About Taste of Home
Doreen Rosvold and Johanne Baird, two newcomers to Kelowna met in 2006 at an open house for the Central Okanagan Immigrant Employment Services. Johanne, one of two visible minority guests at the event and Doreen began talking over a cup of tea about how Kelowna could benefit from more cultural events where ethnic foods and music were available and which both had seen in other provinces. Several months passed and the two met again by chance only to find that each had been working on the idea in her own head. Shortly after they put their ideas together and began planning their first multicultural event, Joyce Brinkerhoff contacted them because she had heard about their idea and wanted to join in the planning of this project. Their ideas took shape, the name, Taste of Home was chosen, the venue secured and the event was born.
The first Taste of Home event offered nine food sampling booths and 12 multicultural performances by local groups. With the help of over 50 volunteers, including Katimavik, Teen Challenge and the Kelowna Hostesses, contributions from local businesses and cultural groups, the event was launched. The three women were thrilled to host more than three hundred guests.
Now, with funding from Heritage Canada, Welcome BC and several local sponsors who have provided real and in-kind donations the festival has grown to include 15 food and 17 performing groups. More than 100 volunteers are recruited to make this annual event happen (now under the auspices of Kelowna Community Resources and the Intercultural Society of the Central Okanagan) and more than 800 people come out each year to celebrate our cultural diversity. This event is held every year in Kelowna in conjunction with Global Citizen Kelowna.
Participating Restaurants
Komatsu Japanese Market
Cecil’s Pyrogies
Dawett Fine Indian Cuisine
Kekuli Café
Illichmann Bakery
King of Kelowna
Memphis Blues
Kaibigan Restaurant
Mon Thong Thai Restaurant
Dragon King
Special thanks to the following cultural groups!
Korean community
Jamaican community
Okanagan Greeks
Hungarian Society
Muslim Association
Mexican community
ISCO – cooks and friends!
