City of Surrey’s Fusion Festival was named the “Best Festival” at the annual Special Event Magazine Gala Awards competition last week in Nashville.
The award recognizes the world’s top special events and the work of industry professionals who organize them.
“The Fusion Festival truly showcases and celebrates the cultural diversity of our city,” said City of Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. “Receiving this international recognition is a great honour and builds on our success of being named the Cultural Capital of Canada in 2008.”
The 6th annual Surrey Fusion Festival presented by Coast Capital Savings is one of Canada's largest multicultural celebrations. The two-day event features more than 75 recording artists and performers from all over the world on four stages, along with 38 cultural pavilions enjoyed by more than 100,000 visitors. The event is co-produced by the City and Donnelly & Associates.
“It was a thrill to accept the award on behalf of the City of Surrey,” said Coun. Mary Martin, Chair of the City’s Fusion Festival Committee, following the Jan. 10 awards event in Tennessee. “I’m extremely proud to be part of a large team that helps to make the event happen.”
“We were up against the TD Toronto Jazz Festival and the Democratic National Convention Carolina Fest for the honours,” added Coun. Hepner, Chair of the Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism Committee. “It was inspiring to be nominated amongst so many reputable international-calibre events.”