Asian Heritage Month

Asian Heritage Month has been celebrated since the 1990s, but the Canadian government officially recognized May as Asian Heritage Month in 2002.

In 2001, May was also declared South Asian Heritage Month in Ontario, further evidence that the Asian diaspora is important to the Canadian and Quebec society.

This year’s poster brings together the stories of our sisters, brothers and comrades from Asian heritage. The blue colour represents the ocean that many have travelled on or over to arrive in Canada and Quebec. The red is emblematic of Canada, a society that is richer because it opened its door to the world.

The icons in the background represent some of the diverse cultures and heritages that people have brought to form a wonderful tapestry.

For 2019, the emphasis is on the youth of the community.  Asian youth living in Canada and Quebec are shaping our society’s future, let’s all highlight the contributions that the youth have made, and continue to make, in shaping our heritage and identity.

Amid continued violence perpetrated against people just because of who they are or what they look like, let us never forget that our diversity is a strength that we need to cherish.

We all come from different backgrounds, we are all shaped by our own experiences and many of us may have multiple identities. These traits build who we are and contribute to build a better society founded on shared values and common goals.

For South Asians, the month of May has been a time of celebration and commemoration of their arrival from the Indian subcontinent to the Americas beginning on May 5, 1838.

May is a time to recognize the many contributions that people of Asian heritage make to the betterment of society.

Let us celebrate Asian Heritage Month in all our communities.

In Solidarity,