Asian Heritage Month

Royal Roads University honours the contributions of people of Asian descent in our university and beyond.

People of Asian descent were integral in the development of the grounds where our university now resides. Much of Hatley Park, which is now the Royal Roads campus, exists because of the labour, hard work and vision of Asian immigrants and visitors.

Today our university community is enriched by the dynamic contributions of Asian students, alumni, faculty and staff. Our 2025 theme, Cultural Threads, invites us to honour the rich traditions, diverse languages and creative arts that shape and connect Asian communities. We’ve invited students to share more about their Asian heritage and what this month means to them. Read on for those stories.

Thank you to everyone, in particular the Royal Roads members of Asian ancestry, who contributed their time and perspectives to this page.

Royal Roads 2025 Events

May 13: Advancing Asian Canadian Research, Teaching and Public Engagement in These Challenging Times

Dr. John Paul Catungal, assistant professor in the Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice at the University of British Columbia, joins RRU President Philip Steenkamp for a special presentation in honour of Asian Heritage Month.

Dr. Catungal draws from his interdisciplinary Asian Canadian research, teaching and public engagement practice to articulate the value of critical scholarship "for our communities, by our communities". Such engaged scholarly practices, in direct partnership with equity-deserving communities, has much to contribute to how we understand the public role of the university today, including what our responsibilities are as institutional actors and how we might forge more ethical and meaningful relationships with broader publics.

Intergenerational Trauma and Resilience and Our Collective Solidarities

In this Asian Heritage Month event, Dr. Fred Chou, assistant professor in the University of Victoria's Counselling Psychology program, provides an overview of the psychological research on intergenerational trauma and resilience in the Asian diaspora, with specific focus on his own research on this topic within the Chinese Canadian community.

2025 Community Events

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Stories from the Silk Roads is a three-day event of stories, music and film to celebrate the rich heritage of Canadians with roots in the Asian continent. The event begins at Cafe Fantastic at Quadra Village May 9 at 7 p.m. with Stories from the Silk Roads launch event featuring diverse storytellers and musicians. On May 10 and 11, catch an incredible line up of films at the Vic Theatre including a bundle of shorts by Asian-Canadian Independent filmmakers.

See the complete schedule and lineup.

Join members of the Urasenke Tankokai Victoria Association as they demonstrate the Japanese tea ceremony (Chado- The Way of Tea). Visitors are invited to observe the ceremony taking place on the main floor of the museum in the Conference Hall. Two ceremonies take place at 11 a.m. and another at 1 p.m.

Enjoy celebrations in heart of Victoria’s Historic Chinatown from noon until 5:30 p.m. and immerse yourself in cultural festivities with a day of captivating performances, arts, and crafts, presented by the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society and in collaboration with RBC and local Chinatown businesses.

Find out more.

Voices

Students of Asian heritage reflect on the theme, Cultural Threads: Exploring the rich traditions, languages and arts of Asian heritage.

"I connect with my heritage in quiet, personal ways”

"I would encourage younger generations to see their heritage not as something static but as a living part of their identity, as an aesthetic. They have been my inspiration for my creative work, my tattoos and my identity," says Trang Luong, MA in Intercultural and International Communication student. Read more about how she says her history, language and art has shaped her identity.

"This month is a meaningful time to celebrate our diversity"

"As a tour guide with deep roots in Bhutan’s culture and traditions, it means a lot to showcase our rich heritage — from our spiritual values and colorful festivals to our deep respect for nature and community," says Kinzang Choden, MA in Tourism Management student. Read more about her pride of sharing her rich cultural heritage.

“Embrace your cultural identity with confidence and pride”

"By working together as a community, we can promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of Asian arts and traditions, and help children develop a strong sense of cultural identity from an early age," says Shimaya Suresh, MA in Tourism Management student. Read more about the arts, food, language and religious practices that keep her connected to the unique culture of Kerala.

Explore the RRU Library's digital display

Join RRU Library in celebrating Asian Heritage Month this May.

The RRU Library's highlighted resources explore various facets of Asian heritage in Canada and across the world, with a focus on themes of relevance to the RRU community.

Discover Asian voices and representation in popular media, contemporary experiences of anti-Asian racism, climate vulnerability and sustainable development in Asia, and stories of immigration and injustice in BC and Canada, including the story of the gardeners who designed Hatley Park's own Japanese gardens.

Visit the digital display

RRU celebrates Asian Heritage Month 2024

What does it mean to be "Asian"?

Viola Tian, anti-Asian racism lead at the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, shares a special presentation in honour of Asian Heritage Month. Hosted by Royal Roads President Philip Steenkamp, her presentation covers what means to be “Asian” and how anti-Asian racism manifests across different spaces. She also speaks about some of the work the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and the Coalition Against Anti-Asian Racism Canada have been doing to address anti-Asian racism and how we can collectively combat it as a society.

Voices