When Gabriela Jessone first helped create the Taste of Heritage Festival five years ago, she counted nine countries being represented through food, dance and art. This year, the student-led festival in southwest Edmonton celebrated 25 different countries thanks to growing support from the community. “When we started, we had 500 attendees, and last year we had about 1,200, and so far today we are close to 1,500,” she said on Friday afternoon. Jessone works with Assist, a non-profit aiming to help newcomers adjust to life in Edmonton. The Taste of Heritage Festival is a cultural and recreational showcase of the diversity throughout the city. It’s entirely free and meant as a platform for participants to share their traditions. It’s also a way for attendees to prepare their palates for next week’s Heritage Festival, which will take to William Hawrelak Park on Aug. 1 for what is known as the world’s largest multicultural celebration. Although Taste of Heritage only ran on Friday, Jessone hopes to keep the momentum going next year. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Brandon Lynch
