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Community members in the Battlefords gathered to celebrate the annual 'A Taste of Culture' event. (Image Credit: Alyssa Rudolph/ battlefordsNOW)
BATTLEFORDS IMMIGRATION RESOURCE CENTRE

Celebrating cultures from around the world

Jun 1, 2026 | 12:31 PM

Over the weekend, Battleford’s Alex Dillabough Centre transformed into a lively hub of colour, music, dance and international flavours as thousands gathered for the annual A Taste of Culture celebration.

Hosted by the Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre (BIRC), the event gives residents a chance to experience cultures from around the world without leaving the community.

“There are many similarities between the cultures. It creates understanding and community,” said Annette McGovern, executive director of BIRC. “It just brings a community together and makes things a lot more harmonious.”

Annette McGovern (right) and BIRC volunteers help to host A Taste of Culture in Battleford.
Annette McGovern (right) and BIRC volunteers help to host A Taste of Culture in Battleford. (Image Credit: BIRC/ Facebook)

Visitors spent the weekend sampling foods, browsing cultural displays and enjoying performances representing countries from the Middle East, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Ukraine, India, the Philippines and more.


(Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW)

(Image Credit: Alyssa Rudolph/ battlefordsNOW)

The event also serves as a fundraising opportunity for participating cultural groups.

“They have schools and different things they’re fundraising for, so they’re allowed to sell their food, sell their wares, and keep the money for their schooling and their books and their children and their activities,” McGovern said.


(Image Credit: BIRC/ Facebook)

(Image Credit: BIRC/ Facebook)

Behind the scenes, organizing the celebration takes months of planning and a dedicated team of volunteers.

“Keeping any activity going is to have enough volunteers because we don’t make any money here at all. We actually pay for the rent, pay for the operating of the event, but we don’t actually make any money,” McGovern said.

This year, BIRC received a grant from the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan to help cover facility and event costs.


(Alyssa Rudolph/ battlefordsNOW)

(Image Credit: Alyssa Rudolph/ battlefordsNOW)

The support, combined with volunteer efforts, helped deliver another successful weekend. After welcoming more than 6,400 visitors last year, McGovern said this year’s event drew an even larger crowd as residents embraced the sights, sounds and flavours of cultures from around the world.

Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com