ASIAN CANADIAN: Asian Heritage Month

Canada Celebrates MAY as ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH!

Every year Canadians are invited to take part in the festivities that commemorate
the legacy of Asian Canadians, past and present, during Asian Heritage Month.

The Government of Canada has officially recognized May as Asian Heritage Month.

According to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Sheila Copps,
this recognition acknowledges the long and rich history of Asian Canadians and
their contributions to Canada and the world.

"In Canada, our cultural diversity enriches all of us socially, politically and
economically, in innumerable ways. Asian Heritage Month is an ideal occasion
for all Canadians to celebrate the beauty and wisdom of various Asian cultures.
It also affords an opportunity to acknowledge the many and varied contributions
of Asian Canadians to our communities and to our country," said Minister Copps.

Asian Heritage Month has been celebrated in the United States since 1979, and
over the past decade, many Asians in Canada have begun to celebrate their
heritage during the month of May. Since the inaugural Asian Heritage Month
celebration in Toronto in 1993, cities across Canada including Ottawa, Toronto,
Halifax, Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg and Vancouver have been holding annual
festivities during the month of May to recognize Asian Heritage Month.

A Motion to designate the month of May as Asian Heritage Month was introduced
in the Canadian Senate by Senator Vivienne Poy on May 29, 2001, and seconded
by Senator Pat Carney. Senators Sheila Finestone, Noel A. Kinsella,
Nicholas W. Taylor and Laurier LaPierre spoke in favour of it.

In December, 2001, the Senate of Canada passed a motion officially designating
May as Asian Heritage Month.

For more information, please call:
Office of Senator Vivienne Poy
1-800-267-7362
(613) 943-7854
Information is also available at http://sen.parl.gc.ca/vpoy

Click here to visit the Canadian Heritage website

Click here* to view the Greetings from the Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chrétien (41kb PDF)

Click here* to view the Greetings from Her Excellency the Right Honourable
Adrienne Clarkson, C.C., C.M.M., C.D.
Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada (41kb PDF)

Click here* to view the Greetings from The Honourable Sheila Copps,
Minister of Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada (43kb PDF)

Click here* to view the Government of Canada Declaration (65kb PDF)

*You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader software program installed on your computer in order to view the Greetings.
Click here to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader program