The Orillia and Area Black Community Association (OBCA) held its second annual Community Fest in Couchiching Beach Park on Saturday.
In 2017, Alasoba Kelsy-Braide moved from Nigeria to attend the child and youth care program at Georgian College. Shortly after, she founded the OBCA.
"I felt like an alien when I first came here," she said. "I found there wasn't representation, there wasn't more of me in my classroom or at my children's school."
Kelsy-Braide was inspired to make sure no other Black people felt alone when immigrating to the Orillia area.
"We want to try to bring people together," she said. "We share ideas as to where to get stuff, where to find African stores, and where we can find someone to braid our hair."
Community Fest brought music and food to Couchiching Beach Park that Kelsy-Braide says most Orillians have never tried. She says people of various backgrounds attended and enjoyed the event.
"That's what we want," she said. "Friendships start from there, and it creates bonds. That makes me feel good and it means I'm making an impact."
The OBCA has held previous events to raise funds and resources for children less fortunate to go back to school and to enjoy Christmas.
In 2022, Kelsy-Braide won the County of Simcoe Community Champion Award.
"For me, community is very important," she said. "Community is where you identify where you are from. For me, it's about all the friendships made here."
Several local businesses, such as Starbucks on Memorial Avenue, Costco, Zehrs, Food Basics, Metro, Rustica Pizza Vino, and Blossom Group, contributed to Saturday's event, providing food and supplies.
"It's a collaboration from people of all different cultures. Our culture is being embraced by the community," Kelsy-Braide said.
She hopes Orillia is setting an example for other communities to be more welcoming to people from different cultures.
"Events like this make other communities notice that they need to open their doors and accept other cultures," she said. "We are starting something. It's history."
More information about the Orillia and Area Black Community Association can be found here.
