Youth Delegation involved at the Canadian Expressive Heritage Conference

The 24th Canadian Annual Conference of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Annual North American CIOFF sector meeting was held in Toronto from May 22nd to the 24th. This conference was organised by Folklore Canada International in partnership with the Community Folk Arts Council of Toronto and the Fiesta Filipina Dance Troup and with the collaboration of the Stella-Polonia Song & Dance Ensemble and the Serbian Group Oplenac. 

More than 50 people, representing over 40 associations, coming from six provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia) and from the US, participated to the workshops.  Among these participants, let’s note the presence of 17 youth from Canada and the US that attended the workshop on CIOFF Youth Movement.

The youth met during a full day hosted by Sharon Durtka where they got to discover FCI, CIOFF and CIOFF USA. Afterwards, they discussed their role within their association, their municipality, their province or their state, their country and finally CIOFF.  Youth participants took on responsibility for the two national youth movements. They will work on projects so they can be more active in the dissemination of intangible cultural heritage. They also wish to fully participate to the committees and the workshops.

The position of North America on international cooperation and international exchanges was specified during the North American sector meeting which was chaired by Rolf Kaufman of the United States. Also, twelve key people led workshops that allowed fruitful exchanges on the organisation of festivals and folk groups, the creation of municipal and provincial associations as well as on new strategies of communication. A showcase was organised during which 6 excellent Toronto groups presented their show. The day after the Conference, Folklore Canada International created its own Facebook group! A gathering that can be deemed a great success!