An interview with club Secretary and Treasurer Kayla Weekes
At Mt. A, finding a sense of belonging can make all the difference — and for Caribbean students, the Caribbean Student Association (CSA) offers a warm, lively, supportive community that feels “like a home away from home” according to the CSA Secretary/Treasurer and Mt. A BSc and aviation program student Kayla Weekes. Weekes describes the club as being “all about fostering a sense of community for all Caribbean students or those affiliated with the Caribbean at Mt. A.” She says it is not too late to join the club, as they are continuously welcoming new members.
On Oct. 11, the CSA is hosting their annual Sports Day from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Normandy Field in Sackville. This event is open to all students and advertises an exciting assortment of relays, team sports, races, music, and more! Games include tug of war, an egg and spoon race, and a basketball game. Beyond their Sports Day event, Weekes says the CSA runs “holiday events [and] sometimes we have a party at Ducky’s or any of the bars […] other than that we just have normal meetings and [collaborations] with other societies.”
When asked for a highlight of being a part of CSA, Weekes says, “our general meetings just because it’s where we all come together, whether it’s just playing games or having refreshments. She adds that “It just feels nice to be around people from where you are from.” Weekes says another CSA community building event highlight is a club Thanksgiving potluck that happens over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. While “most students go away for Thanksgiving” according to Weekes, “most [Caribbean students] are stuck here, [so] we kind of just try and get together and still have our own Thanksgiving traditions.”
Although the club has had many successful years, filled with numerous community building events, CSA continues to grow and expand under a dedicated executive team. Weekes explains,“last year, it was a pretty slow year, so this year we are trying to change, and kinda get back to how we were before.” Weekes says the CSA hopes to improve their social media presence, hoping to engage more of the student body with their club. To keep up with CSA events, Weekes recommends following CSA’s Instagram page: @mta.csa. And if anyone has any questions about the club, they can reach out over CSA’s Instagram DMs.
Beyond CSA events, Weekes suggests exploring local spots in Sackville and Moncton to experience and enjoy Caribbean culture. Local community members can visit Sackville’s weekly Farmers Market every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., for some Trinidadian food that sources its meat locally from East Meats West Butchers. They post their menu on their Instagram: @islandvibes_atasteofthecbean for what they will have at the market every week.