Saturday 4 July 2026
ACAO Multicultural Day celebrated with fanfare
By Tom Malaba, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Service Providers, food vendors and entertainers came together to spruce up the 11th edition of the African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO) held on the open field of 100 Brewer Way in Ottawa on July 4.
Festivities of the day started with exhibitors filing and setting up tent and displaying their merchandise. Those in the services industry especially those working with HIV/Aids, Hospitals, Immigration too were in place to showcase their services.
Various groups in the entertainment industry among who was Viva Mexico Ottawa, Tine Rufaro Band were a big support to afternoon event.
And ofcource the sunny weather supported by a clear sky gave the reveler’s an opportunity to mingle and mix without fear of an abrupt ending to the event.
“It’s a wonderful day to celebrate the multi-cultural nature of our city (Ottawa), Mr. Hector Addison remarked during the exhibition.
Mr. Hector Addison is the Chief Servant Officer of ACAO.
This years’ celebrations were sponsored by the City of Ottawa under the theme “Ottawa 200” to celebrate 200years since the existence of the City of Ottawa.
“We have held these celebration since 2015 and every other year, more people flock the celebrations,” says Mr. Hector Addison.
When we started 11years ago, ACAO used to provide the food but as the attendance kept growing ACAO invited food vendors to display their eats for the people to buy.
Individuals, families and groups of people dotted the ground drinking, dancing, playing games or sat under treat shades to while away the afternoon after visiting stales. It was more like a family day out.
Vendors sold African attires, jewelry, sports jerseys for child and adults, bags, spices,
Karima Djerbiba, a Community Developer at the ACAO booth displayed the various services provided by her organization aimed at giving new comers and youth a safe landing in Ottawa. She expressed her disappointment saying that most new comers and youth are usually looking out for employment opportunities and ignore mentorship programs her organization provides to lead them to employment. “There are few employers that will pay new comers for their work without experience,” remarked Ms. Djerbiba, urging African Canadian youth especially those living in shelters to embrace ACAO’s youth program because it’s a sure way to employment.
Ms. Inoua Haoua, the Manager Education and Prevention from the AIDS Committee of Ottawa expressed concern that of the new AIDS diagnostics, 71percent are black women. “Many of these women are usually put in a position where they are vulnerable. We have all the tools but people still shy away because of fear of stigmatization in the black community.”
” For example” she continued, “we have PrEP medication to take before sex, we also have PEP that someone can take when they realized they have been exposed to HIV before the elapse of 72 hours and PIP that a man can take before sex.”
The AIDS Committee of Ottawa also has an CABUNOUA an injectable drug that a client can receive every two months. According to her, all these tools are given free from government and urged the African Canadian community not to shy away from treatment.
Another round of ACAO multicultural festivities are planned for August 15 and will include a soccer game.
