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Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month recognized locally

October 22, 2021   ·   0 Comments

By Peter Richardson

October is a special month for the Hispanic and Latin American citizens of Canada.

The month has been Federally recognized as Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, since June of 2018 and the Town of Orangeville has proclaimed the month in Orangeville since 2019, in no small part due to the efforts of Cindy Aristizábal and her group of supporters.

Mayor Sandy Brown, deputy Mayor Andy Mcintosh, Councillor Joe Andrews and Councillor Lisa Post, along with a contingent of the Spanish speaking population, stood outside Town Hall last Wednesday (Oct. 13) for an official proclamation of Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month.

The significance of the month, is to highlight and celebrate the contributions of the Hispanic/Latin American population, their culture, language and traditions.

Ms. Aristizábal was quick to point out that the pandemic has severely limited the plans for the month this year, but hopes are high that 2022 may see a festival in Orangeville, similar to the Caribfest, which was held in recent years. The event would feature traditional food, dances and music, to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Hispanic and Latin American community.

There are over twenty Spanish speaking countries in the world, each one unique, yet similar in their heritage.

Ms. Aristizábal emphasized that a heritage month not only helps educate fellow Canadians, but also presents the opportunity for the Hispanic and Latin American people to learn more about their own roots and the many cultures that exist under the Hispanic-Latin American umbrella.

She went on to add that it also gave those who have been born in Canada the opportunity to connect with their ancestral roots, their history and the Spanish language.

While some individuals tend to see this heritage as existing only in Central and South America, the truth it all started in Spain and spread around the world from there.

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