Colombia en Mississauga
Colombia in Mississauga was born in 2008, when Isabel Cuellar, a Colombian from El Espinal (Tolima), arrived with her family in 2004 in search of a better future and found that in Mississauga, the sixth-largest city in Canada, no event that was held to unite the Colombian community; something that she did in the United States, more exactly in the city of Boston for the last 3 years before emigrating to Canada.
This is how in December 2008, it held its first event called "CHRISTMAS SHARE", which brought together the entire Colombian and Latin American community in a room at the Mississauga Valley Community Center, to enjoy one of the most important traditions of Colombia. The "Novena de Aguinaldos" and the singing of Christmas Carols, is a well-known tradition practiced in Colombian homes and in other Latin American countries, we wanted to bring this tradition to not only Colombian families but to attempt to add our passion for it to the Canadian culture.
In July 2009, we organized the first "CELEBRATION OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF COLOMBIA" in Mississauga, an event where we highlighted Colombian culture through art, film, music, folklore, and traditional food, while promoting and supporting Colombian talent, small and large merchants, and non-profit organizations.
Isabel wanted to create this cultural meeting with 100% Colombian customs and roots, to bring Colombia closer to all Colombians who left their homeland, and to teach their children who were born in Canada to appreciate the cultural richness of their parents.
From 2009 to 2014 'Colombia En Mississauga' and the entire Colombian community residing in the city of Mississauga met every year to celebrate the Independence of Colombia on the last weekend of July, and welcome hundreds of people who came from different cities in Ontario and the United States to enjoy this great event, which included a GREAT COLOMBIAN PARADE with delegations of people, dressed in typical costumes representing some regions of Colombia, in homage to the celebration of the Independence of Colombia.
This year, 2022, at the request of the same community, Isabel Cuellar returns "Colombia in Mississauga", after 8 YEARS, to celebrate the INDEPENDENCE OF COLOMBIA.
We are convinced, that the rebirth of Colombia in Mississauga celebrating the Independence of Colombia after a long time of confinement due to the pandemic, will bring joy and hope to the entire community, not only Colombian but all other communities that enjoy our culture and traditions.
Historia
Fue así como en diciembre de 2008, realizó su primer evento denominado “COMPARTIR NAVIDEÑO”, que reunió a toda la comunidad colombiana y latinoamericana en un salón del Mississauga Valley Community Center, para disfrutar de una de las tradiciones más importantes de Colombia en la época navideña, como lo es la “Novena de Aguinaldos” y el canto de los Villancicos, tradición muy conocida y practicada en los hogares colombianos y en otros países de Latino America.
En julio de 2009, organizó la primera "CELEBRACIÓN DE LA INDEPENDENCIA DE COLOMBIA" en Mississauga, un evento donde destaco la cultura colombiana a través del arte, el cine, la música, el folclore y la comida tradicional, al tiempo que promovió y apoyo al talento colombiano, pequeños y grandes comerciantes y organizaciones sin fines de lucro.
Isabel quiso crear este encuentro cultural con costumbres y raíces 100% colombianas, para acercar a Colombia a todos los colombianos que dejaron su patria y enseñar a sus hijos nacidos en Canadá a apreciar la riqueza cultural de sus padres.
Este año 2022, por petición de la misma comunidad, Vuelve “Colombia en Mississauga”, después de 8 años, para celebrar la INDEPENDENCIA DE COLOMBIA.
Estamos convencidos, que el renacimiento de Colombia en Mississauga celebrando la Independencia de Colombia después de un largo tiempo de confinamiento a causa de la pandemia, traerá alegría y esperanza a toda la comunidad, no solo colombiana sino a todas las demás comunidades que disfrutan de nuestra cultura y tradiciones.