TORONTO, ON – April 28, 2022 – In honour of Asian Heritage Month 2022, the National Coalition of Canadians Against Anti-Asian Racism (NCCAAR), in partnership with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada), will host a one-day forum and reception at the Shangri-La Hotel on May 6, with special guests the Honourable Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, and U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai. Under the banner, 'Inspiring Next GenerAsian Leaders,' the event will also host youth from several Asian organizations and tertiary institutions across Canada.
According to Janice Fukakusa, NCCAAR board Chair and Chancellor at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), "We have all worked hard in identifying and supporting those communities which continue to be victims of racism, and we are pursuing changes in the educational systems to reduce systemic racial biases by ensuring that all communities have access and are represented. Through active role modelling of very successful current Asian leaders, we hope to further inspire next generation Asian leaders to reach for the top and this forum is a fantastic opportunity to keep the momentum going on our journey to help eliminate Anti-Asian racism."
Ms. Fukakusa further stated the objectives of the event are "to inspire future generations of Asian leaders to become successful and continue to build and strengthen the communities through profiling and engaging successful Asians in media, government, business, and all walks of life. The event will be a celebration of Asian Heritage Month, a call to action for the future, and will profile the appointments of the first – but by no means last – female Asian leaders as the current Trade Ministers of Canada and the United States."
The event is expected to attract hundreds and will be hybrid in presentation, enabling broad participation. Christine Nakamura, NCCAAR board Director and Vice-President of APF Canada’s Central Canada Office, said the event has a far wider aspiration in inspiring and supporting. "Through this event, 'Inspiring Next GenerAsian Leaders,' we hope to raise seed funding to support initiatives for Asian Canadian youth empowerment and improving the quality of and access to community services by Asian Canadian communities," said Nakamura. "It is also timely to reflect on the huge contributions of many Asian Canadians to the social, economic, and cultural achievements of Canada."
The Forum will be moderated by Melissa Grelo, host of CTV Canada’s The Social.
For interview requests, please contact: Michael Roberts, Director of Communications, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada at michael.roberts@asiapacific.ca.
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