Canada celebrates Filipino Heritage Month

FILE PHOTO: Rechie Valdez, Canada’s minister of Small Business, is the first Filipino Canadian woman to be elected as a Member of Parliament.

The first day of June marks the beginning of month-long celebrations of Filipino Heritage Month in Canada.

In a statement issued Saturday, Kamal Khera, minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, honored Filipino Heritage Month and recognized Filipino Canadians for their “positive and meaningful contributions to Canada.”

Khera paid tribute to Fil-Canadian health care professionals for strengthening the country’s health care system and supporting the well-being of Canadian families.

“Beyond health care, Filipino Canadians have made their mark in various fields including politics, sports, the arts, finance and social justice,” she said.

Khera noted that the Filipino community is one of Canada’s fastest-growing populations.

“With more than 900,000 people, it is the third largest Asian community in the country,” she said.

Khera acknowledged that Canadians of Filipino descent continue to experience “systemic barriers due to discrimination and racism.”

She reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling all forms of hatred and discrimination through Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy and Canada’s first-ever Action Plan on Combating Hate.

Khera said the government is supporting efforts to build a Filipino cultural center in British Columbia, which will create a designated space for the Filipino community to unite and celebrate its culture and heritage.

“During this special month, let’s learn more about the traditions of Filipino Canadians through the cultural and traditional activities happening across the country,” Khera said.

“Canada draws its strength and resilience from its diversity. Each day, let’s embrace inclusion and celebrate our diversity.”

On October 30, 2018, Canada adopted Motion 155 declaring June as Filipino Heritage Month.

“This motion recognizes, celebrates and raises awareness of the Filipino community in Canada,” said Member of Parliament Salma Zahid, who sponsored the motion.

“It is also a way of showing our Government’s official appreciation of the Filipino community for their important contribution throughout Canadian history and for helping to make our country the rich and vibrant place it is today.”

Filipinos make up the fourth largest racial group in Canada, and their population is projected to reach 2 million by 2041, Statistics Canada reported.

There are 960,000 Filipinos in Canada or about 2.6 percent of the country’s total population as of July 1, 2022.