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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Asian Heritage Foundation
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DTSTART:20260308T070000
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260509T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260509T150000
DTSTAMP:20260527T123810
CREATED:20260501T155202Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260501T194804Z
UID:10000167-1778331600-1778338800@asianheritageyyc.ca
SUMMARY:Asian Heritage Month Opening Ceremony | "Unity in Diversity: Countering Hate and Fostering Human Connection Through Building Belonging and Friendship"
DESCRIPTION:O Canada – Music: Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Soprano: Dr. Vania Chan \nWith photography on Magnificent Canada by Tam Kam Chiu and Stephen Siu \nOpening remarks \nThe Honourable Marc Miller\, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages (tbc) \nHer Worship Olivia Chow\, Mayor\, City of Toronto \nThe Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy\, former Senator who tabled the Motion in the Senate of Canada\, and Founding Patron\, Asian Heritage Month-CFACI \n\nMr. Justin Poy\, Honourary Patron of Asian Heritage Month-CFACI\, and Chinese Canadian Legend Award holder \nPlenary Address \nThe Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy\, former Senator who tabled the Motion in the Senate of Canada\, and Founding Patron\, Asian Heritage Month-CFACI \n“Asian Heritage Month: Countering Hate and Fostering Human Connection Through Building Belonging and Friendship” (Title tbc) \nFormer Senator Vivienne Poy is Chancellor Emerita of the University of Toronto. A historian\, an author\, a public speaker\, a fashion designer\, an entrepreneur and a community activist. \nIn 1998\, she was the first Canadian of Asian heritage to be appointed to the Senate of Canada where she focused on gender issues\, multiculturalism\, immigration and human rights. She started the process in 2000 to amend our National Anthem to make it inclusive of all Canadians\, with the words “in all of us command” by tabling 2 successive Bills in the Senate. In 2001\, Vivienne’s Senate Motion was adopted\, declaring May as Asian Heritage Month across Canada by the Federal Government. \nAfter her retirement from the Senate of Canada in September 2012\, she continues to speak and write and remains actively involved with communities and NGOs across Canada and overseas\, such as ORBIS (Can)\, Plan International (Can)\, ACCT Foundation\, The Chinese Canadian Museum (Vancouver)\, Covenant House\, Scott Mission and the Famous5 Foundation. She is also assisting UHN in promoting organ donations from living donors. \nVivienne has received numerous honorary degrees and professorship from universities in USA\, China\, Hong Kong\, South Korea and across Canada. \n\nAsian Heritage Month Lecture \nMr. Justin Poy\, Honourary Patron\, Asian Heritage Month-CFACI\, Chinese Canadian Legend Award Winner \n“The Difference in the Appreciation of Fine Arts: Understanding Consumer Behaviour in Asia and how it impacts us in Canada.” \nIn this keynote speech\, Justin Poy discusses consumer behaviour in various Asian countries and how they have evolved. How do these behaviours impact us in Canada? What do these countries learn from us and our North American trends? Justin Poy will be delving into the arts.  For example\, he will talk about how fine art paintings are appraised and evaluated in China versus how they are evaluated in the Western world.  Fine art paintings in China are priced by the square decimeter\, which means the larger the canvas\, the more expensive it is. Thankfully they don’t do that in Europe because otherwise the Mona Lisa would be almost worthless! And the story behind it is quite fascinating. Valuations of Chinese paintings actually originated from calligraphy and in the calligraphy world the larger the piece the more grace\, talent\, and control of the brush one demonstrates. When it came down to fine art and more Chinese artists got into acrylic and watercolour\, they started evaluating them the same way they would evaluate calligraphy. Justin Poy will tell lots of interesting stories like this in his talk. \nAbout Justin Poy: Justin Poy is an award-winning Canadian advertising executive\, film producer\, and global strategist. He is Founder\, President\, and Creative Director of The Justin Poy Agency Inc.