The Saint John Newcomers Centre, organizers of one of Atlantic Canada’s largest multicultural festivals, is exploring a revamped approach to enhance unity and minimize conflicts amidst the city’s growing diversity. Recent global events, particularly the crisis in Gaza, have posed challenges to the festival’s ethos of inclusivity and safety.
Last year, Culturefest in the Valley, a related event in Rothesay and Quispamsis, was abruptly canceled just days before its scheduled start due to safety concerns, as highlighted by Sochi Azuh from the Newcomers Centre. The 2025 festival in Saint John saw an incident resulting in the arrest of a youth for alleged assault and a man for possible obstruction following reports of disturbances involving “Palestinian demonstrators” and an altercation at the Israel table.
Law enforcement received multiple reports on the festival day, including descriptions of protesters wearing red bags and a person in military attire carrying a water gun. The incident remains under police investigation, pending review by the Crown prosecutor’s office for potential charges.
The festival’s organizers aim to prevent such incidents in the future by refining the event’s structure to emphasize harmony. An “artistic corner” initiative was introduced during the 2025 festival, showcasing diverse art forms and encouraging visitor engagement. This shift away from country-specific tables aims to create a more welcoming and non-confrontational atmosphere for attendees to appreciate different cultures.
Despite drawing thousands of attendees, the valley festival had a smaller turnout compared to the main city event. Performances featured a mix of cultural expressions, including Irish folk music, Syrian poetry, and Sudanese songs. Notably, a visible police presence was maintained to ensure safety and provide reassurance to festival participants, as emphasized by Chief Mike Young of the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force.
The festival’s code of conduct prohibits overt political or religious displays and is enforced with the assistance of an advisory committee comprising community leaders dedicated to cultural understanding. Ahmad Ibrahim, a festival attendee, acknowledged the screening process and shared his positive experiences at the event, including discovering new cultural aspects.
Participants from the Israeli community reported feeling excluded due to restrictions on displaying Israeli symbols and names at the festival. A previous incident involving pro-Palestinian protestors raised concerns, leading to heightened tensions during the 2025 festival. The Atlantic Jewish Council condemned the assault on an Israeli participant and labeled it a hate crime.
Looking ahead, the Newcomers Centre is evaluating feedback and conducting surveys to determine the festival’s future format, aiming to maintain its essence of celebrating diversity while ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all attendees.