Soccer fever is heating up in Old Ottawa South with the
seventh annual Community Cup taking place in Brewer Park in less than two
months.
The event combines a 24-team recreational soccer tournament
with free multicultural activities to celebrate Ottawa’s diverse communities.
Last week, organizers attended the Old Ottawa South
Community Association meeting to brief the board on the progress being made
towards the highly anticipated showdown and to seek the community’s support and
involvement for the event, to be held on June 26.
“We will definitely be involved,” said Michael Jenkin, the
community association’s chairman.
The main attraction is the soccer matches, which will
involve more than 1,000 participants and draw at least as many spectators. Other
events include a musical language village, international food bazaar, craft
workshops, a kids fun zone, puppet shows, live entertainment and spoken word
presentations, pick-up volleyball games, a cricket demonstration, a “community
tent” featuring more than 25 local organizations and a reaffirmation ceremony
conducted by a citizenship judge.
“The event is an opportunity for newcomers to make
connections with Canada and making them feel that Ottawa is a welcoming
community,” said Wendy Robbins, who is helping to organize the event.
“We feel sport is an incredible way of connecting
communities and allowing them to forge friendship,” she said.
Organized by the Catholic Immigration Centre, the Community Cup
first began as an outreach initiative.
A special feature this year will be a live screening of Canada’s
match against host Germany on the first day of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
eddie.rwema@metroland.com
Ottawa This Week - Central