Asian Heritage Month is here and the City of Richmond is encouraging everyone to learn and celebrate the rich diversity and various Asian cultures its residents have to offer.
The month of May is a time for British Columbians to reflect and celebrate the contributions Asian-Canadians have made to Canada’s growth.
According to a city release, Richmond is one of the most diverse cities in Canada where two-thirds of its residents born outside the country and the majority having connections to Asian cultural roots.
Mayor Malcolm Brodie highlighted importance of how diverse cultures and the achievements Asian-Canadians have contributed to the growth of Richmond.
“This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic when we have seen increased incidents of anti-Asian racism. Everyone should stand up against all forms of racism and hate and stay true to our shared values of respect, inclusion and diversity,” said Brodie.
This year’s theme for Asian Heritage Month is “Recognition, Resilience and Resolve,” which, according to the city, symbolizes the feelings that people of Asian descent in Canada have experienced.
It is a call to action for Canadians to come together and combat all forms of anti-Asian racism and discrimination.
In celebration of the month, many online resources and programs are available online to honour and learn the achievements of Asian-Canadians.
A series of virtual community events are listed below:
Richmond Public Library presentation of “Unwanted Soldiers”
Unwanted Soldiers is a film looking at the experiences of a Chinese-Canadian veteran during World War II and it examines the legacy of discrimination and racism against British Columbia’s Chinese-Canadian community
(https://yourlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events)
Richmond Public Library’s Asian Heritage Month online celebration
Participants can expect stories, crafts and more to highlight the many cultural perspectives during the celebration on May 20 starting at 2 p.m. The event is for ages three and up (https://yourlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/608b339a8910133a005530e8)
Richmond Art Gallery work
Union, a stimulating and thought-provoking body of works from the Richmond Art Gallery takes a look at ancestral roots in a futuristic setting
(https://www.richmondartgallery.org/union)
The Canadian Heritage website
The Canadian Heritage website offers information about the achievements and contributions of Canadians of Asian descent.
(www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/asian-heritage-month)
Annual explorASIAN exhibition
Over 50 virtual Asian Heritage Month online events and exhibitions available during the explorASIAN exhibition
(https://explorasian.org/2021/04/13/welcome-to-explorasian-2021/)
History of the Japanese-Canadians at Britannia Shipyards
Memories of the Japanese Canadian experience through the eyes of the Murakami family at Britannia Shipyards
(www.richmond.ca/culture/sites/britannia/about)
Virtual Chinatown walking tour
A virtual walking tour of Chinatown presented by the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC
Punjabi Legacy Project
The Royal BC Museum Punjabi Legacy Project which aims to preserve, explore and share the contributions that Canadians of south Asian descent have made to BC and Canada
(https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/about/explore/centre-arrivals/punjabi-intercultural-history-project)
