Event to Mark Asian
Heritage Month in Miramichi As the month of May brings flowers, so too does it bring events
to mark Asian Heritage Month. In December 2001, the Senate of Canada designated the
month of May as Asian Heritage Month in recognition of the many ways in which Asian cultures and traditions have contributed
to the strength of our communities and our shared Canadian identity.
Since then, communities across the
country have been organizing annual festivities highlighting Asian arts and culture.
This year’s
theme, “Building Canadian Identity,” provides an opportunity to recognize the many achievements made by Canadians
of Asian origin towards the building of the country. The history of Asian Canadians is woven through our national history.
One such example is the Asahi Baseball team, formed
in 1914 in Vancouver, which enjoyed enormous success and became a symbol of Japanese Canadians’ struggle for equality
and respect.
Events are being held throughout the province during the month.
This year’s celebrations in Fredericton focus on the contributions of Filipino-Canadians to Canada and the region.
The Asian Heritage Society of New Brunswick will be holding an Asian Film Festival at Head
Hall at UNB with showings every Sunday at 3pm until 7 June. They are also having Asian Story Hour at the Fredericton Library.
The Multicultural Association of Saint will have a showing of the award-winning film "Under
the Willow Tree: Pioneer Chinese Women in Canada".
The Chaleur Regional Multicultural
Association will be holding an event on 16 Mary highlighting the contributions of Koreans in Bathurst.
“Asian Heritage Month
is an ongoing expression of our Canadian identity, and our commitment to multiculturalism”, says the Honourable Vivienne
Poy, the first Canadian Senator of Asian ancestry. Senator Poy came to Toronto from Hong Kong as a university
student in 1959.
In Miramichi, the Miramichi Regional Multicultural Association will be hosting
an Asian Fair to mark Asian Heritage Month at the Douglastown
Community Centre from 1-5pm. This family event will include demonstrations of a variety of Asian cultures:
food, dance, music, exhibitions, games and prizes. The exhibition describes the contributions of
Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Filipino Canadians. All are invited and admission is free.
According
to Ming Au, President of the Miramichi Regional Multicultural Association, Asian Heritage Month brings together members of
the community in events that provide Canadians with an opportunity to recognize the contribution of Asian Canadians.
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Multicultural Association
Opens New Settlement Services Office in Miramichi
Miramichi, November 21, 2008 – Newcomers to the Miramichi region will
now have access to settlement services announced today by Mr. Ming Aug, President of the Miramichi Regional Multicultural
Association (MRMA). The Multicultural Association’s new Settlement Services office
opened in Miramichi this week. The office is set up to provide access orientation, support and referral
services for immigrant newcomers to the region. Referral advice to other community resource and support
is provided covering a wide range of areas; starting with accommodation, translation, language training, language assessment
and referral in either French or English. In delivering this service, the Multicultural Association works with many partners
and resources in the community that are already established, as well as volunteers, in finding support in these areas.
In addition, an important player in the settlement of newcomers is their employers; be they local businesses, industries
or government services.
The settlement services of MRMA are made possible with funding from the Population
Growth Secretariat of the Province of New Brunswick. The office and associated facilities are provided
by Enterprise Miramichi and is co-located in their Wellington Street office.
“This is an enormous
break-through for the Miramichi,” said Mr. Au. “While some long standing residents are leaving the Miramichi as
economic migrants, there are many individuals and families arriving to take up residency and to join work within the community.
This office will provide newcomers and their families with access to information they need to be better prepared to
live, work and do business in the region”, said Mr. Au.
“The relationship between newcomers, community agencies and business will
strengthen our economic, social and cultural fabric in many ways,” added Mr. Au.
With former newcomers to Canada and life-long Canadians, many of whom are well-travelled,
MRMA understands the challenges that newcomers may face. Settlement Services is one of several programs
of MRMA.
At
present, the office is staffed by the new Settlement Coordinator, Michael Mersereau, with the view to expanding in the New
Year when more settlement programs are operational. Mr. Mersereau is a recently returned resident of Miramichi
and brings to MRMA his years of experience living in numerous countries. “I can really identify with
the challenges and needs of newcomers in settling in a new country since I have been there eight times in the last 25 years”,
said Mr. Mersereau.
Any
newcomer or employer of newcomers can access the services provided by the office. There is no cost to the
advice provided.
The office is open and welcomes drop-in visitors or phone calls at Room no. 105,
158 Wellington Street, Miramichi, phone 773-5272.
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