Oui Poutine

This #CanadaDay🇨🇦event at Banana Block on Saturday sounds like fun, and I find Canadians tend to be good people!   The 2nd Annual Canada Day Block Party hosted by Belfast’s favourite Canadian food vendors Oui Poutine and Kubo returns after a successful first year. Taking place at East Belfast’s Banana Block on June 29th from 11.00-16.00, the event features a market with local artists and crafters, and showcases Canadian performing artists based in Ireland.   For 2024, the organisers are delighted to feature violinist Ivonne Hernandez, a Canadian musician currently living in Limerick, who has many accolades to her name including the coveted Canadian Juno Awards. Ivonne has mastered Canada’s traditional fiddle music but also embodies the country’s 21st century multiculturalism, and her music reflects the new century’s marriage of cultural influences.   Organiser Kylah Dittmar from Oui Poutine says “We are so delighted that Ivonne can join us this weekend to really show how the links that Canada has with Northern Ireland and vice versa. Our Canada Day block party is to celebrate our exchanging of cultures and to bring people together here in Belfast. There are so many Canadians here and people who have family in Canada; Northern Ireland and Canada have strong links and we want to highlight and celebrate that.”   Ivonne is not the only entertainment for the day. Belfast-based Canadian musician Peter Sumadh will also be joining them to play some well-loved Canadian classics, while the globe-trotting Newry comedian Darren Matthews will be there to give Canadians a good roast! The event will be opened by Graeme Harris on the bagpipes and a performance from the Michelle Johnston School of Highland Dance.   Highlights from the craft market will include a workshop by ASTRL Fibres to create your own macrame keychain. The Irish Curling association will be on hand for curling demonstrations, and the Ballymena Vandals inline and street hockey team will be offering shoot on goal sessions as well.   Nallaine Calvo from Kubo says “This is going to be a really great day as there will be something for everyone. Good food and Canadian drinks will also be on offer. We are so delighted at how popular the day was last year and we hope to make this one even better.”