Ottawan looks back on 20 years of Asian Heritage Month

ryanniesMay 20, 2022

This year’s theme is “Continuing the Legacy of Greatness.”

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May 20, 2022 •• 19 minutes ago •• Read for 5 minutes •• Join the conversation

“Multiculturalism is in the Constitution. Canada has given us the ability to be ourselves, which is very important,” says Shahan Dahanayake of the Sri Lankan Canadian Association in Ottawa. Photo by Jean Levac / /Post media

May marks the Asian Heritage Month. This is a time to celebrate the contributions of Canadians to the heritage of Asia throughout Canadian history and to recognize the challenges and barriers they faced.

This year’s theme, “Continuing the Legacy of Greatness,” focuses on reminding all Canadians of all forms of anti-Asia racism and the need to fight in unison with discrimination. ..

In this spirit, the newspaper contacted some of the Asian heritage Ottawan, or those associated with the city, to find out what this month means to them.

Senator Vivienne Poy

Vivienne Poy is a former Senator of Canada who was a Senator of Parliament from 1998 to 2012. She was the first senator of Asian descent and submitted a 2001 bill that officially designated May as Asian Heritage Month. It was first celebrated in 2002.

“We realized that we didn’t exist because we weren’t completely visible to the federal government and weren’t part of Canada’s heritage. We’re part of it. It didn’t surprise you, right? I was surprised too, “she said in an interview.

“We realized that we didn’t exist because, in the eyes of the federal government, we were completely invisible and not part of Canada’s heritage. Senator Vivian Poy said. He talked about the motivation for moving the bill, which officially designated May as Awareness Month. jpg

“I wanted to be able to see all Asian Canadians.”

For Poi, this month is about recognizing the contributions of Asians in Canada and focusing on the role they played in building the country.

“It’s very important that people are emphasized.” We are here, we stay here, we are Canadians and are contributing to the construction of this country. ” increase. Like in the past, we do it today. “

Asked about the surge in anti-Asian hatred associated with COVID, Poi blamed “lack of knowledge” and “for thousands of years, people really understood how different races came together. When they have cooperated, they are much more like us than we are different.

“I think every child should learn about the culture of the world, learn about the language of the world, learn about everything, and grow into everyone,” she explained.

“If they learn it, they will know how similar we are, even if we look different.”

Dr. Harpred Kotcher, Secretary of Public Health Agency of Canada

Harpreet Kochhar is a veterinarian with a PhD from the University of Guelph. He was appointed President of the Public Health Agency of Canada in 2021. He is a member of the Sikh community in Ottawa.

“Canada’s fabrics are woven with diversity. As you walk around, you’ll find diverse ethnic groups in big and small cities,” he said.

“For me, this is the moment to celebrate, talk and introduce some of our core cultural values with some of my colleagues,” Kocher said of Asian Heritage Month.

As a Sikh, Kocher said that going to the local Gurdwara was very helpful in strengthening the connections between the communities.

“I’m a Sikh. The Sikh community is limited to one Gurdwara here, the temple. This is a place to bring out your spirituality. Also, a little socialization when you’re not praying. It’s also a place to pull out, “he explained.

“It helped me to connect with members of the community. I draw inspiration from people who have succeeded in the past generations and inspire the next generation.

“Social interactions are important for learning a little more about other cultures,” he said.

Dr. Harpreet Kochhar is President of the Public Health Agency of Canada.supply jpg

Gurdwara, who visited Ottawa, said that the local Gurdwara could also help inform the wider community about the Sikh community, and that Gurdwara, who visited Ottawa, was hosting an open house.

“It was a good example of what Sikhism is, what it means, and how we practice it, to the general public.”

Shahan Dahanayake, a member of the Sri Lankan Canadian Association of Ottawa

Shahan Dahanayake has been volunteering for many years as part of the leadership of the Canadian Association of Sri Lanka in Ottawa. This group celebrates Sri Lankan culture and is building a support network for recent immigrants and Sri Lankan-Canadians.

“Anyone in Sri Lanka with such a background can join the group,” he said.

“This month is the birth of the Buddha. It’s called the Vesaka Festival, a festival of light. Last month was our New Year.

“We also have a big Christian community here, so we celebrate Christmas and other holidays. We have a big sports community. Sri Lanka is a big country to play cricket. There is a cricket game. A big blow in the last two years. I received it, but I can meet again this year. “

Shahan Dahanayake of the Sri Lankan Canadian Association of Ottawa states that one of the biggest challenges facing immigrants to Canada is the lack of qualifications and recognition of qualifications received in their home countries. Jean Levac / Postmedia Post media

Dahanayake says it makes sense to look for each other when coming to a new country, as many immigrants are “structurally unsupported.”

“We are drawn to each other, which is a natural connection for any immigrant,” he explained.

“The Sri Lankan community was my first friend here. That’s what it means to me. It’s our first contact. All immigrants, whether it’s Asian Canadian or not No matter, we all face the same problem. We are not eligible to come to this country. It’s one of the most frequent hearings from my community and it’s difficult That is.

“Multiculturalism is in the Constitution. Canada has given us the ability to be ourselves, and that is very important.”

Nguyen, artist

Nguyen is an artist who lives in a hunt club with his family. She uses her paintings to draw attention to the cultural experience of Canadian Vietnamese and shed light on her BIPOC community, especially women of color. She was the curator of the 2021 “See Me Now” exhibition at the Schenckman Arts Center.

“I made a work called” A Place to Safe Land. ” The idea was that it was her twins, a mother holding her children, they were in this body of water and they were swept away by the stream. Water is very important to the immigrant community. That’s how many of us came here, “she said of her work.

“I came here with the support of the church, but my family came here after the Vietnam War. We were part of the experience of the boat people. Water is very important to me. I think it represents immigrants, healing and a new beginning. “

Nguyen said Asians don’t just want to celebrate this month’s Asian History Month.

Nguyen is posing for a photo in front of some of her paintings. Thomas Desormeaux / Postmedia jpg

“We were born as Asians. Every day we experience a comprehensive and multifaceted situation. It’s the food we eat, our outfits, the media we embrace, ours. We are in social circles, “she explained.

“I grew up as an Asian girl, and I didn’t see many expressions in the media and art. I think it’s slowly changing, but I’ve seen myself reflected in mainstream culture. Now we live in a very different world. There are many different cultures in the Hunt Club area and I love it. I like to try Indian, Italian and Lebanese food I love it. It’s just a mish mash of different cultures. “