Videos of the Opening Ceremony | Asian Heritage Month Festival 2021
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Declaration of May as Asian Heritage Month by the Senate of Canada

Sunday May 2, 2021 | 2 PM EDT

Welcome and Opening Remarks: The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
His Worship John Tory, Mayor, City of Toronto
Mr. Justin Poy, Honourary Patron, Asian Heritage Month-CFACI
Reading of the Senate of Canada Asian Heritage Month Declaration: The Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy, former Senator who tabled the Motion in the Senate of Canada, and Founding Patron, Asian Heritage Month-CFACI
Presenters: Chinese Canadian Legend Award Winners
Dr. Neville Poy O.C., O.St.J., B.Sc., M.D., C.M., M.Sc., FRCS(C), FACS, Mr. Justin Poy, Mr. Stephen Siu, with music by Professor Chan Ka Nin and Alice Ping Yee Ho

FREE ADMISSION
Event Poster

Welcome and Opening Remarks: The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Video at https://youtu.be/M7Dd9vEcojg
His Worship John Tory, Mayor, City of Toronto
Video at https://youtu.be/GpFOn4Ac3Do
Mr. Justin Poy, Honourary Patron, Asian Heritage Month-CFACI
Video at https://youtu.be/2tS8stp1nQw
Reading of the Senate of Canada Asian Heritage Month Declaration: The Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy, former Senator who tabled the Motion in the Senate of Canada, and Founding Patron, Asian Heritage Month-CFACI
Video at https://youtu.be/J1Zb-s3jP6U

Launch of Asian Heritage Month 2021 and Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Senate of Canada’s Declaration of May as Asian Heritage Month, a Motion tabled by The Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy, the first Canadian of Asian descent to be appointed to the Senate of Canada
Video at https://youtu.be/nQw3HSp7Fec

Video Slideshow: “Happiness Resonates Through Photography” by Dr. Neville Poy, O.C., O.St.J., B.Sc., M.D., C.M., M.Sc., FRCS(C), FACS
with music by Professor Chan Ka Nin and Alice Ping Yee Ho
Dr. Poy showcased his new video made for Asian Heritage Month 2021 to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Senate of Canada’s Declaration of May as Asian Heritage Month. This video comprises of photos taken by Dr. Poy with inspirational quotes.
Music by Professor Chan Ka Nin followed by Music by Alice Ping Yee Ho, excerpt from piano concerto Elysian Fields.
Video at https://youtu.be/qHOj06AW1QY


Justin Poy: Asian Heritage Month Lecture
“Asians in Modern Media: How do we get to “primetime” and remain there?”
Part I Video at https://youtu.be/eZLCd4_iC2k
Part II Video with Ali Kazmi interview (1st section) at https://youtu.be/tVgxCZUNYGQ
Part III Video with Ali Kazmi interview (2nd section) at https://youtu.be/qTQ7hYYAIpk

Summary: Silent film actor Sessue Hayakawa is largely regarded as the first Asian American actor. By 1918 he was able to found his own film studio and worked hard to overcome the offensive stereotypes of Asians in film. But by the 1980’s these stereotypes still hadn’t budged much as seen in the 1984 hit "Sixteen Candles" and the exchange student Long Duk Dong. Surely a worldly Director such as John Hughes would know better? Fast forward to 2000 and the Oscar-winning hit "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” rises to the big screen and global audiences love it! But alas— it’s still not “mainstream”. How do we get Asians to be depicted in film, the way Asians occupy our everyday life? We are doctors, accountants, mothers, fathers. We are a part of society— except when it’s in the movies and popular culture. How do we place first and occupy our rightful space as demonstrated by “Crazy Rich Asians”. And NOT lose our spot?

About Justin Poy: Justin Poy is the Founder and Creative Director of The Justin Poy Agency (JPA), an award-winning advertising agency that specializes in multicultural advertising. In 2020, JPA became the exclusive ad agency for iQIYI North America in Canada (iq.com). iQIYI (NASDAQ: IQ) is one of the world’s largest media streaming companies with hit shows such as “The Rap of China” and “Youth With You 3”. Justin is the Honorary Patron of Asian Heritage Month (CFACI) and the recipient of the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals. He has been awarded the Chinese Canadian Legend Award and is recognized as Alumni of Distinction by both Ryerson University and The Toronto French School. He has received the prestigious Arbor Award from the University of Toronto. Mr. Poy eagerly supports education and sits on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Faculty of Science at York University and supports Canadian media as the Founder of The Justin Poy Agency Award at Ryerson University’s RTA School of Media.

Stephen Siu: "Ode to Cheongsam -- the Beauty of Asian Canadian Heritage”
Part I Video at https://youtu.be/je3yczrWFY0
Part II Video at https://youtu.be/2ODoGwrPl60

Cheongsam became a world sensation through the 1960 British-American romantic drama film "The World of Suzie Wong". The dress has been seen in North American films and some award-winning productions such as "In the Mood of Love" and "Lust, Caution". Stephen Siu, as an organizer of the upcoming "Transformative Chic -- the Everlasting Cheongsam Exhibition" in Toronto and Vancouver, will trace the evolution of the Cheongsam (also known as Qipao), the eternal elegant Chinese dress dating back to the Manchu-ruled China in the 17th Century, to its re-invention over decades from ethnic clothing to contemporary art and its current transformative styles. He will talk about how this Chinese dress has been used to showcase the beauty and values behind Asian cultures, and facilitate cross-cultural understanding and acceptance.
About Stephen Siu: With his strong cultural background, Stephen Siu has given talks at the Asian Heritage Month over all these years, discussing topics from "Chinese Philosophy in Photography" to "Fusion of Cultures in Chinese Architecture". As Chair of the Chinese Canadian Photographic Society of Toronto, he usually uses professionally-taken photographs to illustrate his presentations. He has served as advisor to several non-profit groups including the Ontario Cross-Cultural Music Society and the Canada-Hong Kong Library. He was presented with the Chinese Canadian Legend Award in 2009, the Arbor Award in 2010, the Canadian Senate 150 medal and the House of Commons "Canada 150" medal in recent years.