Festival of Guest Nations draws hundreds to park

LEAMINGTON — The annual Festival of Guest Nations, hosted by the Migrant Worker Community Program (MWCP), was held on Sunday, September 12 at Seacliff Park.

The event offered music and entertainment for migrant workers and local resident alike, who flocked to the Sunset Amphitheatre to hear the music and join in the celebration.

The MWCP took the opportunity to introduce the new Mexican Consul in Leamington, Vanessa Calva Ruiz.

The crowd on the hill enjoyed the shows below.

SUN photo

The Latin Power Band, pictured to the left and the right, is made up of numerous migrant workers who work at a variety of local farms. They get together and practice nightly after their shifts in the greenhouses. The group played traditional latin music mixed in with some pop music as they thoroughly entertained the crowd onhand.

SUN photo

The Latin Power Band, made up of several local migrant workers from different farms across the region, entertained the crowd, which was made up of migrant workers and many local residents eager to immerse themselves in the culture.

Local dignitaries were on hand, such as Deputy Mayor Larry Verbeke, Councillor Bill Dunn and OPP Constable Katherine Burt.

Local musicians Mary Newland and Richard Baker also took the stage to entertain those in attendance.