesses, and investing. Sonya is located in Vancouver, BC and works with clients across North America. 

Contact: yourmovetocanadabook@gmail.com

Karli Shih- Mortgage Consultant and Broker at Dominion Lending Centres – A Better Way

Karli has 20 years of experience as a consultant in the Canadian mortgage industry.  She works with banks, mortgage companies, alternative lenders, and reverse mortgage providers to arrange mortgage solutions tailored to her clients’ needs.  Her clients span from first-time homebuyers to seasoned investors and commercial borrowers.  Her underwriting and mortgage administration team helps ensure a seamless mortgage process from application through funding.  While Karli provides her services predominantly in British Columbia, her broader team offers mortgage options across the country, including solutions for borrowers envisioning a return or a move to Canada.

Contact Information – Direct  604 992 9891  

karli@karlishih.com

http://www.karlishih.com

Shahlah Bakar, B.A., J.D.

Shahlah is one of Vancouver’s most trusted real estate advisors and ranks in the Top 1% of Greater Vancouver Realtors. Shahlah’s education and experience as a UBC educated Lawyer sets her apart from her colleagues. Her in-depth knowledge of contracts, combined with her experience in high-stakes negotiations are invaluable assets to her clients when navigating a cross-border move with many moving parts.  Shahlah works with a broad range of clients including professionals, families, retirees, first time home buyers, and investors, and prides herself on providing personalized advice tailored to her clients’ unique needs. 

Contact Information: Direct (778) 840-6516 or email homes@shahlahbakar.com

Oakwyn Realty

Channon Russette-Mondoux

Channon is a Canadian dual citizen who moved to the U.S. 20 years ago with her 3 children, following her spouse Dan (U.S. Citizen and Canadian by descent). She is an alumnus of the University of Windsor with a degree in Psychology and Education. During her career in Windsor Ontario, she was a Program Administrator for Canada Revenue Agency for over a decade. Although she will not be addressing issues from a professional standpoint, her business and personal experience and background lend credible insight into the complexities of cross border issues.

A Canadian of primarily French, Irish/Scottish and First Nations heritage, her maternal family originated in New Brunswick but relocated to Ontario in the 1950’s after several cross-border moves. Her paternal family were Scottish immigrants who settled in Dinsmore Saskatchewan, later Toronto and now her family spans the country with a father and brother in British Columbia, sister in Ontario and distant relatives in the Maritimes.

Currently, a Chef and Culinary Instructor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo MI, she is also the creator and director of the Canadiana Fest, a grass roots organization that supports the Canadian diaspora and celebrates all things Canadian in the heart of the Midwest.

After experiencing the pandemic, she decided “If I can’t get to Canada, Canada’s coming to me” and created the flagship event The Can Am Peace Jam, the largest Canadian cultural festival south of the 47th parallel. 

2026-09-19 Celebrating Culture and Community: Announcing Can Am Peace Jam 2026!

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Kalamazoo, get ready for an unforgettable celebration! Canadiana Fest—in partnership with Premier Athletics for Youth Development and OutFront Kalamazoo—is thrilled to present the Can Am Peace Jam 2026.

This milestone year places a special spotlight on the French-Canadian diaspora and its lasting influence on North American art, music, food, industry, and culture. While the festival proudly embraces all Canadian people—emphasizing our shared Indigenous, French, and British Commonwealth heritage—this year’s lineup is packed with incredible music, high-energy comedy, and authentic cultural experiences for the whole family.

We are also thrilled to bring this year’s celebration to Arcadia Creek Festival Place for the last festival before the venue undergoes a major reconstruction project, ahead of its grand return in 2028.

🎟️ Ticket Info!

  • General Admission: $12
  • Seniors / Veterans: $8
  • Students: $5
  • Children: Always Free!
  • The Royal Canadian VIP Experience: Want to support the festival in style? Upgrade to our Special VIP Experience Tent for an exclusive, elevated festival vibe (details on the ticket site).

Want to get in free?

Come out and volunteer with us! You’ll get in free and get a great t-shirt, a good time, and the knowledge you were part of something fun that helped out the South Michigan Food Bank, Loaves and Fishes and the Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative.

Mélisande [électrotrad] Direct from Montreal, this award-winning Québécois powerhouse is one of the most electrifying forces in contemporary folk music. Blending traditional Acadian roots with modern electronic energy, their performance is a wildly innovative cultural experience. Featuring powerhouse vocals, flute, accordion, fiddle, and hypnotic foot percussion, this quartet is guaranteed to put on an unforgettable show!

Henry Sir Get ready to laugh until it hurts. Before Mélisande takes the stage, Edmonton-turned-New Yorker Henry Sir will deliver a special festival comedy set. Featured on the CBC, Comedy Central, and Just For Laughs, Henry is one of the sharpest, most refreshingly original voices in comedy today. Catch him live for a set with brains, heart, and serious bite!

Local & Regional Music Enjoy a massive lineup of bands spanning Caribbean, Indigenous traditional, Classic Rock, Celtic, Scottish Pipe, and Acadian folk. Catch sets from Zion Lion, Rock RX, Woodland Stream, Full Frontal Cortez, Hen Pecked Dawgs, and The Kalamazoo Scottish Pipe Band.

🛍️ Vendor Highlights & Market

Come ready to shop! Our market features incredible Canadian-inspired art, jewelry, pottery, food, and unique goods.

