PVNCCDSB Students and Staff Kick Off May By Celebrating Asian Heritage Month

As May is celebrated as Asian Heritage Month, Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board (PVNCCDSB) staff and students embraced the various cultures with a ceremony at Holy Cross Secondary School on Wednesday morning.

Caitlyn Chan Reynolds displays her art piece before pvnccdsb students and staff at Holy Cross Secondary School. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The celebration’s theme was “Stories of Determination,” representing the strides made and the challenges Asian communities have overcome to thrive in Canada over the last two centuries and beyond.

“With the increasing diversity in our student population and in our communities, it is so important to allow voice for our students and families to really honour who they are and all of use to acknowledge the pieces of history that brought us to where we are,” said Dr. Cynthia Chan Reynolds, PVNCCDSB psychologist and manager of student services. “We need to honour all of our students so acknowledging the heritage pieces of our students is really key.”

There was an opening ceremony that featured cultural performances, an art exhibit by a local student and a display of traditional Asian attire from students.

Several speakers shared their lived experiences of immigrating to Canada or being born as first-generation with Asian descent. They also talked about initiatives against anti-Asian racism.

Reynolds adds that this assembly is all about awareness and allowing those with Asian heritage to fully embrace their authentic selves without judgment.

“That's part of the pieces in terms of Asian culture. We are brought up in a space of compliance and respect,” explained Reynolds. “The people-pleasing piece aspect of many of our 'model-minorities,' it is assumed that compliance and agreement is safety. I think we have to open up what safety means in terms of being able to be our authentic self.”

The staff, students and guests were treated to varieties of Asian cuisine following the ceremony.

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