Pastor Jose Guardian (left) with church members Ana Cuellar and Mary Vega who were cooking up El Salvadorian fare on Saturday. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

"we love red deer"

Food festival brings Red Deerians together to celebrate culture

Jul 21, 2019 | 9:46 AM

If there’s one thing that brings people together, it’s food, which is what Red Deer’s Fuente de Vida Church was banking on Saturday.

The organization set up shop next to Family Services of Central Alberta for the day, with a bouncy castle and blasting music to add to the atmosphere of their International Food Festival.

Native dishes from countries like El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica were served up for those who came by.

Pastor Jose Guardian says having people of all backgrounds attend, they want to show the many good things Red Deer has going for it because of its multiculturalism.

“We as a church are very open to people when they come here. We help them to adjust and settle in the city with friendship, translation, processing when they have to get a driver’s license, or for doctor appointments,” he says, noting that they do work with Catholic Social Services and Central Alberta Refugee Effort.

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“Food can connect people. Canadian people love this kind of food too. This is the way to connect Canadian people with our culture and be together.”

Guardian came to Canada from Costa Rica 15 years ago with his wife and three children, and has been in Red Deer for the last five after spending time in Medicine Hat.

“It’s a nice area. We love Red Deer,” he says. “We think Red Deer has very nice people, kind people, and we feel good here.”

Guardian acknowledges that while some people certainly do experience negativity, he personally has not.

“We want to really become an open city for people. We believe Red Deer is, but we are trying to improve that, especially for people that come from countries where they feel rejected and have conflict,” he says.

“That is our message to the people of Red Deer, to be open.”