  • Indigenous Artists & Craftspersons: Browse beautiful, authentic creations from renowned Canadian Abenaki silver artist Paul-Rene Tamburro, Shawnee artist Andrea Tamburro of Sunrise Drum, and Canadian Cree artist Crystal Marshall of Northern Moon Designs. You’ll also find incredible work from local artisans of the Saginaw/Chippewa, Notawaseppi Huron, Gun Lake, and Pokégnek Bodéwadmik (Pokagon) Tribes.
  • Featured Local Canadian Businesses & Producers: Grab some delicious snacks from Kari Stopelstadt of Good Batch Popcorn, check out the work of Macal DeNeve Wadsworth from Wraps n’ Signs, and explore many more vendors being added daily.

🍁 Festival Highlights: So Much to Do!

  • The Festival Parade: A beloved tradition kicking things off with vibrant bands, flags, and mascots!
  • World Champion Poutine Competition: Food trucks will battle it out for the coveted Golden Gravy Ladle. Sample the entries and vote on your phone for your favorite!
  • Butter Tart Competition: An open-entry baking showdown where registration proceeds directly support Canadian food banks.
  • The Beer Garden & N.A. Bar: Grab a drink at the Beer Garden hosted by OutFront Kalamazoo (featuring Bell’s and Canadian imports), or head to the Northern Lights Apothecary N.A. Bar for Clearly Canadian-inspired zero-proof cocktails, featuring flair bartending by Jesse Perez of Bandana Bartending and custom craft mocktails by Reese Waldon.
  • Canadian Sports Centre: Sponsored by Premier Athletics, come hang out with WMU Champions, local coaches, and Indigenous athletes. Try your hand at hockey, curling (with the Kalamazoo Curling Club), basketball, and The Creator’s Game (lacrosse).
  • Crokinole: Come learn to play this classic, beloved tabletop game invented in Canada—a fun mix of shuffleboard and curling!
  • The Peace Posse: Keep an eye out for Peace Posse agents, who will be walking the grounds doling out kindness, good advice, and free hugs.

🤝 Culture & Community

  • The Cultural Village & Presentations Tent: Immerse yourself in history and heritage. The Presentations Tent will host a variety of storytellers, culture bearers, authors, and genealogy experts. Nearby in the Cultural Village, you can connect with the Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society, d’Alliance Francaise, Voyageur storyteller Genot Picor, and the Azure Musketeers—a 17th-century French military living-history troupe.
  • Indigenous Ceremonies & Art: Join the community for the Opening Ceremonies featuring a beautiful Round Dance song by Woodland Stream.
  • Canadian Citizenship Booth: The Canadian Citizenship by Descent-Bill C3 Group (a 30K-member strong Facebook community) will host an info booth and gathering for Canadian citizens by descent.

🦉 The Official Post-Fest Pub Party

When the party at Arcadia Creek wraps up at 11:00 PM, the fun doesn’t stop. Take a short walk down the street to The Old Dog Tavern (402 E Kalamazoo Ave). It’s one of Kalamazoo’s most laid-back venues—complete with a giant moose inside. They’ll be keeping the Canuck-inspired fun going late into the night!

Full schedule and specific details are dropping soon on our website. Lock in those tickets today and we’ll see you at the Peace Jam!

2026-06-11 Webinar Your Move to Canada Playbook: Live with Tax and Financial Experts 

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2026-06-11 Webinar: Your Move to Canada Playbook – Live with Tax and Financial Experts



Join us for a FREE live seminar presented by Canadiana Fest, featuring the authors of “Your Move to Canada: Navigating the Cross-Border Financial and Tax Aspects of a Move from the U.S.” by Sonya Dolguina and Clark Linton  

Clark Linton, CFA and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor with nearly 30 years of cross‑border wealth experience, and Sonya Dolguina, a dual‑licensed Canadian/U.S. CPA with deep expertise in navigating complex tax matters. Hosted by Channon Mondoux, director and creator of Canadiana Fest—home to year‑round cultural programming, the Henry Sir Comedy Show (July 25), and the Can‑Am Peace Jam (Sept 19)—this session offers clear, practical guidance on managing taxes, investments, retirement accounts, real estate, estate planning, and more when moving between the U.S. and Canada. Whether you’re an American heading north or a Canadian returning home, you’ll gain expert insights from professionals who’ve helped hundreds of families make confident, well‑informed decisions. 

2026-07-25 Canadiana Fest Presents: Canadian Comedian Henry Sir!

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🇨🇦 CANADIAN COMEDY NIGHT WITH HENRY SIR — ONE NIGHT ONLY!

Canada’s fastest-rising comedian, Henry Sir, is bringing his sharp wit, cultural commentary, and signature sarcasm to the Midwest for one night only — July 25 in Kalamazoo.

Currently on a sold-out North American tour, Henry has built a loyal following with his hilarious take on culture, identity, masculinity, and life as a Canadian turned New Yorker. A former Canadian All-Star basketball player from Edmonton, he’s smart, observant, and unapologetically funny—with the kind of Canuck charm that keeps audiences laughing all night.

Not familiar yet? Check him out on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube and you’ll see why everyone’s talking about him.

Get your tickets now! Traveling in to see him? Our partners at Discover Kalamazoo have negotiated discounted hotel rates for this event!