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The Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture (Central Ontario) Inc. (www.asianheritagemonth.org) has been playing a crucial role in promoting Asian Heritage Month (AHM) in Central Ontario over the past six years. We are incorporated and have attained charitable status.

Asian Heritage Month was unanimously adopted by the Senate of Canada through a motion by our patron, The Honourable Vivienne Poy. Representatives of the Parliament subsequently signed a declaration proclaiming Asian Heritage Month in May 2002, that followed the passage of her motion in the Senate in December 2001 that recognizing May as Asian Heritage Month. In 2005, the Government of Ontario made the same proclamation at Queen's Park.

Asian Heritage Month promotes Canada's diversity. It strives to celebrate the vibrant and growing Asian community from the arts and science to sport, business, and government. This initiative offers all Canadians an opportunity to learn more about the history of Asian Canadians and to celebrate their contributions to the growth and prosperity of Canada. The objectives of our foundation are:

  • To enrich Canadian culture by building on the achievement of Asian Canadians;
  • To achieve full participation by Asian Canadians in the cultural life of Canada;
  • To build cultural bridges between Asian countries and regions;
  • To encourage education of Asian heritage and culture within the broader public;
  • To establish a relationship and to co-operate with other persons, parties or Corporations with similar or parallel purposes.

We began our activities in 2003 with a goal of reaching out to the public, especially students in the Greater Toronto Area. We invited them to participate in two parallel competitions: to design an official logo and a slogan for Asian Heritage Month.

In 2004, AHM celebrated 150 years of volunteerism by the Royal Hong Kong Regiment. A photo exhibition was opened in a popular shopping centre, frequented by Asians and other Canadians alike, by Her Excellency, The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson. We also held a choral competition for high school groups. Many activities were held this first year, including lectures were held at the University of Toronto.

In 2005, AHM took a leap towards greater recognition and participation by the society at large. The Toronto Catholic District School Board, The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the Ontario Government, the University of Toronto and the United Way of York Region, among others, supported AHM in various projects.

It was during this summer that we received our incorporation from the registrar of Ontario corporations under the name 'Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture (Central Ontario) Incorporated' or CFACI in short.

In 2006, our journey with multiculturalism gained significant advances. We partnered with the Toronto District School Board, the TTC, the University of Toronto, the United Way, the Blue Jays, the Toronto Public Library and the Bata Shoe Museum, among others, to promote this national programme.

In 2007, AHM reached maturity, with events held across the GTA as well as in other cities in Ontario. Our partners include the University of Toronto, Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, the TTC, the United Way, the Toronto Public Library, the Bata Shoe Museum, and the Foundation to Commemorate the Chinese Railroad Workers in Canada.

In 2008, Asian Heritage Month found its artistic mission. It was an exciting year with key events like 'Inclusive Education Through the Asian Arts' and the Asian Heritage Month Festival , which was held in May with support from Canadian Heritage and the City of Toronto. Highlights included a performance by Asian artists and a marketplace at the University of Toronto, attended by more than 100 high school students and other members of the public, followed by the Fourth Annual Asian Heritage Month Education Roundtable. There were Asian photo and art exhibitions at City Hall Rotunda and Metro Hall Rotunda, and the first Asian Heritage Month Film Festival held at York University.

In 2008-2009, we prepared the Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage (VMACCH), which showcases the cultural experiences and expressions of Asian Canadians in a variety of capacities from across Canada. It strives to provide insight into how this demographic experiences life in Canada, how Asian Canadians choose to express their traditional culture and heritage, and what these expressions and experiences mean to Asian Canadian communities. The project is funded by Canadian Heritage's 'Gateway' Fund.

The Asian Heritage Month events scheduled for 2009 include the Asian Heritage Month Lecture at the University of Toronto featuring Arlene Chan, who spoke on the life of her mother, Madame Jean Lumb. Dr. Joy Kogawa, C.M., will deliver the AHM Lecture at York University on 4 June 2009 and speak on her new memoir. Providing online resources for Asian Canadian heritage education was the focus of the 2009 AHM Education Roundtable.

Other events being organized for May 2009 include exhibitions of Asian Canadian artists works in downtown Toronto, exhibitions and artist panels at Toronto Public Libraries, artist workshop at area schools and an Asian Heritage Month Outreach Film Festival.

Our web-site is http://vmacch.ca or http://www.asianheritagemonth.org and Senator Poy's site is http://www.sen.parl.gc.ca/vpoy.

The Objectives of the Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage (VMACCH) are:

  1. To provide opportunities for Asian Canadians to share their heritage and to promote a better understanding of Asian heritage by focusing annually on the month of May, designated as Asian Heritage Month.
  2. To enrich Canadian culture by building on the achievement of Asian Canadians
  3. To achieve full participation by Asian Canadians in the cultural life of Canada
  4. To build cultural bridges between Asian countries and regions.
  5. To encourage education of Asian heritage and culture within the broader public
  6. To establish a relationship and to co-operate with other persons, parties or Corporations with similar or parallel purposes.

In showcasing Asian Canadian heritage, VMACCH enables Asian Canadians to share their heritage among themselves and with the rest of Canada. It exhibits the achievements and contributions of Asian Canadians to Canada. Featuring works by Asian Canadian artists, it encourages participation in the cultural life of Canada. The website is meant to connect Asian culture to other cultures, and show that it is part of the overarching Canadian culture. It is also a valuable teaching resource on Asian heritage and culture to schools, and the preparation of the website involves collaborations with various parties including other voluntary organizations like Social Service Network, and the Chinese Canadian Photographic Society of Toronto, and mainstream museums such as the Gardiner Museum and the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto.

Achieving A Dream by Zul Kassamali

BOARD OF ADVISORS

Honourary Chair:
The Honourable Vivienne Poy,
Senate of Canada and Patron,
Asian Heritage Month -- Canadian
Foundation for Asian Culture (Central
Ontario) Inc.

Members (in alphabetical order by surname):
Dr. Lien Chao
Julia Shin Doi
Martha Durdin
Professor Eric Fong
Professor Bernie Frolic
Professor Jay Goulding
Gauri Guha
Zoheir Hasanbhai (Web Developer)
Professor Susan Henders
Naushad Hirji
Zul Kassamali
Dr. Jack Leong
Dr. Emmanule Lepri
Dr. Kay Li (Project Director)
Kirk Mark
Alexandra Montgomery
Professor Peter Vandergeest
Professor Wendy Wong

Project Manager:
Alicia Filipowich

VMACCH Logo design:
Alison Yueh-Shun Chang and Wendy Wong

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The project was made possible with the support of the
Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture Online Strategy

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