What does it mean to be "Asian"?

Join Viola Tian, anti-Asian racism lead at the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, for a special online presentation in honour of Asian Heritage Month. Her presentation will cover what means to be “Asian” and how anti-Asian racism manifests across different spaces. She will also briefly touch on some of the work the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and the Coalition Against Anti-Asian Racism Canada have been doing to address anti-Asian racism and how we can collectively combat it as a society.

This event is hosted by Royal Roads President Philip Steenkamp, with a brief Q and A facilitated by Royal Roads Assoc. Director of Human Rights and EDI Alejandro Campos-Garcia.

Canadian Race Relations Foundation

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation was created by the Government of Canada as a Crown Corporation in 1996, as part of the Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement, in apology to the Japanese Canadians for racial discrimination and internment camps during World War 2. The CRRF’s mandate is to create systemic solutions and advance public policy on anti-racism through partnership engagement, creating awareness and mobilization. 

Viola Tian

Viola Tian (She/her), a fervent advocate for social justice with a rich Chinese Korean heritage, has made significant strides in bridging communities and fostering understanding. She is currently the anti-Asian racism lead at the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and her leadership within the National Coalition Against Anti-Asian Racism Canada (CAAARC) highlights her dedication to combating discrimination as part of a federal initiative. She holds a firm conviction that every citizen possesses the potential to influence policy change, provided they are equipped with the right knowledge in government relations and advocacy techniques. 

Find more resources, events and voices on our Asian Heritage Month webpage.