May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, a time to reflect on and celebrate the contributions that Canadians of Asian descent have made and continue to make, to the growth and prosperity of Canada:
Asian Heritage Month has been celebrated across Canada since the 1990s. In December 2001, the Senate of Canada adopted a motion proposed by Senator Vivienne Poy to officially designate May as Asian Heritage Month in Canada. Over the last two centuries, immigrants have journeyed to Canada from East Asia, Southern Asia, Western, Central and Southeast Asia, bringing our society a rich cultural heritage representing many languages, ethnicities and cultural traditions. (Source)
Want to spread the word about Asian Heritage Month?
Check out the campaign toolkit here: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/asian-heritage-month/toolkit.html
Events in Asian Canadian History
Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/asian-heritage-month/important-events.html
Since the late-1700s, people of Asian descent have made important contributions to Canada’s history and identity. Each year, as part of its annual Asian Heritage Month campaign, the Government of Canada encourages Canadians to learn about how Canadians of Asian descent have and continue to help shape Canada as we know it today. These include, amongst others:
- Canadians of East Asian descent
- Canadians of South Asian descent
- Canadians of Southeast Asian descent
- Canadians of West Asian descent
- Canadians of Central Asian descent
Interested in a more community-driven perspective on Asians making an impact?
Check out this list from the Cold Tea Collective, a website dedicated to celebrating the Asian diaspora. https://coldteacollective.com/asian-canadians-making-it-while-making-a-difference/