Royal Canadian Legion
560 13th Street East
HOURS:
THU Closed
FRI 5:00pm – 12:00am
SAT 12:00pm – 1:00am
WHAT TO KNOW
- Plenty of parking close to the venue.
- Fairly sheltered door. Be prepared to wait outside during peak hours.
- Alcohol is served: Beer, Wine, Liquor
LINKS
COLOMBIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM piano performance by Canadian ELISE MAGUET
COLOMBIANOS EN BRANDON – FACEBOOK GROUP
CLOSEST PAVILIONS:
HAMI: Hispanic Assoc. of Manitoba
East End Community Centre, 405 Park Street
HOURS:
FRI 6:00pm – 10:00pm
SAT 1:00am – 10:00pm
Palestine Pavilion
The Backyard on Aberdeen, 1624 13 Street, Unit B
HOURS:
FRI 5:00pm – 12:00am
SAT 6:00pm – 12:00am
MENU ITEMS
Pavilion Sponsors
David Castellanos, ELOSO, Supportable Trade, Sutton, Look Music Services, and Karla’s International Foods.
Join us at the Royal Canadian Legion as we share the warmth and spirit of Colombia with you. ¡Bienvenidos!
Welcome to the Colombia Pavilion at the Westman Multicultural Festival! We are thrilled to celebrate our very first year at the festival, bringing you the vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and energetic rhythms of Colombia. Enjoy traditional Colombian food, lively music, and captivating dance performances throughout the event. And don’t miss our special late-night Colombian Party on Saturday for an unforgettable experience!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Authentic Colombian Cuisine
$5 :: AREPA (AREPA filled with shredded beef and chicken)
The Arepa is one the most popular foods in Colombia. They are served in almost every home and are the equivalent of tortillas in Mexico and bread in Italy. We ate arepa every day growing up in Colombia! There are different versions of arepas throughout Colombia, every region having its own variation. We are going to prepare for the Colombian Pavillion AREPAS filled with shredded beef and chicken.
$5 :: AJIACO COLOMBIAN CHICKEN AND POTATO SOUP
For people from Bogota (Capital), AJIACO is the ultimate comfort food. It’s a great weekend soup, especially during wintertime but it’s also a celebration meal for the Bogotanos who often make very large pots of this soup for festive occasions. The original recipe of Ajiaco is made with three types of potatoes. The history and culture of Bogota was built on the cultivation of the potato. One of the potatoes is called “papa criolla”, we cannot get that potato here, so we substituted with golden potatoe. One of the most important ingredients for making an authentic AJIACO is the herb “guascas” and we got it. Guascas, are a native mountain herb with an aroma somewhere in between bay leaf and parlsey adding a distinct flavor. We hope you enjoy this soul satisfying and hearty Colombian soup!
$5 :: CHICKEN PASTRIES COLOMBIAN STYLE (Pastel de pollo)
Chicken pastries are a popular snack in Colombian bakeries, cafeterias and coffee houses. When I used to go to school in Colombia, one of the things I loved to buy for lunch was a pastel de pollo (chicken pie) and a Colombiana (Colombian Soda). I was the happiest girl eating my chicken pastry, avocado salsa, and my soda!
EMPANADA (Empanada de carne)
A crispy cornmeal dough filled with a rich beef, rice, potato, and a creamy and aromatic filling is certainly what dreams are made of. Colombia is known for its delicious cuisine, and empanadas are one of the staples. These little fried pies can be found in almost every Colombian home, and each family has its own recipe. While the fillings may vary, the dough is always made with cornmeal flour and water.
$5 :: COLOMBIAN HOT DOG
Like any other country in the world, has hot dogs stands on the streets and this Colombian recipe is very popular. When my friends and I would go out to dance, we would usually end up at one of the best hot dog stands. Plus the popular toppings as mozzarella cheese and sauces we add pineapple sauce, crushed potato and chopped onion.
$10 :: CRISPY CASSABA AND PORK BELLY (Yuca con chicharron)
This Colombian style pork belly recipe is hugely inspired by the crispy pork belly specialty known as the Chicharron Colombiano. We really love how pork belly can end up having diverse textures in just a single dish – a crisp crackling on top, a perfectly rendered fat layer beneath, and extra succulent meat with fall-off-the-bone tenderness at the bottom. We served this dish with cassava (Yuca fries) that are like healthier paleo fries!
