The City of Toronto is officially launching Asian Heritage Month this May.  

Toronto Mayor John Tory addressed the media, commemorating the month with an address to all Asian residents in the city. 

Further, as more anti-Asian acts saw a rise in North America during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tory reaffirmed Toronto’s stance against them and the need to find bridges and connections with all cultures. 

Notable crimes against Asian individuals include a woman being pushed onto the tracks on the TTC, as well as several high-profile cases against Asians in New York City recently. 

For the month several institutions including the TIFF Bell Lightbox and the Toronto Public Library are planning events for the month. This includes Asian classic films at the lightbox and concerts hosted by the library. Several food festivals are expected to be planned as well.

Across social media, sports teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs will launch a weekly series highlighting Asian individuals within the organisation.  

Asian Heritage Month has been celebrated since the 1990s, but was adopted by Canada's senate in 2001 by Senator Vivienne Poy, according to the Government of Canada website.

More details to come.

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