Minister Kenney launches Asian Heritage Month

April 29, 2009

Ottawa, April 29, 2009 — Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney today invited all Canadians to join in Asian Heritage Month celebrations being held across the country in the month of May.

“Since the Government of Canada officially designated May as Asian Heritage Month, we have watched the significance of this month grow,” said Minister Kenney. “It has helped many of us better understand the rich diversity the Asian Canadian community brings to Canada.”

Celebrations were launched by Minister Kenney during an official ceremony on Parliament Hill, organized in partnership with the Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Society. The two-hour program featured music, dancing and presentations by various members of the Asian community, including Jari Osborne, producer of the documentary “Sleeping Tigers: The Asahi Baseball Story.”

Since the month’s official designation by the Government of Canada in 2002, communities across the country have been organizing annual festivities highlighting Asian arts and culture.

This year’s theme, “Building Canadian Identity,” provides an opportunity to recognize the many achievements made by Canadians of Asian origin towards the building of our country.

For more information on Asian Heritage Month, please visit the CIC website at www.cic.gc.ca/multi/mpa-ahm/index-eng.asp.