Asian Heritage Month: Celebrating the contributions of people of Asian descent

29 April 2022 - by Lucy Schmidt

Each May, we celebrate Asian Heritage Month. For hundreds of years, people of Asian descent have made important contributions to Canada’s history and identity. Despite discriminatory laws and prejudice, Asian communities have persevered and contributed in many meaningful ways to Canada and the world.

Asian heritage has different meanings in different communities, and between generations. Asia consists of, China, Hong Kong S.A.R., Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Macao, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Timor-Lest, and Yemen.

Unfortunately, "Asian” is often seen as a single identity. We can interrupt this perception by learning about the many diverse Asian identities. Use the links below to read short biographies, watch videos and read articles that deepen our understanding of the Asian-Canadian experiences. These resources highlight the historical and ongoing contributions of Asian people in Canada and celebrate Asian-Canadian accomplishments, both historic and contemporary.

With this knowledge, we continue to combat all forms of anti-Asian racism and discrimination, this month and beyond.

Websites