By: Simon Busse, FSWC Educator

During the month of May, we celebrate Asian Heritage Month in Canada. This is a great chance to explore the incredible histories and the diverse cultures of Asian-Canadians, which can be done in different ways. Here are a few things that you can try, and/or suggest to your students to try:

1.Host an Asian Heritage Day at your school, during which students can learn about Asian heritage through guest speakers, food, music, etc.

2. Try different types of Asian cuisine. Especially in Toronto and Vancouver, but also in many cities throughout Canada, there are many restaurants that offer an assortment of tastes to try.

3. Find out about different Asian-Canadian artists, and visit their shows, purchase their wares, and support the arts!

4. Watch one of the many Asian shows or movies now available on cable and different streaming companies. It’s wonderful to see and hear different stories and perspectives on the world, as well as see the commonality of our lived experiences.

5. Attend one of the many Asian festivals held in Canada. This is a great way to usually get it all – food, music, art, etc.

At FSWC, we teach about some of the historical wrongs that have been done to the Asian communities in Canada, including anti-Chinese politics at the end of the 19^th century, the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), the Chinese Head Tax, and the Japanese internment camps during WWII. Like early Jewish settlers to Canada, Asian-Canadians have experienced various socio-economic and political challenges.

We try to build allyships at FSWC with many different communities, and today, more than ever, this is vitally important. Both Asian and Jewish communities (among others) have experienced an increase in hate crimes between 2020 and 2024. It is important that we not only celebrate Canada’s diverse communities, but also to continue to stand together against hate and racism in a country that continues to be an example of how to live in harmony in a diverse, global world.