Celebrate Asian Heritage Month with CBC Vancouver

May is Asian Heritage Month, a time to acknowledge and celebrate the rich history, contributions and achievements of Asian Canadians in the community.

To commemorate the occasion, CBC Vancouver is sharing profiles of amazing local Asian Canadians throughout the month to highlight those who are making meaningful contributions, both professionally and personally, in the community.

Check out our profile features below! And for more Asian Heritage Month content, visit CBC Gem for a new collection of series, documentaries and films that honour the rich culture and talent of Asian Canadians.

Satwinder Bains

Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains is an Associate Professor in the School of Culture, Media and Society and Director of the South Asian Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley.

Satwinder has worked extensively with not-for-profit organizations in the area of cross-cultural mental health, immigrant women, youth and families and board development on diversity and equity. Read more about Satwinder below.

How do you connect with your Asian heritage?

Staying connected with my Asian heritage is easier for me because I grew up in India and parts of Asia, and I was 20 when I came to Canada. I am able to draw on my memories and my own formative years, and I am very fortunate to do so.

The languages that I speak are also part of my DNA and part of the fabric of who I am. Within those languages, there's an ethos. There's a whole culture, there's a whole vibrancy that comes out. If I don't use it, I feel kind of lost and I crave to use it. I am lucky that I live in Canada where I have communities of practice, not just in my family, but in my friends, my work and my communities.

I think of heritage as on a continuum. Heritage happens at different times in your life and in different ways. I am more acutely aware of my heritage and my responsibility with heritage than I was when I was younger. "Herit-age" kind of brings age into it, like over age I value what I brought with me, I need to pass on to the next generation. And if those stories are not written, a whole library will die with that story.

Who in your life made a significant impact in becoming who you are today?

The first significant impact was my parents. I always say that my father was a feminist he never made any difference between the genders in my home. We grew up with a sense of real rootedness about who we were. I also want to give my mother credit for always being that social security net for me. That was a place that was safe, where you could share. My mother was a great storyteller. I think I take my storytelling from her, because she could write a letter and tell a story like no one else. And she could repeat the story and we would still be enthralled by it.

Along the way, others have impacted me. My children impact me and I learn from them everyday. There are teachers everywhere and there are people waiting to share with you. I always look at what I can learn from someone rather than discredit or push away. Everyone has a story to tell, you just have to make the time to listen to it.

Do you have any advice for your fellow Asian community members that are on their own journey of self-discovery?

I find the journey of self-discovery cannot be defined by anybody else, but yourself. Yet, the self has to be supported, not just from your immediate family but from people you meet and the experiences you have along the way and the journey you undertake. The self-discovery journey is very difficult, but to know yourself is actually the most beautiful thing of all. In that knowledge comes a confidence and a gratitude about life that doesn't come from someone else.

Nelson Wong

Nelson Wong is a Vancouver actor and acting coach with over 20 years of experience on stage, TV and film. Among his accolades, he has featured in several Hallmark movies and continues to foster a new generation of actors as a teacher.

Hear more about Nelson's journey below.

How do you connect to your Asian heritage?

It has been a journey to connect to my Asian heritage. Some of it has been personal, such as reclaiming my relationships with my family and my genealogy. In particular, uncovering generational stories and influences that I may have resisted when I was younger has influenced my personal process and my work. Partnering with organizations that are dedicated to uplifting and highlighting Asian representation and voices in theatre and film has been rewarding. By spending time in the community and digesting media and stories created by Asian artists, I am able to embrace my Asian heritage that's continuously evolving.

Who in your life made a significant impact in becoming the person you are today?

I am grateful to have benefitted from many amazing mentors in my life. Some who have helped me inform my Asian Canadian identity are not Asian or Canadian themselves, but they certainly have all impacted me. People such as Ron Oliver, Ben Immanuel, and David C. Jones have all guided me throughout my career and in my storytelling as an artist.

Stereotypes and a resistance to see Asians as leading characters are still major obstacles. I think that informed some of my apprehension of whether people will care about my stories when I depict them. Yet, other Asian Canadian artists have proven otherwise with their productions and work. Asian Canadian artists, like Kuan Foo, the head writer of Assaulted Fish; Rick Tae, who is like an Asian filmmaking older brother to me; and Minh Ly, whose work as an actor continues to inspire me. They all broke down barriers for me as an artist I wanted to share Asian Canadian stories and they put words to it.

Do you have any advice for your fellow Asian community members that are on their own journey of self-discovery?

