Colombian community celebrates Independence Day

By Lethbridge Herald on July 22, 2023.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman The Stixx band play for community members celebrating Colombian Independence Day Thursday night at Salsas restaurant.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

Members of the community with Colombian roots had the opportunity to celebrate their country’s Independence Day Thursday at a local Latin American restaurant. 

For many, to leave their native land is an emotional but necessary process, and with national holidays the nostalgia of what was left behind resurfaces. For Lethbridge residents who had to leave Colombia behind, having an opportunity to celebrate their cultural traditions during those special holidays among fellow Colombians and Canadians alike, helps them feel less homesick. 

The Colombian Independence Day was celebrated by Colombians across the world Thursday, with those who call Lethbridge home having a Bandeja Paisa Festival at Salsas restaurant. 

Marisol Garcia, a Lethbridge resident originally from Colombia who has been in Canada for the last 11 years with her husband and children, finally had the opportunity to celebrate her country’s Independence Day for the first time since they arrived on Thursday. 

“Thanks to Patricio (co-owner of Salsas restaurant), who is always trying to bring latinos together and help them integrate their traditions and celebrate their holidays, the door was opened to be able to finally celebrate our Independence Day,” said Garcia. 

She said they lend the restaurant Colombian decor to be displayed during the event, to help create an environment where those in attendance would feel a little bit closer to home. 

“Even though Patricio is from Ecuador, him and his team made the effort to create a Colombian dish as similar as possible to the flavours from our country, to help us celebrate and that just added to the whole thing, because listening to Colombian music while eating very similar food, and seeing things on the walls that were brought directly from there, just created a great atmosphere,” said Garcia. 

She said it means a lot to her and her family to be able to have the freedom in Canada to celebrate their traditions and continue to enjoy their cultural heritage, while showcasing it to those who have become interested in it from other cultures as well. 

Salsas co-owner, Patricio Sarmiento said part of the reason he and his wife opened their restaurant was to give Latin-American people in the community a place to come together and celebrate their heritage, and knowing that Colombian’s Independence Day was happening, they came up with the event to celebrate their fellow latinos’ special day.  

“We are involved with anything that has to do Latin-American culture, traditions and specially the food and we are very proud of it,” said Sarmiento. 

He said they have celebrated other cultural events in the past including a taco festival in May to celebrate the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo. 

“It’s not easy to bring the specific flavours from our countries, but we try to do it as similar as possible and with our personal touch as well,” said Sarmiento. 

He said for the celebration they put together the Colombian dish called Bandeja Paisa which has rice, beans, a fried egg, half of avocado, fried plantain slice, steak, chorizo, arepa (corn flour paddy) and pork rinds. 

Sarmiento added that he had some help from a southern Alberta farmer who grows beans in Taber and even though are not an exact match for the beans in the original Bandeja Paisa, they were able to use them and people said the flavour is pretty similar. 

Those in attendance Thursday night had the opportunity to listen to Spanish and English Rock music, from a band that is touring Canada from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico called The Stixx among Latin-American music played while the band took breaks. 

Liliana Garcia (no relation to Marisol), is another Colombian who has been a Lethbridge resident for many years and attended the event. She said she admires the fact that Salsas restaurant owners are always willing to combine different cultures, including Latin-American, Canadian and other cultures. 

“Today our Colombian Independence Day is very commemorative for Colombians, especially for all of us who are far away always missing our country and culture,” said Liliana. 

The Colombian Independence Day is set to turn into an outdoor festival next year, with vendors, entertainment and traditional food at a location yet to be determined. 

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