$15 :: RED BEANS COLOMBIAN STYLE
Two classic red beans Colombian dishes are Bandeja Paisa and Frijolada or Corrientazo Colombiano. The first dish is a large meal served especially in the high country, is meant to be very satisfying usually served to people who have to work on the field, and this meal should last them the entire day. The second dish we will be serving at the Pavillion, is a typical sized dish that could be served for lunch or breakfast. Frijolada or corrientazo Colombiano is a traditional Colombian bean stew that features red beans as its primary ingredient. It is typically enriched with pork ribs, arepa, plantain,egg, and a variety of spices
Desserts
$5 :: PASSION FRUIT DESSERT CUPS
Maracuya or Passion Fruit comes from South America, where it’s been cultivated for centuries. It’s especially popular in Colombia, Brazil, and the Caribbean. This fruit makes you feel like you’re instantly transported to a tropical paradise. The aroma and the sweet-tart flavor wake up your senses!, Maracuya it’s not just delicious it’s also packed with nutrients. as vitamins A and C, fiber, and antioxidants. Try our Passion Fruit Dessert at our Colombian Pavillion,.
Drinks
7 :: Hard Liquour:
Bacardi white Rum
Captain Morgan Spice Rum
Jose Cuervo Reposado Tequila
Jose Cuervo Plata Tequila
JW Red Label
Alberta Premium Canadian Whisky
Smirnoff Vodka.
$7 :: Beer:
Corona
Modelo
Bud Light
$7 :: Coolers:
Colombian Cooler called REFAJO – Refajo is a traditional and simple cocktail made with beer, ice and COLOMBIANA (a Colombian soda). It’s refreshing and delicious!
Twisted Tea
Coors slushie
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
$5 :: Mocktails
Colombian Goal, Blue Canica, Bellini Virgin, Batman
$5 or $2.50 :: COLOMBIAN COFFEE
The Café is on site of course, for a little caffeine boost as the Westman Multicultural Festival shines on.
Colombia’s coffee is 100% arabica. Our coffee boasts a perfect combination that strikes a delightful balance, making it neither excessively sweet nor at all bitter. One of the key factors contributing to the exceptional quality of Colombian coffee is the country’s ideal climatic conditions. The high mountains and volcanic soil create an optimal scenario for producing beans that are not only high in nutrients but also incredibly soft and rich in flavor.
Have you ever tried Pour-over Colombian Coffee? If not, you’re in for a treat! The basic method involves placing coffee grounds in a conical paper filter and pouring hot water over them, allowing the coffee to drip through. To enhance the flavor, you can let the coffee “bloom” before the extraction begins. This means allowing the grounds to absorb some water, which releases the oils and creates a richer taste. Just make sure the grounds are evenly covered and avoid using excessive amounts of water.
Now, here’s where it gets even more interesting. For $2.50, you can enjoy a cup of Colombian coffee made with a drip filter coffee maker. But for just $5, you get to watch a Colombian dressed in a beautiful folkloric costume manually pour hot water over the grounds, creating a truly unique and memorable coffee experience. In addition to the wonderful flavors and aromas, this method allows you to appreciate the art and tradition behind Colombian coffee.
We hope you’ll take the opportunity to try this delightful coffee experience and savor the rich, aromatic flavors of Colombian coffee. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget!
ENTERTAINMENT
COLOMBIAN PAVILION PROGRAM (PDF file)
Geraldine Restrepo, a Colombian dancer from Winnipeg will be performing at the Colombian Pavillion during the Westman Multicultural Festival. She is consider a star of Salsa and Bachata and has earned recognition across Canada. She won the 2023 “Winnipeg Bachata Fest” First place in duos and second place at the Calgary International Salsa Congress 2024 in the under 17 category. She also achieved 3rd place at the National Competition “Canada Salsa and Bachata Congress” in Toronto.
Don’t miss the opportunity to see her at the Colombian Pavilion, located at The Royal Canadian Legion
There will be Folkloric and modern dances for full entertainment!
COLOMBIAN MODERN AND FOLKLORIC DANCE GROUP FROM BRANDON
Choreographer: Isabela Monroy
Alietys Echeverria Sanchez
Aliss Martinez Sierra
Andrea Natividad
Didier Stiveen Bernal Ramirez
Isabella Monroy Amaya
SALSA DANCERS
Geraldine Restrepo
Laura Nomesque and Andres Rubiano
COLOMBIAN FOLKLORIC GROUP FROM WINNIPEG
Choreographers: Cruz Piedrahita, Lupe and Eduardo
Daniela Castillo
Maria Alejandra Castillo
Diana Valbuena
Tany Martinez
Luisa Devia
Jeimy Guacaneme
Zaydee Galvez
Jorge Hernandez
Sofia Castellon
ABOUT THE DANCES / GENRES
BULLERENGUE
Bullerengue is a Colombian traditional musical genre and dance from the Caribbean Region of Colombia, featuring a strong emphasis on rhythm and improvisation over melody and a call-and-response format.
