Botswana’s culture was on display at TeeBee Event Hall in Calgary as members of the local Botswana community gathered to celebrate the country’s 60th Independence Day. The event, organized by the Calgary Botswana Community Association, featured dance and music performances, along with traditional food, aimed at connecting attendees with Botswana culture. Organizers say the celebration offers a way for those who cannot travel back to Botswana to feel a sense of pride and unity in Canada. “We just want to let people know that we do celebrate our culture because Canada allows multiculturalism, and it’s something we’re truly, truly proud of,” said Thato Isaac, treasurer of the association. “We are here in Canada. We’re here to celebrate who we are, and at the same time, we embrace our place in Canada because Canada has been a wonderful home to most of us,” he said. Issac says the goal is to help more people learn about Botswana’s culture, including younger generations born in Canada. “Most of our children are born in Calgary so it’s good for them to also be aware of that heritage from Botswana,” he said. The organization says it plans to continue hosting events to share Botswana’s culture, music, food and community spirit with a wider audience.
