Diversity Day showcases variety of cultures for students

Performers and students during Diversity Day activities on May 15, 2026, at the Edmonton Public School Board's Centre for Education.

Edmonton Public Schools took a hands-on approach on Friday to celebrate Diversity Day.

Students from several city high schools learned traditional West African and Caribbean dancing as part of just one of the interactive workshops available.

They also got a chance to listen to guest speakers, take part in breakout sessions and interactive activities, and watch and participate in performances.

Organizers say experiencing different cultures gives kids an appreciation outside of regular learning.

“We wanted to show that we can amplify voices using different tools – so either music, drum, self or dance – to be able to say, ‘I’m here and I’m leading,’” Masani St. Rose, a West African and Caribbean dance artist, told CTV News Edmonton on Friday at the Centre for Education.

She said experiencing culture can give students a boost of self-identity.

“As soon as you get that collective rhythm, and get into it and hear it, you just see the smiles, the confidence (and) the vibes coming up. I think what it does is also brings everybody together as a community, as a collective.”

The Diversity Day event was staged in partnership with the Phoenix Society, which aims to promote harmony among cultural and religious groups in Edmonton.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Dave Mitchell