This multicultural sports day has a lot of playing … but it's actually about connecting

On a hot and windy day in St. John's, the Association for New Canadians hosted an event with games, food and bouncy castles in the hope that newcomers will find their spots in a new community. 

On Thursday, the organization held a multicultural family sports day where newcomers' family and friends had a few hours for play, food and socializing.

At the Gonzaga High School field, bouncy castles full of even bouncier children swayed with the strong wind under a sunny sky. The lineup for the castles was almost as long as the lines for the hotdog, popcorn and cotton candy stands.

Yulia Kadina of Ukraine said it was"quite hard to fit in" when she moved to Newfoundland five months ago.

"But when ANC makes events like this, it's easier to find friends and people who can communicate similar to you."

WATCH | New Newfoundlanders say multicultural sports day is about more than just fun: 

Learn why a multicultural sports day is helping new Canadians in St. John’s make meaningful connections

10 months ago

Duration 2:24

The Association for New Canadians held its multicultural family sports day at Gonzaga Field in St. John’s. There were bouncy castles, popcorn and lawn games — and some new Canadians say the event is about more than having a good time. The CBC’s Arlette Lazarenko and Jessica Singer learned why.

The event's a lot of fun, said ANC worker Alona Korosko, also a newcomer from Ukraine, but socializing and finding common ground with others is the point of the event

Korosko's job is to provide support and information to other Ukrainians settling in the province. Part of that is finding a place within a community, she said.

"People, sometimes, when they move to a new country, they feel lonely and they need to be engaged — not only with their community, like Ukrainian community — but with everyone," she said.

At the high school field, besides the colourful bouncy castle, kids and adults alike played volleyball, soccer and Frisbee, among other games — balls bouncing all over the field with no clear boundaries separating one group from another.

Lily Rahim, 13, is a volunteer who helped set up the games.

She has been coming to ANC events for the past three years, following in the footsteps of her mother and sister, who worked for the organization. She and her family are from Egypt and have been living in Newfoundland for seven years.

"It's pretty fun," Lily said. "I feel like not a lot of people know about other cultures."

People sometimes think of others in stereotypes, she said, but when you learn more, you can correct them.

"You can make friends."

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