Warm Your Bones shines spotlight on culture

April 21, 2026

Jenny Huang performs a traditional Chinese dance for the sold-out capacity crowd that turned out for the Warm Your Bones event in Port Hood in March. *(Photo: Greg Curry Photography)*

Chinese dancer Alex Yanh shares his artistry. *(Photo: Greg Curry Photography)*

There was standing room only in February as The Admiral Lounge in Port Hood played host to a multicultural event aimed at supporting newcomers to Inverness County.

Ocean Le, who helped organize “Warm Your Bones” in his role as healthcare navigator with the Municipality of Inverness County, says the event exceeded the expectations of everyone involved.

The event came about after a conversation he had with Katrina MacDonald, manager of the lounge.

“She had a dream about having an event that showcased multiculturalism because she’s hired such a large number of international workers and those workers are the heartbeat at the tavern right now,” he says.

“They do such wonderful work and they’re really connecting with the community, so we wanted to have something where we celebrated their culture and also get them out of the kitchen and from behind the bar to actually have them celebrate,” Ocean adds.

He says the role of the healthcare navigator is not only to assist in recruiting healthcare professionals to the county, but also to create a supportive environment that will ensure they stay.

Food from different parts of the world could be sampled at the Warm Your Bones event. Here, Corrine Landry discusses her
selection with Alfred Sujith, a performer from India. *(Photo: Greg Curry Photography)*

“We know that doctors that come here already have the job, and they have that connection with the community because they’re serving the community,” he explains. “They’re very face forward. What we wanted to do is make sure we support them off work, so they have something that’s beyond the workplace.”

“Second fold is making sure the entire family is welcomed as well,” he notes. “We want to make sure the spouse and the children are integrated into the community because we find the spouse and the families are the secret sauce to making sure they stay in the community, because a happy family stays here.”

Ocean Le, one of the organizers for the event, introduced acts and kept the crowd entertained between performances. *(Photo: Greg Curry Photography)*

Cathy Hawley on piano and Dawn Beaton on fiddle. *(Photo: Greg Curry Photography)*

Along with providing a platform for staff at the lounge to share their culture and their art, Warm Your Bones also featured a number of other performers, including Mi’kmaw drummer Graham Marshall and African drummer Peter Oyedijo, a graduate of Cape Breton University.

“What was really special about the night is people were able to highlight their music or their art, but they were also able to perform together. Graham and Peter singing and doing drums together, I thought, was so spectacular and at that point we had a conga line as well. People wanted to dance and they got to dance too.”

Some of the other featured performers included fiddler Dawn Beaton, accompanied by Cathy Hawley on piano, municipal councillor Lynn Chisholm and her husband, Cyril MacDonald, Bhangra dancer Udayan Moudgill, and Jenny Huang, who shared a traditional Chinese dance.

African drummer Peter Oyedijo also performed. *(Photo: Greg Curry Photography)*

Alex Yang also performed a traditional Chinese dance and offered guests a chance to experience Chinese calligraphy. The evening’s menu featured dishes prepared by the lounge staff and newcomers, representing a delicious mix of Ukrainian, Nigerian, Chinese, Mexican, and Indian cuisines.

Ocean is part of a team creating a five-year strategy with the Municipality’s Culture and Community Development team focused on not just attracting healthcare professionals to Inverness County but making sure they and their families thrive here. A big part of the strategy is creating opportunities for people to get out, connect, and feel a sense of belonging.

The team is also collaborating with Ignite Cape Breton to grow a Rural Mentor Network, connecting soon-to-be retired and retired individuals who have incredible stories, experience, and insight to share. The goal is to turn those stories into tangible action that creates opportunities for newcomers and youth in the county.

“It’s about being able to have them connected with youth, newcomers or adults who are looking to develop a product or idea,” Ocean says. “So, just being able to connect our incredibly rich population that are 55-plus is so valuable. We noticed young people today have ideas, so how do we make those ideas actionable plans?”

They’re also continuing their Coffee & Connect series, with a recent event being held at L’Arche Cape Breton.

“Events like these are part of a bigger picture — creating spaces where people feel welcomed, valued, and able to build a life. Inverness County already sells itself with the trails, beaches and the people. What we’re focused on now is nurturing the connections and opportunities that help people put down roots.”

Father/daughter duo Cesar and Mariana Beatoncourt treated the sold-out crowd to the Cumbia dance style from Columbia. (Photos: Greg Curry Photography)