Asian Heritage Month Festival 2023

2023 Events

Celebrating the 21st Anniversary of the signing of the Asian Heritage Month Declaration by the Senate of Canada, a Motion proposed by the Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy, the first Canadian of Asian Descent to be appointed to the Senate of Canada.

Asian Heritage Month Declaration, Senate of Canada
Declaration of Asian Heritage Month, May 21, 2002. Click here to enlarge image. The Motion was passed in December 2001.
The Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy signing Asian Heritage Month Declaration

2023 Greetings from Deputy Mayor of Toronto Dr. Jennifer McKelvie

A Welcome Message from Mr. Justin Poy, Honorary Patron, Asian Heritage Month-Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture

Mr. Poy at the Asian Heritage Month Reception held by the Minister of Canadian Heritage in Ottawa, 2019

Asian Heritage Month Festival 2023 Events

Date and TimeEventVenueHighlights
Sat., May 13, 2023 | 11 am – 1:30 pmOpening Ceremony of Asian Heritage Month 2023 and the Presentation of the Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts

FREE ADMISSION with lunch reception sponsored by Mr. Justin Poy, Honourary Patron, Asian Heritage Month-CFACI. Please register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/asian-heritage-month-opening-ceremony-2023-tickets-626541862577
Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto, 2 Sussex Avenue (St. George Subway Station) Google MapsOpening Speech:
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen (Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion)

Asian Heritage Month Lecture:
“IT WAS ABOUT TIME” | The story behind Asian Heritage in Canada
A talk between The Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy (former Senator who tabled the Asian Heritage Month Motion in the Senate of Canada, and Founding Patron, Asian Heritage Month-CFACI) and Mr. Justin Poy (Honourary Patron, Asian Heritage Month-CFACI, Chinese Canadian Legend Award Winner)

Presentation of the Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts by Ms. Caroline Lussier, Director of Arts Promotion, Canada Council for the Arts, to Asian Canadian dance artist Yvonne Ng, followed by a dance choreographed by her.

“Capturing the Moment and Beyond—Haiku Photography” by Mr. Stephen Siu (Chinese Canadian Legend Award Winner; Chair of Chinese Canadian Photographic Society of Toronto)

Slideshow of Photographs by Chinese Canadian Photographic Society of Toronto with music by Professor Chan Ka Nin and Alice Ping Yee Ho
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Fri., May 5, 2023 | 1 pmEvolution of Diverse Asian Cuisines in Toronto—Panel Discussion

FREE ADMISSION
EVENT LINK
For more information or to register, please visit the City Hall Library or call 416-393-7538.
City Hall Library, Toronto Public Library, 100 Queen Street West (Queen Street Subway Station) Google MapsThree local chefs in conversation share their favourite recipes and stories about life:
Joanna Liu is a second generation chef who has honed her trade from her parents, Mei Wang and Michael Liu. 
Professor Chef Frederick Oh is the recipient of the 2023 Glenfiddich Chef of the Year Award.
Professor Chef Leo Chan, along with Professor Gian Paolo Michelini, co-founded the Cambridge Food and Wine Society of Canada in 1988. He is also a founding member of the 8 Precious Pearls Research Group of Chinese food history.
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May 3 to May 11 (weekdays only) | 10 am to 6 pmAsian Heritage Month: Art and Photo Exhibit at City Hall Library
FREE ADMISSION
EVENT LINK
City Hall Library, Toronto Public Library, 100 Queen Street West (Queen Street Subway Station) Google MapsThe exhibit is organized by Mr. Tam Kam Chiu, GMPSA (Grand Master, Photographic Society of America) and prize-winning author Dr. Lien Chao.
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May 2023Asian Heritage Month Education Roundtables (For schools only)Toronto Catholic District School Board“Once Upon A Time in Asia: cultural specific story or legend and what students can gain from folklores”
For elementary and secondary schools
Roundtable 1:
Bo San Karantjas (Chinese Public Speaker and Entrepreneur)
Veronica Antipolo (Filipino Comedian and Storyteller)
Aneela Dias D’Sousa (Indian Ceramic Artist)
 
