Somali Canadian Education & Rural Development Organization (SCERDO) hosted their annual barbecue celebrating both Somalia and Canada Day on July 13th, 2019. The event was held at Rundle Park and celebrated the 59th anniversary of the independence of Somalia and the 152nd birthday of Canada.
The event was a large scale barbecue for the Somali community in Edmonton. SCERDO staff and volunteers put together an event with kid’s games, dances, food, folklore, henna and much more. The turnout was of the thousands and was a display of multiculturalism.
Some of the speakers at the event were Bashir Ahmed, Executive Director of SCERDO as well as an event organizer. Bashir spoke on many issues impacting the Somali community both in Edmonton and in the homeland. He urged Somalis, both young and old to be positive contributors to both communities. There was also a memorial held in honor of victims of the July 12th bombing in Kismaayo, Somalia. Of the deceased was Somali-Canadian journalist and activist Hodan Nalayeh. Speakers at the event made prayers for her as well as pushed for her legacy to be remembered and practiced, in particular by the young Somalis in attendance of the event.
The event was successfully concluded, thanks to efforts by both SCERDO staff and volunteers.
