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Learn more.Folklorama 2026 is fast approaching, running from August 2 to 15, and all four Folklorama Ambassadors General are beyond excited for this year’s 55th edition!
The Ambassadors General (AGs) are the face of Folklorama—each year, two adult and two youth ambassadors are selected. Their role is to serve as community leaders and promote cultural diversity in Winnipeg. They are actively featured in media, community events, and public speaking engagements throughout the Folklorama season.
This year, the adult Ambassadors General are Caitlin Chilelli from the Italian Pavilion and Areeva Arora from the Punjab Pavilion, and the youth Ambassadors General are Tinbite Elias from the Ethiopian Pavilion and Zahlia Karin Diaz Tsuzuki from the Japanese Pavilion. While each Ambassador General previously served as a Pavilion Ambassador for their home pavilion, as AGs, they represent the festival as a whole.
More on them below, but first, a little on how the program works!
The Ambassadors General selection process involves two steps: a panel interview and a speech competition. Candidates who make it to that second step are faced with the challenge of giving a speech for a panel of judges who assess them on their public speaking skills and how well they can speak to the topic assigned to them.
The adult Ambassadors General candidates are given the topic the moment before they speak, and the youth Ambassadors General candidates get the topic in advance so they can prepare.
Cambrian is the proud official sponsor for the Ambassadors General program. We are involved in the selection process, and we also present each of the four ambassadors with a $1,000 scholarship to use for post-secondary education or professional development opportunities.
This year, we got to connect with the elected four Ambassadors General and get a window into their excitement for their roles and the festival!
“Folklorama is one of my favourite times of year,” Caitlin says. “After being involved last year as an ambassador for the Italian Pavilion, I fell in love with the experience of getting to share culture from a different perspective. Being a leader and representing and sharing my culture with others brought me a lot of joy.
“I’m also passionate about experiencing other people’s cultures and sharing that with them,” she adds “So, when the opportunity for Ambassador General came up, I thought, why not give it a go? I’ve always fallen into leadership roles in my community, and to me, Folklorama iscommunity. I thought, why not be a leader and help other ambassadors through the festival this year?"
Caitlin says this year she’s excited for the Folklorama kickoff and the chance to bring everyone together and witness the parade of all the various pavilions.
“It really amps up the festival and gives everyone a sneak peek at what’s coming,” she says. “I’m excited to be with the community at large and get a feel for what Folklorama will be this year. Seeing everyone together, going through the parade, and giving each pavilion a spotlight is something I’m really looking forward to.
“Folklorama is community. It’s passion, culture, diversity, and inclusion. Everyone comes together under one umbrella, and you can travel the world in one night: walk through different cultures, taste the food, listen to music, and maybe even dance a little without getting on a plane.
“You can do it right here at home and really see the diversity we have in our own city.”
“Folklorama was home away from home for me,” Areeva says. “When I came here, I had no friends. Within a month of arriving, Folklorama was happening, and people around me said, ‘You should visit this.’
“Folklorama brings so many people together. The organization puts in so much effort to make everyone feel welcome. For a few weeks, everyone feels like family. It gives you the love and warmth of community that you need.
Areeva says after learning about Folklorama, she decided she wanted to give back.
“I started as a volunteer, then became an ambassador for the Punjab Pavilion, and now I’m in the Ambassador General role. I’m very excited to celebrate the 55th year of Folklorama, and I can’t wait to try all the food from different pavilions!
“I’ve now visited all 43 pavilions—it’s like visiting 43 countries. I love Folklorama!”
“Growing up in Canada with immigrant parents, I didn’t always get my culture fully instilled in me at a young age because of the community I was surrounded by,” Tinbite says. “I was interested, but I didn’t have that push yet."
Tinbite says volunteering and participating in her home pavilion, as well as experiencing other pavilions, gave her a better understanding of her own culture. That’s an experience she hopes to share with other young people.
“Growing up in Canada with a different background, it can be frustrating not having a deeper connection to your culture, and Folklorama really helps with that,” she says, adding she’s excited to be a part of the festival’s 55th year. “I feel blessed to be here during such a milestone!
“The upcoming projects and initiatives really excite me, as well as being able to put my voice out there. Folklorama gave me confidence, not just in my culture, but in myself. It helped me grow as a person and feel confident speaking and taking part.
“To me, Folklorama means connection. I’ve made so many beautiful connections through this experience. Growing up, I often felt alone, like no one could relate to me, but Folklorama gave me countless opportunities.
“I’ve grown with so many people, and this opportunity is helping prepare me for the future.”
“The Ambassador General role is a hands-on opportunity to practice my leadership skills in a professional and multi-diverse setting,” Zahlia says “It’s a milestone in my life where I can be involved in a multicultural environment and develop my cultural competency.
“Like the others, I’m really excited for the 55thedition. There are a lot of new things coming up. I’m excited to learn more about the world through food, cultural presentations, and music, all under the roof of Folklorama. The 55th year is special, and I’m happy to be part of it.”
For Zahlia, Folklorama is all about connection, sharing, and learning.
“It’s not just an event: it’s a celebration where I can be an active participant alongside hundreds of people, all united under one goal,” she says. “It’s a cross-cultural umbrella that welcomes all cultures, languages, and traditions. As a Japanese person and a minority in Winnipeg, I don’t often see others from my culture, but during Folklorama, we come together. Everybody gets to connect with their own culture and others, and that unity is beautiful.”
Be sure to attend one or several Pavilions between August 2 and 15! Not to mention the kick-off event on July 25.
Learn more about Folklorama here.
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