Apageantry of traditional, modern and even recycled-material outfitswill be displayed next week as students in Riverside secondary's multicultural leadership class host a fashion show to tie in with Port Coquitlam's 100th year.
Costumes from China, Japan, Poland, the Ukraine, India, Iran and Korea, to name a few - countries from which immigrants who settled in PoCo over the past century hail - will be represented on the school's red carpet.
Among the 15 models will be Jane Seo who will don her mother's magenta and plum hanbok, a gown she wore at her wedding. "It's such an honour to have it on," the 15-year-old girl said. "We are the same size and it fits perfectly."
McKenzie Beinder borrowed a Japanese school mate's yukata - a casual summer garment - for the exhibit. Beinder has been fascinated with Japanese anime (animation) and manga (comics) for years and collects ethnic costumes for fun.
Being part of multicultural leadership "is great because I get to meet a lot of international people," the 17-year-old said. "We get involved in a lot of activities and help them to integrate into Canadian culture."
Started four years ago by ESL teacher Catherine Yamamoto, multicultural leadership offers credits and volunteer hours to students who "make Riverside ESL and international students feel welcome and gain confidence at school and in the community," noting many mentors come from diverse backgrounds and can speak other languages.
The English as a Second Language students work with the multicultural leadership participants to organize annual events such as night markets, New Year's Eve celebrations, spring festivals and sports fundraisers at the school.
The May 22 multicultural fashion show - complete with dessert buffet by chef Ruy Gonzalez to follow - will be a first for the leadership students, who are also building awareness of and collecting cash for Japanese tsunami relief efforts.
Catherine Yamamoto said one of her former students is studying robotic engineering near Tokyo and his group has done reconstruction work using robots. With his help, Riverside plans to start a partnership with a Yamamoto area school.
Fashion show co-ordinator Thelka Wright said "trashion" will also be in the limelight at the fashion show including a piece by Mac Stewart, who won last month's Garbage Fashion Show at Heritage Woods secondary.
He cut up an old Chinese war film documentary to create a Japanese samurai costume for the annual School District 43 event.
As well, clothing from Art Knapp's will be in the show emceed by Jessica Gares, a Riverside alumnus and a producer of the Bill Good radio talk show on CKNW.
Tickets for the Multicultural Fashion Show on Wednesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. are $10 and can be bought at Riverside secondary (2215 Reeve St.); PoCo rec complex; Hyde Creek rec centre; and The Outlet at Leigh Square. Door prizes will be handed out. Call 604-941-6053 or email [email protected] for more information.
