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“Windsor is quite diverse and we must celebrate that,” Windsor Police diversity and recruitment officer Neil McEachrane said. “We must let everyone know who we are and this is who we are.”

Of Windsor’s 213, 985 residents, 27.8 per cent are immigrants, according to Statistics Canada’s 2016 Census.

Those who have arrived in the city between 2011 and 2016 are predominantly born in Iraq (20.2 per cent) or Syria (10.5 per cent). The top five languages spoken as mother tongue, as of 2016, are English, Arabic, French, Italian and Chinese.

At Saturday’s event, youth from the New Canadian Centre for Excellence Inc. were the first to take the stage with a drum and percussion performance. It was the first time members from the centre have taken part in the Diversity BBQ.

“I think this is a perfect expression of a community in harmony,” said Gregory Cox, who runs the rhythm and beats program for youth at the centre. “The spirit and magic of rhythm expressed on drums and percussion instruments cuts through differences in age, race, culture, abilities, and faith.”

More than 55 youth from the centre were in attendance, enjoying the day’s festivities and cheering on their peers who were performing.

Mayor Drew Dilkens and Windsor West’s member of parliament, Brian Masse, were also in attendance.

Windsor, Ontario. August 24, 2019 — Members of Black Kids in Action perform an African dance during 3rd Annual Diversity BBQ at Wigle Park.

The drumming event was followed by several other performances, including those by members of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and local Indian dance group Nupur Jhankar (Sound of Bells).

Meanwhile, volunteers from the University of Windsor’s Women’s Basketball team challenged community members to some matches on the court.

“It was just fun to get out there and play with a bunch of little kids,” University of Windsor’s forward player Arianna Milani said.

Seeing the smiles on kids faces was rewarding enough for McEachrane, who had spent months organizing the event.

“It means the world to me,” McEachrane said. “It means that what we’re doing is worthwhile.

It means what we’re doing means something to everyone.”

jlagrassa@postmedia.com