May 1, 2003
Asian Heritage Month
Private Members Statements
R. Lee: As we enter the month of May, I rise today to mark an important occasion, the beginning of Asian Heritage Month. This is the month for us to recognize and celebrate the long and rich history of Asian Canadians and their contributions to British Columbia as well as to Canada as a whole.
Since the inaugural Asian Heritage Month celebration in Toronto in 1993, cities across Canada, including Vancouver, have been holding annual festivals during the month of May to recognize Asian heritage in Canada. In December 2001, the month of May was officially designated Asian Heritage Month after Senator Vivienne Poy introduced a motion in the Canadian Senate in May 2001.
Asians came to Canada over a century ago, like the English and French pioneers. Asian Canadians, from our Chinese railroad workers to our Japanese fishermen to today's Asian Canadians working in different professions, contributed to Canada's economic, social and cultural development. I'm extremely pleased to see we have this opportunity to celebrate the beauty and wisdom of various Asian cultures through many exciting ExplorASIAN 2003 arts and culture events held during Asian Heritage Month in Vancouver.
As we celebrate Asian Heritage Month, let's remind ourselves that we can only benefit fully from our rich heritage if we can respect one another's culture and learn from our differences.
