The Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Society is a non-profit organization consisting of volunteers who are concerned and passionate about sharing Asian and Asian Canadian heritage with everyone in the National capital region. It is also a non-partisan, non-political, and non-religious organization.

Name of the Executive officers and Board of Directors Directory

• To organize events in celebration of the contributions of Asian Canadians to the growth and prosperity of Canada in arts, culture, science, sport, business and government.

• To share the history, arts, culture and heritage of Asians and Asian Canadians with everyone in the National Capital region through films, lectures, demonstrations, workshops other activities.

• To encourage other associations and institutions to hold celebration events for and during the Asian Heritage Month.

• To coordinate, promote and publicize events for and during the Asian Heritage Month.

• To organize performances, concerts, recitals, exhibits and other shows that enable Asian Canadian artists to perform in the National Capital Region to gain experience and exposure; and to enable Asian Canadian professional artists from Ottawa, and other cities, Canada and other countries to showcase their artistic talents in the National Capital Region.

• To collaborate with Asian Heritage Month Societies in other cities and provinces, with governments and non-governmental organizations in projects related to Asian Heritage Month events and in areas concerning Asian heritage in general for and during the Asian Heritage Month, or throughout the year, with other associations and institutions, as deemed fitting and appropriate by the Officers and the Board of Directors.

Following the motion introduced by Senator Vivienne Poy and passed by the Senate in December 2001 which dedicated the month of May as Asian Heritage Month, the Chinese Canadian National Council - Ottawa Chapter embarked on the Asian Heritage Month 2002 celebrations by presenting three short films about Chinese Canadians. In 2003 the Heritage Month programs grew to 10 activities.  In 2004, there were 13 events, including a Gala Concert in which seven Asian Canadian communities participated.   During the summer of 2004 the Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Society was formed in order to collaborate fully with Asian Canadian communities in coordinating activities for the Asian Heritage Month in the National Capital Region.

Since Ottawa's first Asian Heritage Month in 2002, participating groups/individuals include representatives from the following cultures: Canadian, East Indian Japanese, Filipino, Indonesian, Korean, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese. 

• If you or your organization would like to sponsor/organize an event with the Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Society or for the Asian Heritage Month in the National Capital Region, please contact us at ottawa@asianheritagemonth.net