Fall festivities just started. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and later this month, Halloween. However, for many Canadian Hispanics, October means Hispanic Heritage Month, and this is a time for us to celebrate and be proud of the contribution many Hispanics have given.
From Hispanic filmmakers, artists and chefs to those that keep contributing to their communities and prove that being Latino or Hispanic is not just a shallow stereotype.
There are over 670,000 people in Canada that have Latin American origins and a little over 390,000 people with Spanish origins according to a 2016 Census profiling.
The Hispanic community might only take just a little over 2 per cent of the country’s population, but it is present in every corner of this big country.
Carla Cucurullo is a senior student at Humber College. She came from the Dominican Republic to complete her Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Marketing. When asked about Hispanic Heritage Month she “Didn’t even know they celebrated that here.”
Despite that, she still reunites with her Hispanic friends and shares their culture with them, “we’re always sharing food recipes and music mostly,” she said. After asking her if she has seen any efforts from Humber College to commemorate this month she said she hasn’t seen anything yet on campus.
However, if she ever had the possibility to make Hispanic students feel represented she would, “host an event where Hispanics will have the opportunity to get together and share their culture with others, as well as, learn about other people’s culture, through food, music, dance and traditions.”
Hispanic Heritage Month Event at Yonge-Dundas Square
This Sunday, Oct. 9th, Yonge-Dundas Square will be hosting a Latin Fall Parade and Fiesta to celebrate this month. There will be food vendors, handcrafts, music and arts for all to enjoy.
Image taken from HCHC Facebook Photo credit: HCHC
One of their performers, Gilbert Suarez invites us to come this Sunday to this Hispanic event and celebrate their culture and roots along them.
Gilbert is currently studying the finance program at Sheridan College but one of his dreams is to be a famous Latin singer.
