Without taking one step outside of Colwood, guests at Royal Roads University were transported on a whirlwind trip around the world.
No passports were required as the university’s 13th annual Global Showcase brought the sights, sounds, and flavours of multiple cultures onto the stage at the Dogwood Auditorium.
Over 60 international students, representing 18 countries, showcased fashion from places such as Nigeria, Philippines, Iran and India, before entertaining the audience with music and dance, including a traditional lion dance from China, a first for the event.
Other highlights included a traditional Peruvian Marinera dance, a dance originating from the Azari-speaking regions of Iran and a fan dance from China.
But behind the global extravaganza is an important message – everyone is welcome at Royal Roads. It's a message that resonates with Simran Sehgal, a Bachelor of Arts student in professional communication who co-hosted the showcase.
“This beautiful blend of cultures, this beautiful representation on the stage, demonstrates how you can be from any part of the globe and still this stage welcomes you,” she said. “That's the message we want to get out there for Royal Roads, because we are diverse and we're inclusive and everyone's welcome and we just love it.”
Rehearsals for the show have also turned strangers into friends, says Sehgal, who calls Canada home after settling here from India eight years ago.
“Now we're all looking out for each other,” she said. “That's the beauty of cultures coming together … we’re like a cultural collaboration and now we're working as a whole, looking out for each other, helping each other. That's Royal Roads' Global Showcase for you.
President of Royal Roads Philip Steenkamp, who came to Canada as an international student from Botswana, was moved by the event, praising the joy and pride in the diverse cultures on display.
Referencing the current challenges facing international students – which include a two-year cap on international study permits – Steenkamp said the showcase is more important than ever.
“I would say Canada has not appeared to be the welcoming place that it was previously, but I want you to know this – you are always welcome here, Royal Roads will always have its doors open for international students,” he said.
“I can say this without any doubt, our university would not be what it is without you,” he continued. “Thank you for contributing to the diverseness and the richness of our community.”
Prior to the show, students and staff explored cultural displays and enjoyed international cuisine, hosted by Shimaya Sureshbabu, who arrived in March from India to study a Master of Arts in Tourism Management.
For Sureshbabu, the event is more than a celebration of the university’s diverse community. It’s a reminder for everyone to embrace their heritage and do their best to keep it alive.
“All of our cultures matter and we need to not let these cultures die, because as time goes by, as modernization takes place, we slowly start adapting to it – but that doesn't mean we forget our culture,” she said.
“Where you come from, no matter whatever it is, carry a piece of it with you wherever you go.”
