THE Langley International Festival Society and the Langley Canada Day Celebrations Society had their media launch on May 27 where numerous dignitaries, the media, the event sponsors, the festival organizers, and the community partners participated. Introducing the event, Bob Barrett, President of the Langley International Festival Society, said that this year the society has joined hands with the Township of Langley, Tourism Langley, Langley Events Centre, Langley School District, Fraser Valley Regional Library and many others to put on a four-day spectacular celebration, from June 28 to July 1, like never seen before in this growing community.

Over the past 22 years, the Langley Canada Day Celebrations have become a premiere event with record-setting attendance, family fun and entertainment, community bonding and pride in affirming Canada’s heritage., and the 2014 celebrations will add even more colorful and multicultural flavour as the Langley’s International Festival and the Langley Canada Day celebrations have merged to have one big celebration. This non-profit event is organized entirely by community volunteers who contribute over 18,000 hours throughout the year to plan the celebration.

Mark Warawa, M.P. said, “Langley’s International Festival and Canada Day Celebrations are an important way for our community to celebrate Canada through sports, our various cultures, and our common heritage as Canadians. Every year tens of thousands of people gather to enjoy the exciting, family-fun celebrations that Langley has to offer. I look forward to celebrating Canada Day with Langley residents over the course of the four-day series of events held at the Langley Events Centre and nearby Willoughby Community Park.”

Wishing the best to the event, Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman said, “The world identifies Canada as a multicultural society and a model of tolerance and acceptance for other countries to follow. So it is very fitting that the Langley International Festival is being celebrated on the same day as Canada Day.”

Township of Langley Mayor Jack Froese attended the event along with Councillor Grant Ward and Councillor Charlie Fox. Froese said, “Canada Day has become a much loved tradition in Langley. We look forward to seeing what the International Festival Society has in store for us this year, as we explore all the cultures that make our community so vibrant and celebrate what it is to be Canadian.”

“The City of Langley is very excited about this year’s Canada Day celebration presented by Langley International Festival Society,” said City of Langley Acting Mayor Ted Schaffer. “Such a celebration reaffirms Canada’s important multicultural history and through the sharing of art, music, dance, foods, tradition and culture, we learn from one another and become better people and better communities for it.”

This year, the venue has been changed from McLeod Park to Willoughby Community Park just outside the Langley Events Centre near 200th Street and 80th Avenue to accommodate the special events that will be occurring. Over the four-day celebrations, the first two days will be the sports fest, and the traditional celebrations will be held on June 30 and July 1, including main stage entertainment, marketplace, vendors, international pavilions, children’s’ entertainment, Kidz Have Talent, rides, a car show, an assortment of ethnic foods, dog show, fireworks, and various other attractions.

The parade of nations on July 1 will be another entertaining activity where people from over 70 countries will be participating. There will be no entry fee and the parking will be free. Everyone is cordially invited to come and enjoy multicultural entertainment through colorful ethnic performances, visual arts, sports, visiting an international marketplace, taste different cultural foods, and many more activities.

The Mexico Vivo Dance Group entertained the attendees with a fabulous dance item. Mun Bagri from Langley Tourism confirmed that 600 players will be participating in five different sport tournaments during the first two days on June 28 and 29.

At the end of the event, Dr. Sarwan Singh Randhawa, the society’s communication and media director, thanked everyone. Shar Dubas, founder of the Langley’s International festival requested the community to help them by sponsoring the event or joining them as a volunteer. The sponsors and vendors are asked to email at info@internationalfestival.ca or visit the www.internationalfestival.ca/ or www.langleycanadaday.ca website for further details.