In the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, visible minorities encountered racial prejudice in North America. Among them, Asian immigrants on the West Coast were particularly isolated from mainstream society and were used as cheap labour.
After the Second World War, however, the situation dramatically changed for Asian immigrants. The restrictions against Asian immigration and citizenship were removed and many started to successfully integrate into North American society. To commemorate the contribution of people of Asian descent, Asian Heritage Month has been celebrated in Canada since 1993.
Annual festivities are held in all major cities in Canada to recognize the legacy of Asian Canadians and their contributions that have built the multicultural and diverse nation it is today.
“Heritage Toronto’s fun and informative tours give citizens the chance to see Toronto’s neighbourhoods in a way they never have before. Our tour leaders do extensive research to infuse the history of each area into their tours,” says Francisco Alvarez, Executive Director at Heritage Toronto.
For Asian Heritage Month this year, Heritage Toronto is presenting the brand new “part two” to last year’s popular “Chinatown: Then and Now” walk. This new boutique tour, called “Toronto’s First Chinatown: A Step Back in Time,” tours the City Hall neighbourhood that was once the backbone of the Chinese community. This new tour (May 10 – Tickets can be purchased after April 23rd at www.heritagetoronto.org) will run alongside previous favourites “Chinatown: Then and Now” (May 6), “Korea Town” (May 13), and “St. James Town and the Filipino Community” (May 2), which are supported by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
LIMITED SPACES. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ALL ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH TOURS. To register visit www.heritagetoronto.org after April 23rd.
* Saturday, May 2 – 10:00 AM
ST. JAMES TOWN AND THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY (FREE)
Learn about the history of the Filipino community in Toronto through stories of culture, family and work. Hear how establishing a life in St. James Town helped this community make their mark in Toronto.
* Wednesday, May 6 – 6:30 PM
CHINATOWN: THEN AND NOW (FREE)
Experience the energy of Toronto’s largest Chinatown as you walk Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street with author Arlene Chan. Hear stories of how the Chinese community faced the challenges of anti-Chinese legislation and discrimination, and learn about the community’s remarkable contributions to Toronto’s economy and cultural vibrancy.
* Wednesday, May 13 – 6:30 PM (FREE)
Since the 1970s, the stretch of Bloor Street between Bathurst and Christie Streets has been known as Korea Town. Learn about the history, culture and distinctive immigration experience of the Korean community as you walk past the church, community organizations and businesses that have contributed to the transformation of this neighbourhood.
Sunday, May 10 – 1:30 PM ($20/person)
TORONTO’S FIRST CHINATOWN: A STEP BACK IN TIME– NEW TOUR
Travel down memory lane with author Arlene Chan to the former landmarks, restaurants, and organizations in the City Hall neighbourhood that were the backbone of the Chinese community until the 1970s. Discover where Canadian skating champion Elvis Stojko studied martial arts, how Chinese restaurants attracted visitors, and which one actor E.G. Robinson rated as the best restaurant.
The Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society is the organizer of “explorASIAN,” Canada’s second oldest Asian Heritage Month festival. This annual festival creates greater public awareness and appreciation of the rich diversity of the Pan-Asian Canadian artistic and cultural communities in Metro Vancouver.
Established in 1997 following a Canada Council-funded conference, Asian Heritage Month was designed to launch a national festival hosted by individual communities across Canada, with a goal to address the concerns that a growing Canadian Asian population was not proportionately represented in the metropolitan arenas of artistic and cultural life.
*April 16, 2015 to May 31, 2015, Guizhou China: In the Season of New Rice, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre exhibition space Hours: 6.00am – 1.00am
An exhibition by anthropology and award-winning photographer Evelyn Nodwell as she explores village and small town life in Guizhou Province during China’s growing urbanization. For enquiries: http://www.ikebarberlearningcentre.ubc.ca Media Contact: Allan Cho – email@example.com – 604.827.4366
*April 28 – May 24, Sharing Our Stories: Preserving Multicultural Histories, Vancouver Public Library
Featuring histories of the Iranian community that highlight immigration and settlement experiences. For enquiries: http:// nvma.ca/collections/archive-collections
* May 1st to 30th. “A Bridge to Taiwan – Series of Taiwanese films”, Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society, Taiwanese Cultural Centre, 8853 Selkirk St., Vancouver, (detail dates and time please check www.tccs.ca)
This series of 24 Taiwanese films provide the easy access to the best of Taiwan cinema and the most entertaining way to know Taiwan’s history and complex culture background. For enquiries: www.tccs.ca
* Saturday, May 2, 10:00 am to Noon, Official Opening Ceremony, explorASIAN 2015, at the Milton & Fei Wong Theatre, Simon Fraser University, 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Featured at our opening will be The Honourable Teresa Wat, Mayor Gregor Robertson, Ass’t Commissioner RCMP Dan Malo, other notables, performances by Iranian and Japanese artists, Calligraphy from several countries translating “I am nei- ther of the East nor of the West, No boundaries exist within my breast.”
For enquires: www.explorasian.org or firstname.lastname@example.org
* May 2 – 31, Exhibition of Historical Stamps, Numismatics, Photographs and Artifacts for 130th Anniversary of the Canadian Pacific Railway (1885-2015), Chinese Cultural Centre Museum, 555 Columbia Street, Vancouver
The exhibition will include over 1000 items such as stamps, coins, photographs and artefacts related to the Canadian Pacific Railway. (Tues- Sun 11am-5pm. Closed on Mondays and holidays.)
For enquiries: www.cccvan.com
Complete listing of events will be available at www.explorasian.org
The Asian Heritage Foundation (Southern Alberta) celebrates national Asian Heritage Month through the presentation of the following events.
* May 2nd, 2015
12noon – 1:15pm
Chinook Centre Mall, Calgary
Asian Heritage Month KICK OFF
The Bay Court area at Chinook Centre will be buzzing with free Asian entertainment, featuring Martial Arts displays, traditional and contemporary Asian dance and Midnight Taiko, Calgary’s celebrated Japanese Taiko Drummers. This event commemorates the beginning of Asian Heritage Month in Canada.
* May 31st, 2015
12noon – 4:00pm
Chinese Cultural Centre, Calgary
ImaginASIAN 2015 Cultural Festival
Stop by the Chinese Cultural Centre in downtown Calgary on Sunday, May 31st to celebrate Asian Heritage Month. The 2015 Cultural Festival features entertainment, food, arts & crafts, interactive activities and informative displays that highlight the rich pan-Asian culture of Calgary. This is a free public event for the whole family.
* June 13th, 2015
6:30pm – 10:00pm
Regency Palace Restaurant
ImaginASIAN 2015 Cultural Gala
A fantastic 10-course Chinese banquet and a wide variety of pan-Asian entertainment, highlighting the contributions of two wonderful Asian-Calgarians through the presentation of the 2015 Outstanding Asian-Calgarian Awards. Tickets are $50 per person.
For more information, check out www.asianheritagecalgary.com or call at 403-650-6752