In Canada, May is Asian Heritage Month, a time to consider and honor the numerous contributions that people of Asian ancestry have made and are still making to the country.
One of Canada’s greatest qualities is its diversity, and the government work hard to provide everyone in the country the chance to realize their full potential and take part in civic life.
The members of this multicultural, thriving, and expanding community have made contributions to many facets of Canadian culture, including the arts, sciences, business, and government.
Over the past two centuries, people and families from East Asia, Southern Asia, Western Asia, and Southeast Asia have immigrated to Halifax. These immigrants brought a diverse cultural heritage from various languages, ethnic groups, and religious traditions to Canada.
According to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, at the beginning of the 19th century, South Asian immigrants started to arrive in Ontario. South Asian immigrants resided throughout the province and worked mostly in the sawmill sector. The month of May has long been a time for South Asians to celebrate and remember their migration from the Indian subcontinent to the Americas, which began on May 5, 1838.
People from these various, thriving, and expanding communities have made contributions to many facets of Canadian life, including the labor movement and the arts, sciences, sports, business, and government.
Asians have a long history of involvement in the labor movement in Canada. Asian immigrants and Canadians have experienced racism, exploitation, and discrimination on both an individual and institutional level in numerous workplaces. Asian-American workers have organized and shown resiliency in the face of racism and prejudice.
The first Chinese-Canadian senator in Canada, Senator Vivienne Poy, put forth a motion to declare May to be Asian Heritage Month in 2001. In a formal ceremony in May 2002, the Canadian government declared May to be Asian Heritage Month.
Let’s all join together to recognize Asian Heritage Month!
References:
https://www.halifax.ca/
https://www.canada.ca/
https://www.cupw.ca/
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