Core Values.

Members of our society make it a priority in all of our interactions to embrace the following:

RESPECT

• We treat one another with kindness, courtesy and respect (recognizing that “respect” may be demonstrated in different ways in different cultures).
• We are open to, interested in learning about, and accepting of other cultures and different ways of doing things. We do not want to presume, at anytime, that there is a “right way” or a “wrong way”.
• We value everyone’s thoughts and opinions.
• We are aware, accepting and accommodating of the fact that our members may be at varying levels of English fluency (spoken and/or written) and we need to ensure all members have full opportunity to contribute. [Let it be commonplace in our meetings to know that it is okay to interrupt discussions/meetings to say “I don’t understand”, and that there is value in asking questions.]

UNITY

• We exemplify our belief in unity by incorporating ways to have fun together and learn about each other’s cultures in our meetings and work.
• We provide and foster opportunities for our community to know, experience and appreciate each other’s cultures. We see the unity in our commUNITY.

INTEGRITY

• We focus on FSMA’s Vision, Mission Statement and current association goals when making decisions about how to use our resources of time, money, and effort. We aim to create the largest community impact for the resources that we use.
• We act with personal integrity, recognizing that all of our words and actions will reflect on FSMA and our commUNITY.

On June 13th, 2012, Fort Saskatchewan Multicultural became a registered non profit after one year of putting together the aims and objectives, vision and mission of what this organization could do to create cultural awareness and build a more welcoming and inclusive community. When my family and I came to Canada 16 years ago, or should I say specifically, Fort Saskatchewan, we knew no one and there was no avenue in place to assist newcomers in meeting fellow residents, or finding out about how things work in their new community. Most importantly, there was no organization that assisted in teaching about the many different cultures and the need to learn, understand and appreciate each other. I felt that one was very much needed. Here we were a family, who came from a country over 6000kms away, leaving everything and everyone we knew and love, not knowing anyone, not knowing how to get to around in the city. Not knowing what it is like to live in a sub-zero country. The first people we met were from the school community and although we received guidance about the ways of the schools and how to dress for the changing of the weather, there was a still a disconnect. We made one close friend and she became my children grandma.

We lived in area where after one year and a half, our next-door neighbour never waved back to us, came to introduce themselves or welcomed us despite us waving and smiling. This was such a difference from what we grew up knowing. It was because of these missing pieces, that I believed the association was very much needed in this community, still I procrastinated. The changing point came after my daughter was asked to present to her class why she was fasting for Diwali, she was very excited to share her culture but after showing the pictures of the Hindu Goddess and Lord Ganesh, her classmates laughed. She was devasted, and promise to never do that again. It was at this point I couldn’t hold back anymore, there was a need for education and I had to start. I worked countless hours to develop the vision, mission and objectives and started making the connections within the community to make this happen. Then, I spoke to many of the people I knew from newcomers to Canadians, to established immigrants, they all expressed the vital need for a multicultural association.

After working on the framework. I had completed, outlining aims and objectives, mission, and the focus points of the association and what the association would look like, I finally shared the idea with our mayor about starting a Multicultural Association. Her response was very encouraging saying that we do need a group like that in our community as our community was becoming more diverse. Two weeks after, the Mayor asked me if I would be willing to work with Clarize Truscott to get the association registered etc. When I met with Clarize, she was surprised that all the leg work had been completed and all we needed to do was send in the application. She and her husband volunteered to do so. As a champion for team work, I accepted their support. We did have a few meetings and we chipped in money to get the association registered and started. Shortly after this, the Truscotts resigned. I would like to thank the Truscotts for the short period they helped in getting the Association registered. As founder and creator of the organization I worked tirelessly behind the building and maintaining of a positive culture and an uplifting attitude within the organization. I listened and actively sought input from the Board and members to increase our morale so that they felt trusted and stayed focused on the mission. I stayed committed to seeing this mission, vision and objectives of the association to fruition. It took perseverance, dedication and countless hours to create programs, outreach to the community and seek grants to support our programs and with the support and help from Board members over the years, we have reached this milestone today with glory. Something I am very proud of; the road wasn’t easy with many challenges but the cause was greater than any hurdle. It made me stronger, more committed and with great fire to keep building and accomplishing. Maintaining greater relationships with the community so that our mission would be successful.

