BlogHispanic Canadian Voices
TORONTO. Attendees began arriving at 6:30 p.m. at the Center for Social Innovation to celebrate, once again, the richness of our Latin American culture as a community during the 2026 Multicultural Gala: Celebrating Diversity, Building Community.
From the very first moment, the atmosphere was inviting: conversations filled the space with enthusiasm, while the music of Carla and the Latin Train transported those present to different corners of Latin America with each performance. And, to kick off the evening, the delicious tacos from A la Mexicana were a must, offering options for all tastes, as well as Argentine and Chilean wines.
At 7:00 p.m., Oscar Vigil, director of the Hispanic Canadian Heritage Council (HCHC), officially opened the event with a message that highlighted the importance of the Latin community in Canada. He noted that, according to the 2021 census, Latin Americans represent 2% of the Canadian population and that more than half are between 25 and 54 years old. These figures led to the central theme of his speech: the HCHC’s commitment to engaging new generations, especially young people born or raised in Canada, who, as he stated, “ultimately, are the ones who have to carry the torch.”
One of the most significant moments of the evening was the unveiling of the new visual identity for the HCHC and the Toronto Latin American Film Festival (LATAFF), one of the organization’s flagship programs. Estefany Salazar, head of the marketing team, explained that this rebranding represents “our identity and where we are headed as an association. With this new image, we welcome the second generation of Latinos in Canada.” The colors remain the same: red symbolizes our roots, and orange represents the richness of our culture.
The new logos were designed by Roger Galvez, a Salvadoran-Canadian and also part of this second generation of Latin Americans in Canada. His participation reflects the goal that the HCHC has promoted in recent years: to create spaces for new generations not only to preserve their cultural heritage but also to actively contribute to the growth of the community.
This growth has also been made possible thanks to the commitment of volunteers, whose work sustains a large part of the organization’s initiatives. During the gala, Estefany Salazar thanked the creative and marketing team, comprised of Rafael Nájera; César Rizo, videographer; Claudia García, photographer; Osvaldo Meneses, creator of the new HCHC website; and Darinka Ramos, graphic designer. Their talent and dedication have been fundamental to the success of the projects developed over the past year.
As part of the recognition of this work, the 2026 Hummingbird Award was presented to two volunteers who, in the words of Vaitiare Rojo, program coordinator, “have made the magic possible”: Darinka Ramos, representing the second generation of Latinos in Canada, and André Kamehama, a member of the LATAFF team.
The evening also included a tribute to the Consul of Argentina in Toronto, Gustavo Infante, who is celebrating five years in office. Oscar Vigil highlighted his constant support for HCHC initiatives and his commitment to promoting Latin American art, culture, and identity.
During his remarks, Gustavo Infante spoke with pride about the achievements and the strengthening of ties with the community through initiatives such as LATAFF. He also emphasized the importance of School4Civic, an annual HCHC program that promotes leadership and civic participation among the Hispanic community, offering tools to better understand Canadian society, integrate into it, and actively contribute to its development.
Infante also highlighted the work that the HCHC has been doing with the second generation of Latinos in Canada. Using the image of a tree, he explained that the roots remain in Latin America, while the branches continue to grow in Canada. This cultural heritage, he affirmed, is what is passed on to new generations, who maintain their connection to their origins while building their future as part of Canadian society.
The program concluded with a selection of Salvadoran desserts and a special performance by singer El Nene Argento, accompanied by Tango Urbano dancers, in a tribute to Argentina that brought to a close an evening dedicated to celebrating diversity, strengthening community ties, and recognizing the work of those who keep Latin American culture alive in Canada.
Beyond the music, awards, and gastronomy, the 2026 Multicultural Gala reaffirmed the purpose that has guided the HCHC for years: to strengthen a community that finds a meeting point in its roots and looks to the future, giving space to new generations to preserve, enrich and project Latin American culture in Canada.
Laura Silva
PHOTOS: Claudia García and Victoria Aguilar