\, a leading multicultural advertising firm established in 1993\, known for nationally recognized campaigns such as “Everyone Loves Marineland” and major initiatives for Canada’s automotive and retail sectors. \nPoy is Executive Producer at Ballinran Entertainment\, where he produced Exclusion: Beyond the Silence\, a documentary exploring Canada’s 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act. \nA recognized leader in digital governance and multicultural strategy\, he advises global institutions including Cambridge University and is recognized as an Alumnus of Distinction by both Toronto Metropolitan University and the Toronto French School. \nHe is the recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2024)\, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)\, and Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)\, as well as the Chinese Canadian Legend Award. \nPoy is widely respected for advancing multiculturalism\, cross-cultural marketing\, and Asian Canadian representation in media and business. \nMusic by Award Winning Asian Canadian Artists \nArtistic Directors: Professor Chan Ka Nin\, Ms. Alice Ping Yee Ho\, Dr. Vania Chan \nUnity in Diversity: Fostering Human Connection | Text by Arlene Chan \n“Imagine”  words and music by John Lennon and Yoko Ono | Translation to Chinese by Ramon Tam \nVania Chan\, soprano.   CHAN Ka Nin\, guitar \nIn the official declaration of Asian Heritage Month\, it states: “The people of these diverse\, vibrant and growing communities have contributed to every aspect of life in Canada — from the arts and science to sport\, business and government.  Asian Heritage Month offers everyone in Canada an opportunity to learn more about the history of people of Asian origin in Canada and to celebrate their contributions to the growth and prosperity of our society.”  The Artistic Directors of Asian Heritage showcase this spirit of Asian Heritage Month.  They won top awards in Canada: Juno and Dora Awards\, and Alice Ping Yee Ho is the latest winner of the Canada Council for the Arts Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music.  She is also contesting for a Juno Award: Awake and Dreaming\, the remarkable solo piano recording featuring the music of composer Alice Ping Yee Ho and pianist Katherine Dowling\, has received a JUNO Award nomination for 2026. \nCase Study of Prominent Asian Canadians \nEvelyn Sue Wong \n“Reach for the Sky: How Two Brothers Built an Airplane in Chinatown” \n\nEvelyn Sue Wong (Photo provided by presenter) \nAs the Great Depression brought families and cities to their knees\, Robert Shun Wong and his younger brother Tommy dreamed of flying. Money was tight\, racial discrimination was high\, and times were tough. But in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown\, the two brothers built a single-seat plane – a Pietenpol Sky Scout. Pushing the boundaries of their world\, Robert and Tommy were soon flying beyond their wildest dreams!  Robert’s daughter Evelyn Wong will tell of the pioneering years in aviation and the incredible contributions made by the Chinese Canadian community. It is a story about how young Asian Canadians tested their limits and set their eyes beyond the horizon.  The Wong brothers were the first Asian Canadians to be (posthumously) inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 2024. \nPresentation by the Chinese Canadian Photographic Society of Toronto \nPeter Lau & CCPST \n“Together\, We Thrive: Celebrating Asian Heritage\, Building Shared Humanity: Introduction to Asian Heritage Month Exhibitions” \nThe photographers will introduce the Asian Heritage Month Exhibitions\,  going through their motivations when taking the pictures\, and the symbolism and cultural significance behind the amazing images expressing their wish to celebrate Asian Canadian heritage and building shared humanity in Canada. \nAsian Heritage Month Photo and Art Exhibition \nPhoto Exhibition by the Chinese Canadian Photographic Society of Toronto \nArt Exhibition by Stephen Yau\, Rosita Law\, Joe Cho\, Jimmy Rice. \nEvent Details \n\nGuided Tour of Asian Heritage Month Photography Exhibition and Chats with the Asian Canadian Photographers\, Visual Artists\, Composers and Performing Artists\nPlease tour the Asian Heritage Month Photography Exhibition! The awards-winning Asian Canadian Photographers\, Composers and Performing Artists will be there. \n\nPhoto by Chinese Canadian Photographic Society of Toronto \nEvent co-organizers: Asian Heritage Month—Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture (Central Ontario) Inc.; Toronto Public Library; Asian Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy\, University of Toronto; Richard Charles Lee Canada Hong Kong Library\, University of Toronto; Chinese Canadian Photography Society of Toronto; Social Services Network; Cambridge Food and Wine Society \nAsian Heritage Month Festival is partially funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Asian Canadian Artists in Digital Age is funded by Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategy Fund
