Since the 1990s, May has been Asian Heritage Month in Canada, a time to reflect on and celebrate the contributions of Canadians of Asian descent have made and continue to make towards the growth and prosperity of Canada.
Asian cultures are so rich in culture and diversity because they are represented in more than 30 countries — including the entire Asian continent and the Pacific Islands — and encompass more than 100 different languages.
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. In May 2002, the Government of Canada signed an official declaration to designate May as Asian Heritage Month.
This month-long celebration in previous years has featured the diverse contributions and historical achievements of the Asian community in Canada through festive celebrations with traditional performances, food, and art.
But this year is different. Reports of increased violence against American & Canadians of Asian and Pacific Islanders descent have been in the news frequently and now is a time more than ever to show compassion and support to this amazing group of people. Positive representation and uplifting the voices of Canadians of Asian and Pacific Islanders descent matter in Canada and beyond.
Here are ways you can support and learn about the Asian community in Canada and beyond, while also celebrating their culture and traditions:
Virtual activities:
- AAPI Storytime from The Conscious Kid Featuring a new title every week in May!
- Drawn Together by Minh Le
- Lotus & Feather read by Michelle Yeoh
- Grace Lin Author Storytime and Drawing
- See Us Unite for Change: Ken Jeong will host this special event on MTV Entertainment May 21 at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT. The special will feature music, comedy performances, short film packages, and speakers and seek to educate viewers about the AAPI community’s impact in America and inspire them to support efforts against hate and discrimination. It will be shown across MTV's portfolio of brands (MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Network, Smithsonian Channel, Pop TV, VH1, CMT, TV Land, and Logo), as well as BET and Nickelodeon. It will also stream exclusively on Facebook Watch.
Learn
- Check out these children books you can sign out from the library with contactless holds pick-up & return services:
 | The paper boat Author: Lam, Thao, Boat People starts with a story inspired by Thao's mother's life: a young girl watches as a bowl of sugar water is put out to attract (and get rid of) some pesky aunts. |
 | Eyes that kiss in the corners Author: Ho, Joanna, "A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother's, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future. Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self-love and empowerment" |
- Visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights virtually to see stories of Asian Immigrants like:
Here are some educational resources originally listed on the Government of Canada's Website for Asian Heritage month
- Explore A Scholar's Garden at Virtual Museum.ca, a virtual tour of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Located in Vancouver, it is the first full-scale classical Chinese Garden ever constructed outside of China.
- Chinese Canadian Women, 1923-1967 Funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the online exhibit entitled Chinese Canadian Women, 1923-1967: Inspiration - Innovation – Ingenuity, explores a compelling chapter of Canadian history through the experiences of Canadian women of Chinese descent.
- Heroes Remember: Featured Chinese-Canadian Veterans Veteran Affairs Canada’s Heroes Remember presents 21 veterans who speak candidly about their wartime efforts.
- Japanese Canadian National Museum – British Columbia
The Museum’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit artifacts and archives relating to the history of Canadians of Japanese descent from the 1870s to present, and to communicate the Japanese Canadian experience and contributions as an integral part of Canada's history and multicultural society. - Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society The Society is an integrated component of the Chinese Museum within the Chinese Cultural Centre complex in Vancouver's Chinatown. Its goal is to collect, preserve, document, and commemorate the role of Chinese Canadian veterans in the service of Canada's military and its impact on Chinese Canadian history and civil rights.
- Historica Canada This website describes the Canada-Asia experience from earliest times to the present day. The website discusses the Asian experience in Canada, and the evolution of Canadian society, from exclusion to greater tolerance including the embracing of diversity.
- The Ties that Bind - The Ties That Bind: Building the CPR, Building a Place in Canada examines the struggle of communities of Chinese descent in Canada, to establish their identity and roots in Canada. This online project was developed by The Foundation to Commemorate the Chinese Railroad Workers in Canada.
- The Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage - This collaborative work focuses on showcasing Asian Canadian heritage, achievements, contributions, and stories. The website also features works by Canadian artists of Asian descent and encourages participation in the cultural life of Canada. It is also a valuable teaching resource for schools on Asian heritage and culture.
- Here are some additional resources that spotlight Asian and Pacific Islanders in America that may be of interest as well:
- The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, California
- The Crow Collection of Asian Art, The University of Texas at Dallas
- Dallas Museum of Art
- The Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery at The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, Washington, D.C.
- The Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Museum of Chinese in America, New York
- The Noguchi Museum, Queens, New York
- The Rubin Museum of Art, New York, New York
- The Seattle Asian Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
- Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience
- The Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles, California
Plus more! Here are four great videos featuring AAPI history:
- Asian Americans PBS Film Series
- Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Hosted by the Library of Congress
- The SIX Documentary (The Untold Story of RMS Titanic's Chinese Passengers)
- Amend: The Fight for America
Movies and shows for kids featuring Asian characters or culture
CBC Gem has an Asian Heritage Month Collection of documentaries, films and shows that honour the rich culture of Asian Canadians.
Canadian Noteworthy films documenting Asian Canadian experiences
- Iron Road
- Unwanted Soldiers
- Everything Will Be
- Tiger!
- Scenes from a Corner Store
- Sleeping Tigers: The Asahi Baseball Story
- Continuous Journey
Many of these movies and shows can be found on popular streaming networks.
Movies and shows for younger kids:
- Bao
- Bend it like Beckam
- Big Hero 6
- Finding ‘Ohana
- Float
- Launchpad
- Lilo and Stitch
- Over the Moon
- Moana
- Mira, Royal Detective
- Mulan (Animated & Live Action)
- My Neighbor Totoro
- Up
- Ponyo
- Raya and the Last Dragon
- Sitara
- The Speed Cubers
- Spelling the Dream
- Wind
Movies for older kids and adults:
- Blinded by the Light (13+)
- Crazy Rich Asians (13+)
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (+12)
- Driveways (13+)
- The Farewell (11+)
- Gran Torino (17+)
- The Joy Luck Club (16+)
- Meet the Patels
- Minari (13+)
- Namesake (14+)
- Never Have I Ever (14+)
- Yellow Rose (13+)
