About AHSNB

AHSNB was created in 2002 to support the Government of Canada’s declaration of May as Asian Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich culture and contributions of Asian Canadians and to acknowledge them as full partici- pants in Canadian history.

Our mission is to fulfill the federal mandate of Asian Heritage Month in the New Brunswick context through creative storytelling, performance, and pub- lic engagement with the issues surrounding citizenship, identity, and collec- tive history. We also promote Asian Canadian heritage and performing arts through free public events featuring art, dance, music, cuisines, costumes, and any expression of traditional or contemporary Asian culture.

AHSNB is one of 16 Asian Heritage organizations across Canada, and the only such organization in Atlantic Canada. We have active chapters in Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton, and celebrate Asian Heritage Month in Miramichi through a partnership with the Miramichi Regional Multicultural Association.

As an umbrella organization for the Asian Canadian communities of New Brunswick, our members include over a dozen ethnocultural groups and as- sociations in each of our chapters’ cities. In New Brunswick, our primary Asian communities are Bhutanese-Nepali, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Iranian, Iraqi, Japanese, Korean, Lebanese, Nepali, Pakistani, Syrian, and Vietnamese. We welcome new members and volunteers from all backgrounds, and part- nerships with schools and community organisations. If you’d like to get in- volved, get in touch!

What is AHSNB?

The Asian Heritage Society of New Brunswick (AHSNB) is a non-profit organization with members from diverse Asian Canadian communities. The society is comprised of talented and dedicated individuals who help make Asian Heritage.

The major objectives of the Asian Heritage Society are as follows:

  • Promotion of the Federal objectives of Asian Heritage Month in New Brunswick.
  • Public outreach to build understanding between Canadians and Asian immigrants.
  • Collaboration with the Municipal Governments in Brunswick, Government of New Brunswick, Department of Education and School Districts to encourage teachers in New Brunswick to engage students with activities that foster understanding of the culture and history of Asian Canadians, and their contributions to the growth and development of Canada.
  • Provide Asian Canadians with the opportunity to work closely with Post-Secondary Institutions to create a curriculum in Education departments that will train future teachers to reflect Asian Canadian identity.
  • Create interest in smaller local communities across the Province in organizing AHM celebrations in their own cities and towns.

Who is Asian?

The definition of “Asian” may be inclusive and broad, and applies to people who come from or whose ancestors come from:

East Asia: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan

South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

Central Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Southeast Asia: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

West Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Our Mission

The Asian Heritage Society of New Brunswick is committed to fostering intercultural exchange and understanding within our communities and provinces as a whole. It is our strong belief that education and cultural interchange are the key to intercultural acceptance, integration and unity.

The History

In 2002, May was officially declared Asian Heritage Month by the Government of Canada. The Asian Heritage Month Committee (AHMC) was established in the same year to promote the Federal objectives of Asian Heritage Month, and to organize educational and cultural events that commemorate the legacy of Asian Canadians, past and present.

Since 2003, AHSNB has organized and supported activities aimed at promoting Asian Canadian history, culture, and art.

Then in 2007, the Asian Heritage Society of New Brunswick was registered to become a Provincial Society working with all Asians around the province.

Each year we host an ExplorAsians Exhibition on Asian Canadian history and an Asian Heritage Cultural Gala, showcasing performances from a variety of Asian groups. Past events have included lectures, education roundtables, food workshops, film festivals, art workshops, and various activities for children. AHSNB also helps to fundraise for disaster relief in Asian countries.

AHSNB is now an active, full-fledged entity spanning the province, with sister chapters and partnering organizations in Saint John, Moncton, Miramichi and Bathurst. As one of 16 Asian Canadian heritage organizations across the country, the AHSNB is part of a growing network of organizations that aim to create a welcoming and celebratory environment for Asian Canadians, both new and established.