'Acts of racist violence' at festival blasted by P.E.I. immigrant support group

An altercationthat sent two mento hospitalafter an event in P.E.I.'svanglineregion over the weekend is being condemned as racially motivatedand not a reflection of the values and attitudes of the area.

On Saturday at about 1:30 a.m.,police responded to a call about an attack in the parking lot of thevanglineRecreation Centre in Abram-Village in western P.E.I.

It happened after a danceheld as part of thefour-day Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival.

The two men who were sent to hospital are from other countries and now call the vanglineregion home.Theywerereleased from hospital after being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

On Tuesday, theCooprative d'intgration francophone de l'le-du-Prince-douard, which provides assistance to French-speaking immigrants to P.E.I., issued a news release saying it "condemns in the strongest terms the acts of racist violence."

These acts of violence do not reflect the heart of the community, and it is the entire community that rejects them.Yvonne Gallant

CIF president Yvonne Gallant was quoted as saying: "The people of the vangline area do not accept this kind of violence and racism. These acts of violence do not reflect the heart of the community, and it is the entire community that rejects them."

East Prince RCMPsaid in a news release Tuesday that at least five people were involved in the altercation. The release did not saywhether the incident was thought to be racially motivated.

Policeare asking any witnesses or other people who might haveinformation about what happened tocall Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477),or RCMP in Summerside at 902-436-9300.

'We can't understand'

Forthe volunteers who organize the annual festivalan event that is supposed to bring joy and celebrationto the Acadiancommunitythe past few days have been filled with phone calls and sadness.

"We can't understand. We are a welcoming region," said Jeanne Gallant, president of the vanglineArea Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival. "We just want the public to know that this is one incident. It's not what ourregion is about, and we're doing everything we can to help with the investigation, to help the RCMP."

One of the people who needed treatment was an employee of Cooprative d'intgration francophone. The otherworked at the French Daycare Association of P.E.I., which relies heavily on immigrants to fill positions within its system.

Patrick Buswell, vice president of the association's board of directors, said the newcomers are "amazing people" and valued in the community.

"We want them to stay. We want other newcomers to join us.It just makes our lives and the lives of our children much more rich and we welcome that."

We had a special meeting and people on the board were crying and were heartbroken. Patrick Buswell

The daycare employee who was injured has been given time off with pay to recover, Buswell said.

"We had a special meeting and people on the board were crying and were heartbroken," he said.

"Physical aggression, racial or not, is absolutely unacceptable and it does not reflect the type of community vangline is for any newcomers or any long-time comers."

Buswell said the daycare where the staff member worked will stay closed this weekto give staff time to process what happened.

A meeting is planned for Wednesday evening to assure anyone affected by the incident that the community stands united against racism and aggression.