Walter Lippmann said: “A beautiful world lies in the diversity of the people.” These words couldn’t be further from the truth but for me I want to take this deeper, to me, there is no beauty if within the diverse world there is no inclusion. Inclusion is the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure. It is also the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or mental disabilities and members of other minority groups. Fort Saskatchewan Multicultural Association has been promoting Welcoming and Inclusion as part of our policy, and has been raising awareness of the vital need for us all to embrace this policy so as to foster that greater sense of belonging and well being within our residents and newcomers.

Over the past 16 years I have seen a tremendous growth in diversity in this community, cultural diversity became more visible. Then there began the issues that came with a culturally diverse community, with lack of knowledge, to understand, and appreciate the cultural differences. What I saw needed to be taught was that cultural differences should not separate us from each other, what it should do is bring a communal strength that would benefit our community. we could only achieve this if we accept the unique difference that we all possess.

According to Robert Alan, “Cultural differences should not separate us from each other, but rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity.” I started with earnest introducing this to the schools, to have these workshops in the classrooms. We knew then, and we know now, teaching plays a vital role in fostering understanding, from languages to the customs and traditions of other cultures, it will definitely build bridges, increase cultural awareness and increase participation in the classrooms with newcomers as well as established immigrants and Canadians. When you share culture, it is what makes people understand each other better, and when they understand each other better, in their soul, it is easier to overcome the economic and political barriers. These are the words of many great people that I live by, and learn from and try to share in my day to day delivering of Multicultural Educational Program in the schools and community.

Over the years we have taught over 30,000 children and residents of Fort Saskatchewan and surrounding communities. We are proud to say that we are the pioneer in bringing Black History Education to the schools, not just here but throughout Elk Island school Division, we started with three schools in 2013 and this year 80 schools within Elk Island school Divisions, and surrounding communities, have benefited from this program. If I can be so bold as to say that we began the road to reconciliation long before it even was passed as a call to action in 2015.

We have an active youth group where our youths learn how to help newcomers in their classroom to feel welcomed and included, they are planting pollinator gardens in five schools as helping save their environment, they are learning how to surround themselves around positive peers and stand up to bullying. An active women’s group who works together to help women come together to share, learn and network and build community.

We have assisted dozens of newcomers settle from various parts of the world, to integrate into the community and become active members and volunteers. Last year, we assisted our new Ukrainians to settle by setting up ESL support for the adults and children, we are assisting them to find jobs and free childcare, helping them to understand what it is to live in Canada, we have provided them with welcome care packages, we have collected donated items and are distributing to them to start over their lives. We support and assist all newcomers in understanding this new system and culture. The reward is seeing the smiles in the faces of the children especially when they receive a bicycle, or a Chromebook or a toy. We are providing the space for conversation circles, where they could practice their English Language skills in a friendly and safe environment. For me, it is hard to turn a deaf ear or a blind eye when I know I can make a difference. We are a community and we all come together when our fellow men are in need, and it is for us to decide how we can best assist them while still respecting their cultures, and become a part of building their lives and their community.

I am happy that today we, together with you are part of building a stronger community and are playing an intrinsic role in Diversity and Inclusion. My aim is to help strip any barriers to a better world while we inspire and motivate the next generation. Our community would become a better place because we advocated for inclusion, peace and understanding which is a gift to all members of this community and surrounding areas and is a tremendous step in building a cohesive society.

I will leave you with the quotes of two very influential people in my life, and is the reason why I believe that by helping in educating we would have a stronger community. Marcus Garvey said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.
And Mahatma Gandhi said, “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people”.

I speak proudly on behalf of the Board of Directors when I say that we are making a tremendous contribution towards bringing our people together, through education, participation, celebration.

Thank you all for your support and confidence in Fort Saskatchewan Multicultural Association as an instrument in helping us build a stronger and more cohesive society.

– Lana Santana, Founder