May is Asian Heritage Month
In May 2002, the Government of Canada signed an official declaration to announce May as Asian Heritage Month. Asian Heritage Month offers everyone in Canada an opportunity to learn more about the history of people of Asian origin in Canada and to celebrate their contributions to the growth and prosperity of our country.
The Asian-Canadian population is large and diverse. In 2021, South Asian and Chinese people together made up over 10 per cent of Canada’s total population, while Filipino, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese people together represented 5.6% of the country’s total population.
The population of each group has grown with each census and is expected to continue to increase. In 2041, the South Asian group could top 5 million people, the Chinese population could exceed 3 million, and the Filipino population could surpass 2 million.
Canadians of Asian descent have a long and sometimes difficult history in this country. Not always treated fairly, paid fairly, taxed fairly nor respected for their skills, experience or even their fundamental humanity, Canadians of Asian heritage have nonetheless contributed richly to our shared history and community over adversity. In the second half of the 19th century, not only did legislation make immigration especially expensive for Chinese immigrants, the workers who had built the Canadian Pacific Railway were all disenfranchised, making them ineligible to vote. From 1923 to 1947, a fewer than 50 Chinese immigrants were permitted to come to Canada.
The people of this diverse, vibrant and growing community have contributed to every aspect of life in Canada. Throughout Asian Heritage Month, we celebrate all Canadians of Asian descent.
The JLP is proud to take part in the conversation around identifying, naming, confronting and fighting racial discrimination including anti-Asian discrimination in the federal public service by offering in-person workshops and virtual discussions.
Photo by Ilyuza Mingazova on Unsplash