Roundtable 2:
Lajain Zo Al Ghena (Syrian Content Creator and English Teacher)
Tan Vu (Vietnamese Singer and Actor)
Laxmi Balaji ( Indian/Tamil Storyteller)

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Sun., May 14 to Friday, May 19, 2023 Asian Heritage Month Art and Photo Exhibition at City Hall Rotunda
FREE ADMISSION
City Hall Rotunda, 100 Queen Street West (Queen Street Subway Station) Google MapsREAD MORE
Sun., May 21 to Friday, May 26, 2023 Asian Heritage Month Art and Photo Exhibition at Metro Hall Rotunda
FREE ADMISSION
Metro Hall Rotunda, 55 John Street (St. Andrew Subway Station)
Google Maps
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Wed., May 17, 2023 | 7 pmAnnual Asian Heritage Month Concert
FREE ADMISSION
Please register at
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/annual-asian-heritage-month-concert-tickets-631764032227
Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto, 2 Sussex Avenue (St. George Subway Station) Google MapsArtistic Directors: Professor Chan Ka Nin, Alice Ho, Dr. Vania Chan
Performances by award-winning Asian Canadian Artists including singing, music and dance.
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May 2023Unity in Diversity: Asian Canadian Art/Storytelling Workshops for School Boards and for seniors
(For schools and senior organization only)
In-person and virtual events for schools and seniors organizationsChinese Calligraphy and Traditional Cultural Values To Decorate Unwanted CD & DVD by Irene Hung and Dr. Lien Chao
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Stories from Asian Festivals
by Arlene Chan
Sat., May 27, 2023 | 2 pmRecycled & Found Material Art Workshop
FREE ADMISSION
Please register on the 2nd Floor Info Desk at Agincourt Library or call 416-396-8943 to reserve your spot.
Agincourt Branch, Toronto Public Library, 155 Bonis Avenue Google Maps
This presentation will engage the audience from the very beginning with a unique artistic installation of egg shells, which is entitled “The Seed of Life.” From here, the artists take the participants to review tech boom, urbanization and global-warming.  Together they ask a serious environmental question: how can we cut down the amount of abandoned materials from garbage bins and dumpsters to landfills? 
Presenters: Irene Hung and Dr. Lien Chao
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Sun. May 28, 2023 | 2pmBoundary Crossings:
A Virtual Art & Poetry Presentation by Sharon Cook & Lien Chao
Virtual Event
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86854074136?pwd=Vkc4bHpWZW1SQ0xKSjNxRzFFTUhCQT09
Meeting ID: 868 5407 4136
Passcode: 910552
Sharon Cook depicts Saint Luke in the Renaissance style and Venus of 1525 in her classical Chinese landscape paintings
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(TBC) Asian Heritage Month Film Festival

Event co-organizers: Asian Heritage Month—Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture (Central Ontario) Inc.; Toronto Public Library; Asian Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto; Richard Charles Lee Canada Hong Kong Library, University of Toronto; Chinese Canadian Photography Society of Toronto; WE Artists’ Group; Social Services Network; Cambridge Food and Wine Society

Asian Heritage Month Festival is partially funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Asian Canadian Artists in Digital Age is funded by Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategy Fund

List of Supporters of Asian Heritage Month

Main Partner: Toronto Public Library

Canadian Heritage Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program

Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategy Fund

Toronto Arts Council Digital Communities Fund

Asian Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto

Cambridge Food and Wine Society

Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture

Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library, University of Toronto

Chi Ping Dance Group

Chinese Canadian Photographic Association of Toronto

Chinese Collective Arts Association

City of Toronto

City Opera Vancouver

Justin Poy Agency

Moon Pointer Production Inc.

Reel Asian Film Festival

ReelWorld Film Festival

Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library

Toronto Arts Council

Toronto Catholic District School Board

Toronto District School Board

Toronto Public Library WE Artists Association