The Flavours of Integration
AWCM at Place des Arts:
The Flavours of Integration by AWCM was a community theatre piece that brought to life the true stories of Afghan women—from schools where they were forbidden to learn to the streets of a new country where their pasts were erased. It was a story of arrival, of losing everything—language, career, home—only to be expected to rebuild a new life from scratch with the Canadian dream in mind.
Beyond the theatre performance, the evening featured a cocktail event with an exhibition of Afghan artwork and crafts, followed by the show, a dance performance, a Q&A session, and a light dinner. This experience offered a glimpse into Afghan culture, stories, and hospitality.
It was a night filled with beauty, awareness, challenges, and stories that asked: What does it take to begin again?
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Audiences were moved, inspired, and entertained as community voices took the stage to share powerful stories of integration through performance and movement. April 30th—this was a date no one wanted to miss!
It was an unforgettable evening that brought cultures together in the heart of Montreal.
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Theatre Link at Place des Arts
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Gallery
One of the central goals was to create a connection between the Afghan women’s community and the world of theatre. We aimed to present their stories in a way that was authentic and reflective of their real-life experiences—less as traditional drama, and more as a performance grounded in their personal journeys.
To achieve this, we engaged women from our community to take part not as actors playing roles, but as individuals sharing their own narratives. Their stories explored themes of migration, identity, and integration into Canadian society.
As is common in AWCM projects, we also involved the younger generation of Canadians, particularly those with theatre backgrounds, to support the technical and performance aspects of the production. This collaboration provided a platform for cultural exchange: the Afghan women shared their lived experiences, while young Canadian participants gained insight into Afghan culture and the challenges faced by immigrants in Canada.
The warm ovation and positive feedback we received were affirmations that our efforts on this theatre project were meaningful. They also left us with a sense of hope, echoing the words of Rumi:
“Beloved reached desired glow / And so we say, may it be so.”
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This video is the recorded version of The Flavours of Integration staged at the cinquieme sale of Place des Arts on April 30, 2025, in the heart of Montreal.
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Crafting Unity vernissage
The evening was made even more special by the mosaic tiles created by our members over the past year in our Mosaic workshops. The result? exhibition Crafting Unity Vernissage, guided and inspired by visual and mosaic artist Madeleine Turgeon. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this exhibition possible!
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The vibrant display of traditional Afghan crafts and the exhibition added even more color and richness to the event, showcasing the heritage, and creativity of our community.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Place des Arts for hosting this event and to Canadian Heritage for their generous support in funding this project.
