The CAGP will be hosting a tournament for one of the Caribbean's most popular games in February, that being Domino (Photo: Caribbean Association of Grande Prairie)

By Shaun Penner

CAGP

Caribbean community in Grande Prairie comes together to share, celebrate culture

Jan 27, 2020 | 12:54 PM

A community organization is hoping to continue to bring the Caribbean people of Grande Prairie together, while at the same time share their culture with the people of the Peace Region.

The Caribbean Association of Grande Prairie is looking at continued growth and expansion as it nears its one-year anniversary, after the group was founded in February of 2019.

How the group got its start was in part from a recent newcomer to Grande Prairie, Shannae Luke, who moved to the Swan City back in 2018. Luke, who immigrated to Canada from Jamaica in 2012, soon came to realize that she and her husband were far from the only Caribbean people in Grande Prairie.

“People would say ‘Oh, do you know this person, and that person?’, and I’m thinking, “who are these people?’” said Luke. “A group of us got to talking and we had the same experiences. So, we decided to that it might be a good idea to have a formal organization to get the Caribbean people together.”

With that, the group was formed as a social gathering place for the area’s Caribbean descendants. However, it quickly transformed into a cultural group for the entire community.

Plan Ahead

Why Would You Pre-Plan Your Funeral?

Apr 03, 2024

Dying away from home

What Happens if You Die Away From Home?

Mar 04, 2024

Flag Retiring Ceremony

What Do You Do With Worn-Out Flags?

Feb 01, 2024

“After getting together, we thought we could actually make an impact on the community and give people in Grande Prairie an opportunity to know a bit more about the Caribbean culture, and pretty much experience the culture without having to go on vacation.”

Members of the organization have since taken part in several community events, like the 1,000 Villages International Food Festival back in June. Luke looks back on that festival as a key moment in helping build and shape the group.

“It brought us together, and we were able to discover talents that we didn’t know that each other had,” said Luke. “That was extremely impactful and it really fueled the organization moving forward.”

Luke says the group is always looking for more ways for the group to get involved in the community and share their culture. One way they will be doing that is with a Domino tournament at the Ernie Radbourne Pavilion in Muskoseepi Park on February 22.

The game of domino, according to Luke, is heavily entrenched into Caribbean culture.

“I’d say that it is one of those games that’s a must-have at get-togethers in the Caribbean,” said Luke. “We thought it would be a good way to let the community know about us, share another aspect of the culture with the community and bring more Caribbean people together.”

The tournament goes at 4:30 p.m. that day. Registration details can be found here.

Other events they will be taking part in in 2020 include the 1,000 Villages International Food Festival once again, as well as the Canada Day parade and Heritage Day. Luke says the group wants to take part in more events this year, as well.