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News & Updates

Celebrating Asian Heritage Month in Vancouver

by YWCA Metro Vancouver Racial Equity Committee
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Asian Heritage Month was established in Canada in May 2002 and it provides opportunities for Canadians to learn, reflect on, and celebrate the many achievements, artistry, traditions and cultures of Canadians of Asian descent.  

Over the last two centuries, immigrants from East Asia, Southern Asia, Western, Central and Southeast Asia have made Canada their home, bringing a rich cultural heritage that contributed to and shapes the diverse and multicultural landscape that is Canada. 

 

How You Can Celebrate and Explore Asian Culture

2022 is the Year of The Tiger

2022 is also known as the Year of Tiger for many Asian communities. Each year has different zodiac animals and repeats every 12 years: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

The tiger symbolizes bravery and strength; we encourage you to be courageous, challenge yourself, and try something new. 

Celebrate by Exploring the Food of Asia 
Birds-eye view photo of table with a range of Asian dishes

Another way to celebrate and explore Asian cultures is to try the cuisine. Although food is a surface level way of understanding the culture, getting to know the traditions passed down through generations and the significance behind the foods allows a deeper appreciation of the culture.

Food has a way of bringing people together for casual get-togethers or celebrations. Also, sharing recipes extends to sharing history, language, and personal relations to a culture because every dish has a story. With that, we invite you to join virtual cooking classes or try millions of recipes online.

East Asia 

South Asia 

  • The folks at Indian Delicacy know their spices and offer both buffet and regular dining options.

  • Lassi is a great summer drink to prepare, which you can roast for a smoky taste.

Southeast Asia 

  • Unchai is a Thai restaurant with diverse versions of Pad Thai, curries, and noodle soups.   

  • On top of Phở, Vietnam is also famous for its Bánh mí. Try marinated chicken Bánh mí.   

Central Asia 

Western Asia  

Watch Movies and TV Shows that Celebrate Asian Culture 

Turning Red

Mei Lee, a 13-year-old who suddenly “poofs” into a giant red panda when she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS). Mei Lee’s protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming, who is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager. Now streaming exclusively on Disney+.

Your Name Engraved Herein 刻在你心底的名字

Your Name Engraved Herein is the highest-grossing LGBTQ film in Taiwan's history, as well as the most popular Taiwanese film of 2020, ultimately becoming the first gay-themed movie to exceed NT $100 million at the Taiwanese box office. Same-sex marriage in Taiwan became legal on May 24, 2019, making Taiwan the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

Kim’s Convenience

Kim's Convenience depicts the Korean Canadian Kim family that runs a convenience store in Toronto. The show touches on not only the historical and social issues in Korea but also the interaction between different Asian communities. The show also highlights the life of first-generation immigrants and their dynamic with their kids.

The Lunchbox

A mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a young housewife to an older man in the dusk of his life as they build a fantasy world together through notes in the lunchbox. 


Explore Asian Music and Movement in Vancouver 

Another way to learn about the diversity within Asian cultures is through music, art, and dance.

Two performers in traditional Japanese dress kneel on stage, with a Taiko drum being played in the background
  • Uzame Taiko Studio offers workshops and performances as opportunities for the public to experience and learn about Taiko, or Japanese percussion instruments. They encourage participants to practice coordinating the body and mind through a drumming workshop on May 7. 

While many events display the beauty and depth of Asian cultures, there are also events exploring how to navigate the multiple barriers BIPOC folks experience.

  • “Finding our Voices, Telling our Stories”, a low-cost event ($5.00) featuring BIPOC speakers in the literary and performing art industries. The event description details the controversy behind the abrupt closing of Kim’s Convenience despite its success in television. Sat, 7 May 2022 at 6:00pm, registration required.
     
Events in Vancouver for Asian Heritage Month 
  • Check out Japan Market - three women putting their hearts into spreading Japanese culture in Vancouver. Their dream is to create happy events where local Japanese vendors shine, and non-Japanese vendors, who have passion and love for Japanese culture, join their Japanese community. They believe creating such events will lead to better friendship between Vancouverites and Japanese!
  • Representation Matters: A Japanese Family Restaurant on Screen, May 12.
  • Cold Tea Collective - a new media platform, sharing the real stories, perspectives, and experiences of North American Asian millennials. Available on demand on TELUS Optik TV and the TELUS Optik TV app in May in celebration of Asian Heritage Month. Weekly episodes will also be released on Cold Tea Collective’s YouTube channel in the month of May.
  • Find more Vancouver Asian Heritage events running from April to June on the explorASIAN Festival Program Guide.
     
Learn More

 

 

Hero image from Government of Canada's Asian Heritage Month digital toolkit
Food photo by Jakub Kapusnak on Unsplash

 
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