Archway in Abbotsford hosts annual Taste Around the World event

More than 250 turn out for cutural food-tasting event

Archway in Abbotsford hosts annual Taste Around the World event Published 10:53 am Wednesday, July 15, 2026 More than 250 people gathered for the third annual Taste Around the World event in Abbotsford on June 27. The event, hosted by Archway Community Services’ Food Justice program in collaboration with community partners, took place outside Clearbrook Library. The multicultural food-sharing event celebrated the rich cultural diversity within Abbotsford and brought guests together through the sharing of traditional recipes, stories and cultural experiences.

“The goal of organizers was to use the transformative power of a shared meal to foster relationships and social cohesion across boundaries of age, class, culture, and language, while drawing attention to the importance of ensuring all community members have equitable access to culturally preferred foods that support a sense of belonging, identity and connection,” a press release stated. This year, four volunteer cooking teams representing Saudi Arabia, Okinawa, India and Ukraine prepared traditional dishes for attendees to sample. The event was opened by Mayor Ross Siemens, and each cooking team had the opportunity to share a little about their dish and culture.

Guests also received a “food passport,” which encouraged them to sample all the featured dishes throughout the event. The dishes included goya chanpuru from Okinawa, a stir-fry made with bitter melon, tofu, and egg; verenyky from Ukraine, traditional dumplings filled with either strawberry or potato and onion; pakoras from India, crispy vegetable fritters; and formoza from Saudi Arabia, a savoury spiced meat pastry. The event also embodied the theme of “culture,” one of the core values identified in the newly formed Abbotsford Food Charter.

Vicki Lin, food justice supervisor, said bringing people together around a shared meal celebrated the rich cultural diversity that makes Abbotsford vibrant while fostering connection, understanding and community belonging. “Food has a unique ability to bring people together,” she said. “Events like these strengthen the social fabric of our community and remind us of all that we have in common.”

The event also included booths featuring local organizations and community resources. Participating exhibitors included Clearbrook Library, UFV’s Food and Agriculture Institute, Tourism Abbotsford, Diversity Education’s Human Dignity Coalition and Local Immigration Partnership, local