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Hamilton Spectator
02-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Asian Heritage Month Wraps Up, Leaving Legacy of Connection and Culture
Communities in Milton and across the Region of Halton marked Asian Heritage Month in May with vibrant events celebrating the cultures, contributions and stories of Canadians of Asian and South Asian descent. Asian Heritage Month, officially recognized by the federal government in 2002, offers an opportunity to honour the achievements and legacies of people from more than 30 countries across Asia. From science and the arts to business, government and education, Asian Canadians continue to shape the country's cultural and social fabric. Locally, celebrations included art exhibitions, cultural showcases and charitable initiatives. South Asian immigrants in Milton and surrounding areas led many of the events, creating space for community building and education. One of the month's highlights was the third annual Kala: Colours of South Asia art exhibit, held at the Holcim Gallery in the FirstOntario Arts Centre in Milton. Organized by the South Asian Mommies of Milton (SAMM), this year's theme, Echoes of Home, featured work from more than 30 artists reflecting on their immigrant experiences and ties to their homelands. 'This exhibit isn't just about art,' said Shalini Dutt, an Oakville-based artist originally from India. 'It's about expressing the emotional connection we carry with us — our languages, festivals and the stories of our grandparents. Sharing this with Milton feels like we're creating a bridge between cultures.' Kala 2025 officially opened to the public on May 23, with the exhibit running until June 7. Visitors from across the region — including school groups and local officials — attended the showcase. Another key initiative was Food for All, a grassroots project led by a group of South Asian mothers in Milton to address food insecurity. Volunteers prepared and distributed hot meals to families in need. 'Our culture teaches us that food is an expression of love,' said Samara Pahari, one of the founding members. 'We wanted to bring that same spirit of care to Milton, where so many families are feeling the weight of rising costs and economic uncertainty.' Community members praised the month-long programming for fostering connection in the region's growing immigrant population. 'As an immigrant from Bangladesh, I see these events as more than celebration — they're acts of belonging,' said Tanvir Alam, a Burlington resident and community organizer. 'They help us tell our stories in a way that resonates with others, while also giving our children a sense of identity.' Schools also marked the occasion with student assemblies, dance workshops and storytelling sessions aimed at increasing awareness of cultural diversity. Ayesha Rahman, a Pakistani-born resident of Milton, said the celebrations felt deeply personal. 'When I moved here 10 years ago, I never imagined I'd see my culture reflected in public events like these,' she said. 'Now, watching my daughter participate in a school event about South Asian traditions fills me with hope and pride.' As Asian Heritage Month came to a close, organizers said the events were a reminder that the work of building inclusive communities continues year-round. 'With every dance, every meal shared and every piece of art displayed,' said Rohit Mehra, a Sri Lankan Canadian living in Halton Hills, 'we're showing what it means to truly be Canadian — diverse, united and proud of our roots.' While the official month spans just 31 days, its impact across Milton and the Region of Halton will carry on. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Celebrate Asian Heritage Month 2025 with CBC Saskatchewan
May is Asian Heritage Month, a time to acknowledge and celebrate the rich history of Asian Canadians and their contributions to our country. To commemorate the occasion, CBC Saskatchewan is sharing the stories and voices of some amazing Asian Canadians, highlighting those who are making meaningful contributions in the community and proudly celebrating their culture. Find out how these 3 Regina shop owners are putting their own twists on bubble tea Visit CBC Gem for a collection of series, documentaries and films that honour the culturally diverse and rich heritage of Asian Canadians.
Epoch Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Does No One Look Into Who Shows Up at Candidates' Events?
Commentary More than In an era of declining participation in the very essence of democracy, a high voter turnout is indeed a good sign. Perhaps Canadians sense the importance of this election more than in recent years (the return of the unpredictable Trump administration, the state of the economy/stock market/tariffs, international instability, foreign interference, etc.) and that is driving this surge. In any event, kudos to Canadians. Those running for office should also welcome this development. After all, they believe enough in the system to want to be part of it. Candidates undoubtedly also want more people to come out to the debates and party events, rallies, public engagements, and other occasions, as they would expect to receive votes from such people. It would be unfair to expect every candidate to know every person at such gatherings. Nevertheless, those running for office have teams that help them to ensure they are putting their best foot forward and not taking part in something that will later come back to bite them. In other words, people who can do some basic vetting of attendees whose presence would be, shall we say, problematic. So why on earth would a candidate invite a person known to have associations with illegal Chinese 'police stations' in Montreal? (These agencies allege they are here to deal with mundane issues like driver's licences but are in fact venues facilitating foreign interference, influence, harassment and threatening of the Chinese diaspora in Canada.) Related Stories 4/17/2025 4/8/2025 That is exactly what appears to have Whether or not Ms. Mendès decided on the invitees' list or it was one of her assistants misses the point. The existence of these unwanted agencies has been well-known for years. Ignorance is no excuse. Does no one care about the Chinese regime's efforts to intimidate diaspora members? Is the burning desire to put 'bums in seats' more important than our national security? Despite efforts by some to label these concerns as examples of 'anti-Asian racism,' this is just one more instance where politics trumps common sense. It should be added that these moves only serve to undermine trust in the community as a whole. (I've heard anecdotally that some see Asian Canadians working at polling stations as part of the 'foreign influence' throng: If the public sees the government not taking this threat seriously it questions the whole process, even if some of the accusations are dubious.) This may sound repetitive given the number of columns I have penned over the years, but the threat of foreign interference by China (and others) is real. Story after story in Canadian media shows many efforts by these nations to affect our democracy. That the government is paying lip service to this just makes things worse. The dearth of attention to Canadian intelligence over decades merely confirms this lack of interest. The solution is simple. To borrow a phrase from former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, 'trust but verify.' You want to be an open society and welcome wide participation, but it is vital to ensure that you are not being taken advantage of. Party officials need to do better and be much more judicious in not enabling those seeking to malign our democracy. They should do their due diligence and not embrace elements of foreign regimes. Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
