Celebrating customs, stories, and belonging: Asian Heritage Month

Happy Asian Heritage Month! 

This month is a time to honour the Asian communities whose cultures, histories and contributions have enriched our university and society in countless ways.

Celebrating and preserving culture allows us to connect to our past, honour our roots, and appreciate the diverse traditions of our friends and neighbours. 

When we share our customs and stories with each other, we deepen our mutual understanding and foster a sense of belonging. 

On that note, I invite the whole community to join Royal Roads University in doing just that:

On May 4, attend virtual guest lecture with a University of the Fraser Valley's Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains for her presentation: South Asian Canadians: Journeys Shaping Today’s Successes & Challenges.

RRU's annual Global Showcase is back May 14 at the Dogwood Auditorium. The day will start with food and cultural displays followed by a fashion and talent show. It’s a fun, high energy event celebrating students from Asia and all around the world.

Speaking of food, a warning: these short reels might make you hungry! A group of students gathered to share their culture through food by introducing a favourite dish from their country at this potluck lunch. Watch "Ghormeh sabzi with Mari," "Pork binagoongan with Rio," "Phirni with Shazia," "Dumplings with Weiwei," and "Salad rolls with Trung." 

MA Tourism Management alum Chris Cheung is also exploring community, but through honest and insightful local research into the cultural significance of Victoria's Chinatown. You can read about it in this RRU news piece: “Chinatown is not just heritage. It’s a living community.”

Finally, make sure to visit our Asian Heritage Month webpage throughout this month for updates, and while you’re there, you can also find additional resources including a link to the Library’s digital display, events happening in the community, news stories and videos.