In Canada, we celebrate Asian Heritage Month during the month of May, an initiative introduced in the 1990s and made official by Senator Vivienne Poy in 2001. The Asian population of Canada has established itself over the past two centuries, adding to Canada’s rich diversity across the provinces.
The Government of Canada’s theme for Asian Heritage Month 2025 is: “Unity in Diversity: The Impact of Asian Communities in Shaping Canadian Identity”. This theme recognizes the profound and enduring ways in which Asian communities have helped shape Canada’s social fabric. From the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway by Chinese labourers in the1880s, to the election of Douglas Jung as the first Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament in 1957, to trailblazing figures like Adrienne Clarkson, the first Asian Canadian Governor General.
However, their experiences have also been marked by painful chapters. Canada’s history includes the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act and the Internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II. These legacies of Anti-Asian hate are part of our shared history, and their impact are still felt today within Asian communities in Canada facing a more visible influx of hate-driven attacks and comments, both in-person and online. With ongoing issues of Islamophobia, South Asian discrimination, and anti-Asian hate driven by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, celebrating and acknowledging the Asian Canadian identity remains relevant and essential. It reminds us of the power of diversity, the importance of inclusion, and the enduring spirit of communities that refuse to be defined by hate.
For many, being an Asian Canadian remains a complex part of their identity. Some struggle with the Asian Canadian label, while others perceive it as an accurate reflection of experiencing both a uniquely Eastern and uniquely Western approach to living in Canada. Asia is a diverse and vibrant continent home to a wide range of cultures and ethnicities that fall under the Asian Canadian experience. From Central to East, to South Asia, communities across the continent have contributed and shaped Canadian culture, economics, and innovation in different ways.
As Asian Heritage Month comes to a close, our Office would like to acknowledge the e importance of remaining educated, informed, and aware of the contributions and history of Asian Canadian communities in Kitchener-ݮƵ, and to be mindful and considerate of those impacted by the recent tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver. We encourage you to learn more about the Asian Canadian identity and help Asian Canadians feel seen and supported.
To learn more about Asian Heritage and history, check out these resources: