ON Saturday, July 18, at Strawberry Hill Park, MLAs Amna Shah (Surrey City Centre), Garry Begg (Surrey Guildford), and Jessie Sunner (Surrey Newton) joined hundreds of families and community members at Apna Mela, celebrating Punjabi culture, heritage, and community in the heart of Surrey Newton.
Apna Mela transformed the park into a vibrant celebration of Punjabi traditions, welcoming youth, seniors, families, and community members for an afternoon filled with cultural pride and intergenerational connection. Organized by GenConnect, with the Indian Summer Festival serving as the event’s cultural partner, Apna Mela is designed to preserve Punjabi heritage while creating meaningful opportunities for generations to learn from one another and strengthen community bonds.
Sunner welcomed attendees to her community and recognized the importance of celebrating and preserving Punjabi culture for future generations.
“Apna Mela is a beautiful celebration of Punjabi culture and the generations of families who have helped build Surrey into the vibrant and welcoming city it is today,” said Sunner. “Seeing children, parents, grandparents, and neighbours come together to share traditions, stories, and experiences is powerful for me as a Punjabi woman myself, raised here in Surrey. Events like this ensure that our culture continues to thrive for generations to come.”
Throughout the afternoon, the MLAs met with organizers, volunteers, performers, and local residents while experiencing hands-on cultural activities that celebrated Punjabi traditions. Children delighted audiences with energetic bhangra performances, while attendees of all ages took part in traditional butter churning, learned the art of peerhi (woven stool) making, explored community booths, and enjoyed authentic Punjabi food, music, and interactive games that brought generations together.
Founded in Surrey, GenConnect is a non-profit organization dedicated to building intergenerational connections between Punjabi youth and seniors by preserving cultural knowledge, traditions, and heritage. Through programs like Apna Mela, GenConnect creates opportunities for seniors and youth to learn from one another, ensuring Punjabi culture continues to flourish in communities across British Columbia.
Apna Mela once again demonstrated the strength and vibrancy of Surrey’s Punjabi community, celebrating not only its rich cultural traditions but also the enduring spirit of community, family, and belonging that continues to shape the city.
