Hapa-palooza plans to honour broadcaster Margaret Gallagher, environmentalist Tamo Campos, and author Lawrence Hill

If you loathe balkanization and the creation of ethnic silos, the fifth annual Hapa-palooza provides the perfect antidote.

This year, the country's first and largest mixed-roots festival will honour three Canadians who defy any sort of ethnic categorization.

Later this month, best-selling author and Massey lecturer Lawrence Hill (The Book of Negroes) will receive Hapa-palooza's lifetime achievement award.

Hill's new novel, The Illegal, will be released next week in Canada. He's the son of a black father and white mother.

CBC Radio Hot Air host Margaret Gallagher will be honoured as a community builder. She's also of mixed heritage.

Vancouver environmentalist and writer Tamo Campos will be celebrated for youth achievement. He's the grandson of famed broadcaster and geneticist David Suzuki.

Campos was arrested last year along with more than 100 others during protests on Burnaby Mountain against the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline project.

The event takes place at Fortune Sound Club on September 18 from 8 to 10 p.m. Admission is by donation.

Hapa-palooza runs from September 16 to 20 and will also showcase actor Patrick Gallagher (Glee, Night at the Museum), comedian and activist Sean Devlin (ShitHarperDid.com), author Brandy Liên Worrall (What Doesn't Kill Us) an Chelene Knight (Braided Skin), and musicians Buckman Coe and David Morin.