Message from AHSNB Chair Madhu Verma

From the arrival of the first Asian immigrants to Canada in the mid 19th century, Asian Canadians have provided significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of our nation. Since the official declaration of May as Asian Heritage Month by the Government of Canada in 2002, the Asian Heritage Society of New Brunswick has been working to promote public awareness of the many social, cultural, political, and economic contributions of Asian Canadians.

This year we celebrate our 12th year as an organization promoting awareness of the heritage and historical contributions of Asian Canadians. Celebrations are taking place not only in Fredericton but also in Saint John, Moncton and Miramichi. We have been so pleased to witness the growth of Asian Heritage Month events across New Brunswick and we give thanks to our sister chapters for all of their hard work and dedication to bringing this important initiative to communities across the province.

This year in Fredericton, we are presenting a series of Food Workshops throughout the month of May. These workshops feature the cuisines of China, India, the Philippines, Iraq, Japan and Korea. Participants will have the opportunity to not only taste some of Asia’s best and learn how to prepare Asian foods, they will learn about the role of particular foods in traditional Asian health and healing practices. Several other activities are taking place across New Brunswick and I encourage all of you to consult our program for more details.

Tonight, I hope you will enjoy our annual Asian Heritage Cultural Gala. Many of you come out each year for the vibrant and exciting performances of our local Asian artists and our non-local guest performers. This year we are doing something a little different: showcasing martial arts performers from Kim’s Taekwondo School in Montreal. I know it will be a fantastic evening and it has been our pleasure to work with all of the cultural associations, performers and volunteers who have worked so hard to make tonight special for all of you.

Asian Heritage Month events foster a spirit of acceptance, celebration, and an appreciation for the multicultural composition of Canada. The Asian Heritage Society hopes that together we can create a more welcoming and united society in which diversity is seen as our strength.

Sincerely,

Madhu Verma

Chair, Asian Heritage Society of NB