Asian Heritage Month 2025
May 5, 2025 - Defence Stories
Asian Heritage Month, celebrated every May since 2002, is a month dedicated to recognizing and honouring the diverse impacts and contributions of Asian communities within Canada and the Defence Team.
This month serves as a reminder of the rich cultural traditions and the invaluable impact that people of Asian heritage have brought to Canada and continue to contribute within the Defence Team. Acknowledging these contributions honours their legacy and serves as inspiration for future generations.
Honouring Asian Canadian Armed Forces Veterans
Asian Heritage Month gives the Defence Team the opportunity to foster understanding, learning, and networking, while highlighting the important contributions made by Canadian Asians, particularly our proud veterans.
Sergeant Masumi Mitsui was part of the first group of Japanese Canadian recruits to be accepted to enlist into the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1916. He was an exemplary leader who fought in major battles such as Vimy Ridge and the Battle for Hill 70. He was promoted to sergeant and awarded the Military Medal for his leadership, bravery in battle, and for aiding the wounded on the battlefield, prior to his honourable discharge in 1919. He went on to advocate for Japanese-Canadian rights and fought for the right to vote for Japanese-Canadian veterans in British Columbia.
Private Buckam Singh enrolled in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1915 and is one of the few known Sikh Canadians that served with the Canadian Army in World War I. He fought in various battles and was awarded a Victory Medal. His grave in Kitchener, Ontario is the only known World War I Sikh Canadian soldier’s military grave in Canada.
In the early 1940’s, five Chinese Canadian women enlisted in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps, within the Canadian Army. These women are Private Edna Silaine Lowe, Corporal Lila Wong, Private Marion Laura Mah, Private Mary Ko Bong and Private Helen Hoe. Though they were not sent overseas to fight in the war, they served in non-combat duty roles supporting the military during World War II.
We honour the bravery of our veterans and are grateful to them for forging a path where currently serving military members can work alongside their public service counterparts in the Defence of Canada. Diversity is a strength, and it is essential to promote and celebrate it.
Event
The Defence Team Canadian Asian Network will be hosting a virtual panel discussion on Monday 26 May 2025. For details, including the link to join, please reach out to dtcan-raced@forces.gc.ca.
The event will highlight significant contributions of Canadian Asians, past and present, within the Defence Team and the role of Canadian Asians in strengthening our Defence Community.
Associated Links
To learn more about the rich history of Asian communities in Canada, there are several resources and organizations available to Defence Team members:
- May is Asian Heritage Month - Canada.ca is the official Government of Canada website for Asian Heritage Month.
- Asian Heritage in Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia describes the Asian Canadian experience from its beginnings to now.
- The Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Culture and Heritage (vmacch.ca) showcases various aspects of Asian Canadian heritage.
- Asian Canadians and Canada’s Military | Canadian War Museum is an overview of the history of Chinese, Japanese, and Sikh Canadian military service.
- Canadian Heritage - Noteworthy Canadians of Asian heritage, short biographies of some of the valuable contributions made by Canadians of Asian heritage.
- The Defence Team Anti-Racism Resource Hub is a website with guides, tip sheets, and resources to help Defence Team members accelerate systemic change within the Department.
- Addressing anti-Asian racism outlines how to confront and denounce anti-Asian racism and discrimination.