Asian Heritage Month 2020 “Asian Canadians: United in Diversity”

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, a time to reflect on and celebrate the contributions that Canadians of Asian origin continue to make, to the growth and prosperity of Canada.

Asian Heritage Month has been celebrated across Canada since the 1990s. In December 2001, the Senate of Canada adopted a motion proposed by Senator Vivienne Poy to officially designate May as Asian Heritage Month in Canada. In May 2002, the Government of Canada signed an official.

Official Declaration of Asian Heritage Month

• Diversity represents one of Canada’s greatest strengths, and we strive to ensure that all Canadians have the opportunity to reach their full potential and participate in Canada’s civic life.


• Over the last two centuries, immigrants have journeyed to Canada from East Asia, Southern Asia, Western and Southeast Asia, bringing our society a rich cultural heritage representing many languages, ethnicities and religious traditions.


• The people of this diverse, vibrant and growing community have contributed to every aspect of life in Canada — from the arts and science to sport, business, and government.


• Asian Heritage Month offers all Canadians an opportunity to learn more about the history of Asian Canadians and to celebrate their contributions to the growth and prosperity of Canada.

Few Canadians realize that ten Sikhs joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, before Sikhs could actually attain Canadian citizenship.

Amongst them, eight served in Europe, and two were killed in action.

Buckam Singh who was first living in British Columbia, and later moved to Toronto, is the Sikh veteran about whom we know the most out of the ten. He was wounded twice and died after returning to Canada. His grave in Kitchener, Ontario, is the only known First World War Canadian of Sikh origin soldier’s grave in Canada.

His comrades in arms were John Baboo of Winnipeg, who was wounded at Vimy Ridge; Suntfer Gougersingh who enlisted in Montréal; Hari Singh from Toronto; Harnom Singh from Chilliwack, British Columbia; John Singh of Winnipeg; Lashman Singh and Waryam Singh, who enlisted at Smiths Falls, Ontario; Ram Singh of Grand Forks, British Columbia; and Sewa Singh of Vancouver.

Hundreds of Canadians of Chinese origin fought in the Second World War. They were able to enlist in the Canadian Army, but were barred on racial grounds from enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force until October 1942, and the Royal Canadian Navy until March 1944.

Many Canadians of Chinese origin volunteered for active duty, even though they were exempt from the National Resources Mobilization Act of 1940 (NRMA), which allowed the Canadian government to requisition property and services for defence.

In 1944, the British War Office petitioned the Canadian Government for Canadians of Chinese origin to work for the Special Operations Executive in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific. Canadians of Chinese origin were later called up under the NRMA. They played an active role in the Second World War, and made unique contributions to the war effort. Intense lobbying by returning Canadian of Chinese origin veterans led to the repeal of the Chinese Immigration (Exclusion) Act. Their efforts turned out to be a great success.

For more on Asian Heritage Month visit www.Canada.ca