May 05, 2021
Throughout the month of May the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) will be celebrating Asian Heritage Month. Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity for all Canadians to learn more about the many contributions of Canadians of Asian descent who have done so much to make Canada the amazing country we share today.
OPL invites everyone to discover the legacy and diverse cultures of Asia through educational and cultural programs at OPL. In celebration of this year’s Asian Heritage Month 2021, the Ottawa Public library is offering livestreamed programming for all ages!
- On May 17, tune in for a live moderated discussion with Asian-Canadian author Jen Sookfong Lee, brought to you in partnership with Ottawa International Writers Fest.
- On May 20, enjoy a live demonstration of Japanese cooking with cooking instructor Emi Buzza and test out your cooking skills making salad rolls and teriyaki chicken rolls. Zoom registration required.
- Love Instagram? Check out OPL’s Teen Instagram account @oplteens_adosbpo every day during the week of May 17-21 for guest posts from local Asian community influencers. They’ll be talking all things Asian culture!
- On May 27, find a program takes us on an illustrated journey to the heart of the Silk Road in Draw my life in Uzbekistan.
- What’s better than a family dance party! Join us on Saturday May 29 for a live Family program learning how to Bollywood dance.
Tune into our weekly Storytimes for children all month long to hear a selection of stories by and about people of Asian heritage, in both English and French.
Looking for a craft to do as a family? Follow along with this instructional video linked below about traditional Koinobori Kite making and take your kite creations for an outside flight for a bonus outdoor activity! Remember to take a picture and tag us @opl_bpo so we can see all your creations.
Finally, reading books from OPL’s collection is another great way to discover the richness of Asian-Canadians' contributions to our cultural life. We're sure you're going to enjoy our selection of books, linked below.
Happy celebrating and learning!
Asian Heritage Month Influencer recommendationsby OPLProgramsProgrammesBPO
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
To All the Boys I've Loved Before Series, Book 1
Asian Enough | Podcast on Spotify
Listen to Asian Enough on Spotify. From the Los Angeles Times, “Asian Enough” is a podcast about being Asian American -- the joys, the complications and everything in between. In each episode, hosts Jen Yamato, Johana Bhuiyan, Tracy Brown and Suhauna Hussain of the Times invite special guests to share personal stories and unpack identity on their own terms. They explore the vast diaspora across cultures, backgrounds and generations, and try to expand the ways in which being Asian American is defined.David Suzuki Addresses 'Stop Asian Hate' Movement
Canadian environmental activist and TV personality David Suzuki tells ET Canada's Cheryl Hickey that the Asian community should not be "surprised" by the racism and ignorance that has been "entrenched" in society for years, but in order to effect change he encourages the majority to speak out.
Asian Heritage Month - Adultsby Collection_Development
Chinatown Pretty
Fashion and Wisdom From Chinatown's Most Stylish Seniors
Anne's Cradle
The Life and Works of Hanako Muraoka, Japanese Translator of Anne of Green Gables
Chop Suey Nation
The Legion Cafe and Other Stories From Canada's Chinese Restaurants
Sigh, Gone
A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit in
Being Chinese in Canada
The Struggle for Identity, Redress and Belonging
Asian Heritage Month - Kidsby Collection_Development
Too Young to Escape
A Vietnamese Girl Waits to Be Reunited With Her Family
