Cultural Threads is a new program by the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women (ANIW) that brings together immigrant elders and Canadian-born youth in Alberta to reconnect with their ancestral heritage. Through intergenerational conversations and hands-on activity circles, participants share traditions, stories, recipes, and crafts, creating a welcoming space for cultural exchange.
The program addresses a growing need within immigrant communities, where many families face challenges in maintaining strong connections to their cultural roots. By offering storytelling, arts and crafts, and recipe-sharing workshops, Cultural Threads creates opportunities for meaningful exchanges of experiences, history, and memories across generations.
The upcoming workshops will be held at Generations Calgary Multipurpose Hall, 120 Skyview Ranch Drive NE, Calgary, T3N 1S3:
1. Storytelling Circle – Saturday, Aug 23, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
2. Traditional Arts & Crafts – Saturday, Sept 20, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
3. Potluck & Recipe Sharing – Saturday, Oct 18, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
The next phase of the project will focus on the Filipino community in Calgary. By the end of this initiative, we aim to engage at least 100 participants and create a community archive of shared stories and traditions, preserving cultural knowledge for future generations.
This initiative reflects ANIW’s commitment to strengthening cultural identity and pride while fostering unity and understanding. With funding support from the Government of Alberta and partnerships with organizations like Generations Calgary, Cultural Threads is not just preserving traditions, it is weaving them into the fabric of contemporary Canadian life, ensuring that these stories, skills, and memories continue to be shared from one generation to the next.