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.

During Asian heritage month and throughout the year at Royal Roads, we celebrate the Asian heritage that has made our university and society immeasurably richer. We join together to fight pervasive and enduring anti-Asian racism. And we remember and acknowledge our shared history.

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

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

Royal Roads 2025 Events

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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.

2024 Royal Roads events

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