URL:https://asianheritageyyc.ca/events/asian-heritage-month-opening-ceremony-unity-in-diversity-countering-hate-and-fostering-human-connection-through-building-belonging-and-friendship/
LOCATION:Toronto\, Toronto\, Ontario\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Asian Heritage Month 2026,Ontario
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260501T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260501T190000
DTSTAMP:20260527T123810
CREATED:20260501T155202Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260501T195110Z
UID:10000166-1777662000-1777662000@asianheritageyyc.ca
SUMMARY:AHM Film Festival - Reelworld x Asian Heritage Month
DESCRIPTION:“Community-led Efforts to Counter Hate\, Misinformation\, and Polarization by Fostering Critical Thinking and Social Cohesion” | Asian Heritage Month Film Festival programmed by Reelworld\nDate: Friday May 1\, 2026 | 7pm. Doors Open: 6:30pm \nLocation: Innis Town Hall\, University of Toronto\, 2 Sussex Avenue\, Toronto. Map \nFREE ADMISSION. Please register here. \nEvent details \nFeature and short film programmed\, followed by live Q & A with the Directors \nDescription: Reelworld Screen Institute is honoured to celebrate 1g years of partnership with Asian Heritage Month. The Asian Heritage Month Film Festival\, held in collaboration with Reelworld Film Festival\, presents a curated program about families across borders. The event will feature a Shorts and Series Programme in addition to a Q/A featuring the filmmakers\, moderated by Zaarin Bushra. \nThe AHM Film Festival promotes inclusivity and combats anti-Asian racism by highlighting the diverse stories and contributions of Asian Canadians. Through storytelling\, the festival provides a platform for the voices and experiences of marginalized communities\, fostering empathy and promoting unity. Selected films will immerse audiences in narratives that address the lived experiences of Asian Canadians\, offering a deeper understanding of the ongoing impact of anti-Asian racism and other forms of discrimination. \nIn addition\, direct interactions between artists and audiences will create opportunities for conversations that will help challenge stereotypes\, interrupt biases\, and encourage solidarity through open dialogue and shared perspectives. \nFeature Programme \nShook\, Directed by Amar Wala \nAfter a run-in with his estranged father\, aspiring writer Ashish or “Ash” learns a secret that will force him to balance family\, love and success while navigating the divide between the exciting city life he wants and his suburban reality. \nShorts Programme \nDesync\, Directed by Minerva Navasca \nAna\, a young Filipina filmmaker\, shoots a re-enactment of a fight she once had with her mother. Embodying cultural pressure from her mother to work beyond her limits for the sake of perfection\, Ana rewrites every painful exchange into a perfect one. \nQ/A Program \nModerator: Zaarin Bushra \nZaarin Bushra is a Toronto-based actor\, filmmaker\, and creative professional. She is the Program Manager at Reelworld Screen Institute\, where she oversees the Emerging 20 Program and initiatives focused on the development of emerging creatives. Her work focuses on building pathways for racialized talent in Canada’s screen industries\, fostering community\, and advancing equity through storytelling and industry collaboration. \nPanelists: Filmmakers Amar Wala\, Minerva Navasco (or Jadyn Nasato)  \n\nEvent co-organizers: Asian Heritage Month—Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture (Central Ontario) Inc.; Toronto Public Library; Asian Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy\, University of Toronto; Richard Charles Lee Canada Hong Kong Library\, University of Toronto; Chinese Canadian Photography Society of Toronto; Social Services Network; Cambridge Food and Wine Society \nAsian Heritage Month Festival is partially funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Asian Canadian Artists in Digital Age is funded by Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategy Fund.
URL:https://asianheritageyyc.ca/events/ahm-film-festival-reelworld-x-asian-heritage-month/
LOCATION:Toronto\, Toronto\, Ontario\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Asian Heritage Month 2026,Ontario
ORGANIZER;CN="Reelworld Screen Institute":MAILTO:info@reelworld.ca
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