COLOMBIAN SALSA
We have different salsa styles. In social dancing like salsa, both partners must follow the basic step pattern (1-2-3 5-6-7). This step forms the foundation for adding turns, shines, and personal touches, ensuring they “speak” the same dance language.
The second salsa style is called “Salsa choke” is a style of dance music and dance that originated in Colombia, combining traditional salsa rhythms with elements of reggaeton, hip hop, and other modern Colombian influences; it’s characterized by a fast pace, heavy percussion, and catchy melodies, often danced solo in a line-dancing style rather than with a partner, similar to how you might see in a hip hop party dance.
The third one is Colombian Cali-style. Cali (city of Colombia) is considered one of the salsa dancing capitals of the world. This Cali-style is all about the footwork. The upper body stays relatively rigid compared to other styles of salsa and the footwork is intricate and lightning fast.
CURRULAO
Currulao is deeply rooted in Colombia’s Pacific coast, an area with a significant Afro-Colombian population. This dance is characterized by its strong, rhythmic movements, reflecting the power of the ocean and the resilience of its people. Dancers often wear traditional attire, including vibrant skirts.
PILANDERAS
The dance of Las pilanderas is a dance that refers to the practice of women gossiping with one another as they work on grinding corn. The center piece is the pilón, or wooden mortar, used in many Afro Colombian communities for grinding corn for traditional specialties such as arepas, mazamorra, chicha and bollos. However, the dance uses this domestic scene to comment and poke fun at colonial as well as today’s society. The pilanderas are portrayed by men costumed in fashionable dresses and parasols which were likely to be worn by society ladies in colonial times. The “gossip” voiced in the lyrics may incorporate remarks on contemporary social situations.
CHAMPETA
It is also known as terapia, is a musical genre and dance that originated in the Caribbean coast of Colombia in the early 1980s. It developed from an earlier style termed chalusonga, which originated in Palenque de San Basilio in the mid-1970s. Chalusonga was a combination of Colombian chalupa and Afro-Cuban percussive music popularized by Estrellas del Caribe. When their music reached Cartagena de Indias, it evolved into Champeta, which became a movement and identity among Afro-Colombians. It shows influences from African colonial settlements and from contemporary African culture, particularly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Champeta has become one of Colombia’s most recognized musical expressions. At once popular and traditional, Champeta is here to stay.
CARRANGA
Carranga is a traditional musical genre that pulses with the country’s rich heritage. Born in the Andean region, Carranga embodies the essence of rural Colombia, telling stories of life, love, and the land through its distinctive melodies and rhythms.
Carranga’s origins can be traced back to the rural, mountainous areas of Colombia, particularly the departments of Boyaca, Cundinamarca, and Santander. This musical style emerged as a form of expression for the farmers, or campesinos, who toiled the fertile land. It served as a way to share their joys, sorrows, and everyday experiences.
JOROPO
Joropo is the traditional dance of the Colombian plains, known as the Western-Llanos. This dance is a lively and exuberant display of footwork, with male and female dancers showcasing their agility and grace.
BAMBUCO
Bambuco, also known as the “Dance of Love,” is a romantic and passionate dance that celebrates the courtship between a man and a woman. Dancers move in close proximity, emphasizing the intimate connection between the two.
The graceful and sensual movements are a testament to Colombian culture’s embrace of love and affection.
PASILLO
he pasillo, which means ‘small step’, is danced in short steps by a couple. Pasillo is a popular dance from Colombia that evolved from the European waltz, the minuet, and the Spanish bolero. This musical genre also exists in Venezuela as an Andean waltz, and in Ecuador as an Ecuadorian pasillo
BAMBUCO
This lively folk dance, originating from the Huila department, holds a special place in Colombian festivities, exuding the essence of the nation’s rich and diverse cultural tapestry.
The Sanjuanero, a lively Colombian dance and a subgenre of the bambuco rhythm with a hint of joropo influence, is a cultural gem that beautifully encapsulates the essence of Colombian identity. The name San Juan comes from the 24th of June which is San Juan day (right after St. John’s Eve), although the 29th of June (San Pedro) is a big, larger and contains more celebrations.
Colombians love to dance at parties, festivals, and other celebrations. Dancing is a way to express Colombian culture and folklore. Don’t miss our RUMBA on the night of Saturday, February 8, 2025 at the Royal Canadian Legion! Bienvenidos!
WEBSITES AND VIDEOS
COLOMBIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM piano performance by Canadian ELISE MAGUET
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