A Taste of the World at the Multicultural Food Fair

Senior School students were invited to sample snacks and treats from around the world at the first-ever Multicultural Food Fair, hosted by the St. Michaels University School Intercultural Council on October 17. The lunchtime event offered the school community a chance to explore different cultures through food, with each table hosted by students eager to share a taste of their heritage.

From traditional Southern pound cake and Nilla wafers shared by members of the Black Student Union to White Rabbit candies and other popular sweets shared by the Chinese Culture Club, the spread offered something for every palate. Tables from Clubs representing cultures from Mexico, South Asia, France, Korea, Japan and the Middle East added even more variety with South Asian sweets from local business Loveleen’s, croissants and chocolate representing France, and some treats brought directly from students’ home countries, including Mexico.

The idea for the event came from Intercultural Council heads Leila Mostachfi and Christian Ng, who wanted to create a fun and welcoming way to celebrate the diverse cultures represented at SMUS. With full support from the school, the event was organized and put on by students for students from start to finish. Modern Languages teacher Jennifer Mao, who often uses food as a learning tool in her Chinese classes, was thrilled to see the same approach come to life across so many cultures — and entirely student-driven. She beamed as students eagerly visited each table, not only to sample new snacks, but to connect with their peers and learn more about cultures from around the world.

“We have so many different cultures at the school, especially with the boarding community,” said Leila. “We thought it would be a great idea to bring people together through food — because food is such an integral part of culture.”

The council spent weeks planning and collaborating with members to decide what to showcase and how to source items. While most snacks were purchased locally from specialty stores and international grocers, a few were homemade or brought from afar. Each table also included a language element, with signs showing how to say “hello” or another greeting in the language of the country or culture represented — helping visitors feel as though they were travelling the world, one snack at a time.

“It didn’t take too long to organize,” adds Christian. “Our council helped brainstorm ideas, reach out to people, and make it all happen. It was definitely worth it to see everyone come together and enjoy themselves.”

The Multicultural Food Fair is part of an ongoing mission to highlight and celebrate the many cultures that make up the SMUS community — whether through food, cultural celebrations, learning about other languages and histories, or simply forming friendships across cultures. Leila and Christian hope this will be the first of many events that continue to foster connection and curiosity through cultural sharing.

“There are so many cultures here that people might not get to experience otherwise,” said Leila. “Events like this are a reminder that we’re all part of something bigger — a global community where every tradition and every flavour has a place.”