加拿大亚裔文化月在疫情中开始

每年五月份是加拿大的亚裔文化月。与往年不同的是，今年的五月正值新冠疫情，有关的庆祝活动、展览和表演全部取消。但是主管多元文化与包容的加拿大内阁部长查格（Bardish Chagger） 仍然在5月1日这一天发表声明，宣布亚裔文化月的开始。

今年亚裔文化月的主题是”亚裔加拿大人：在多元化中团结”。查格的声明说，亚裔加拿大人来自二十多个国家，各自拥有独特的文化。加拿大成为今天的样子有他们的功劳，加拿大社会的各个方面，艺术、科技、体育、经济、政府，都有他们的贡献。

查格还表示，她为歧视性的和种族主义的言行重新出现感到不安。所有加拿大人都应该反击和抵制仇外情绪和种族歧视，不论是在网上还是在现实生活中。

她说，尽管无法参加或组织活动，但是我们仍然可以去努力了解亚裔加拿大人的历史。

查格的声明：

Today marks the start of Asian Heritage Month in Canada, a time to highlight the rich diversity of the Asian diaspora and the extraordinary contributions of Canadians of Asian descent.

The theme for Asian Heritage Month 2020 is Asian Canadians: United in Diversity. It recognizes that, while Asian Canadians can trace their ancestry from more than 20 different countries, with their own unique cultural fabric, they have helped make Canada what it is today in every aspect of society; in the arts, sciences, sports, business, and government.

As Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, I am distressed to see a rise in discriminatory and racist behaviour, including deplorable behaviour against people of Asian descent. We all have a role to play in denouncing discrimination and xenophobia, and stopping the spread of racism, whether online, on our streets, in our homes, or in our workplaces.

While this year will be different, as we won’t be participating in or hosting public events to mark this month, we can all do our part to learn more about the history of Canadians of Asian descent going back as far as the 1700s.

On behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Government of Canada, I encourage everyone to embrace the diversity and compassion that makes our country strong, as we build a better future for all.