African Community in Timmins offers a taste of home during potluck luncheon

The African Community in Timmins (ACIT), a non-profit organization comprised of African migrants to the city, hosted its first indoor African potluck luncheon at the Timmins Museum in recognition of Black History Month on Saturday.

Organizers said the African population in the city is growing. People have come from a number of countries including: Nigeria, Congo, Ghana, Cameroon and Sudan. While some have come to study; others have found careers.

Many in the Timmins community came out to enjoy good food at ACIT's first indoor potluck luncheon on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of ACIT)The potluck was an opportunity to bring local Africans together-many for the first time- to share food with some of the ingredients coming from their home continent.

“It really feels good," said ACIT member, Ifeoma Kasimanwuna.

"There’s a sense of community it brings ... happy to see the diversity among us and celebrating ourselves.”

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Kasimanwuna's husband, Everard is the group's president who fell in love with the city's warmth and friendliness when he moved Timmins from Nigeria for work at a local veterinarian hospital.

“There’s a saying that goes you don’t go to a place or you don’t live in a place where you don’t find an African," said Kasimanwuna.

"So if you find an African in a community, it means that community is liveable. It means you can actually live there."

Reynolds Edokpy, who recent moved to Timmins from Sudbury, told CTV News he agrees with Kasimanwuna about the city, especially after attending the potluck.

"Though it’s very cold right, we like the warm right, but if you're coming to northern Ontario and you’re an African it’s a nice place to be because people here want to know where you from people want to learn about your culture," he said.

Timmins mayor Michelle Boileau was on hand at the inaugural African potluck luncheon at the Timmins Museum on Feb. 11/23. (Photo courtesy of ACIT)ACIT’s next event is on Feb. 18 at Northern College, the group is bringing in a professor from Newfoundland to deliver a lecture about the struggles and triumphs of Black heroes. The free event is open to the public and will run from 1-3 p.m.

For more information on these events and more, visit the organization’s Facebook page.