The journey can feel really lonely and I would suggest not to do it alone. Find a community, find mentors, not just for the sake of networking and opportunity, but to find yourself in relation to other people. Being a teacher, I have had the benefit of being able to work with up-and-coming actors, and to see their careers blossom. If there is anything I can offer, I encourage them to find their voice and reclaim those relationships and stories that we have to tell.

Anita Lee

Anita Lee is a professional photographer who finds strength in making human connections. A born and raised Vancouverite, Anita has always found a home in her community that allowed her to be her energetic, patient and intuitive self.

Read more about Anita below!

How do you connect to your Asian heritage?

For me, my Asian heritage is not really a connection because I feel that it is not separate from me. It's completely part of who I am. I feel like life is made up of our experiences and how we respond to those experiences truly make us who we are. I grew up in a community full of children whose cultural experiences are similar to my own. I also spoke exclusively in Chinese (or a variation of my "Chinese" combined with English) to my parents. Interestingly, with language, I will sometimes switch over to use a Chinese phrase without thinking about it because sometimes there are things that the English language is not able to express as well. My family celebrated our Chinese culture and I continue to do so in my own way. My connection to my heritage is not externalized for me and requires no effort. It is a facet of who I am and that is based on my very specific experiences my own personal story.

Who in your life made a significant impact in becoming the person you are today?

My family and being in my community has shaped my Asian heritage. However, there is not one person who has made a significant impact on me becoming who I am today. Rather, it has been a combination of many people and experiences. I take pieces of what resonates for me from everyone in my life and turn it into my own. They continue to teach me many important lessons, including how to accept not always making the "right" decisions. I would not be who I am without these interactions that I am incredibly grateful for.

Do you have any advice for your fellow Asian community members that are on their own journey of self-discovery?

It is a long and never ending journey with uplifting and clear moments where you are able to fully embrace yourself. We create our own realities, we know ourselves best, and it is crucial to be mindful of that all the time. We are also all complex, beautiful souls living complex, beautiful, and oftentimes difficult experiences. My Asian heritage is one very rich part of my identity and it is also exactly that, MINE; not anyone else's. Being Asian Canadian is not all I am, but I absolutely stand in it and own it.

Traei Tsai

Traei Tsai is a multi-talented artist and Vice-President of BC Minorities in Film & TV Society, a non-profit organization advocating for diversity and inclusion in front and behind the camera.

Traei seeks to create positive social impacts that continuously support a better community and world. Hear more about her story below.

How do you connect to your Asian heritage?

Since I was a kid I have tried to maintain my heritage by reading Chinese books. I loved to read and my parents were very supportive and I was able to retain my Chinese reading and writing ability. As I continued to read Chinese books after coming to Vancouver, I also found a true connection to my Asian heritage through food. Vancouver's food scene is truly blessed to have so much diversity and I think it is beautiful that people are open to trying different things. Food is an avenue for sharing experiences and stories, and I find that we can embrace each other through sharing food. One thing that I do whenever I travel is to ensure I try out at least one Asian restaurant. From this, I can begin to taste and hear local stories from the people and the restaurant, giving a glimpse into a piece of their identity and journey.

Who in your life made a significant impact in becoming the person you are today?

I am truly grateful to say that I have a good number of role models that I respect and appreciate. I think one person that made a significant impact would have to be my father. He passed away in 2004 tragically, but during the pandemic I rediscovered a letter that he wrote in Japan back in the '90s and reading it almost three decades later, I could feel the gravity of his words and lessons he imparted on me. One thing that I will never forget is that he said, "People should always be patient when possible and contemplate deeply before taking the next action". As time goes by, I found that this has been a great way to keep harmony and peace. It creates the opportunity to invite others and to foster empathy together in all the decisions we make.

Do you have any advice for your fellow Asian community members that are on their own journey of self-discovery?

Be truthful to yourself and learn where your roots are, your cultural values and most importantly, your history. We may all come from different countries and places, but we are not just defined by that. It is important to take time to learn about your identity and existence, to embrace our culture and take what our heart gravitates toward to mold and shape our identities. I also think that too often we forget to acknowledge our own evolving journey. It is important to reflect and celebrate our own successes and to be our own cheerleaders so that we can be even stronger for others whenever the opportunity arrives. Where it is possible and suitable, I try to contribute and extend that kindness to others through all the different ways I can.

Kenji Maeda

Meet Kenji Maeda Executive Director of Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance (GVPTA), a non-profit charitable organization that values and embodies diversity, equity and inclusion while supporting the local theatre industry.

Kenji's experiences reflect a passion for arts, education and community that are inspired by his Uchinanchu heritage. Read more about Kenji below.

How do you connect to your Asian heritage?

Talking to and sharing stories with my family and friends here and in Okinawa has been central for me. I make it a point to support Japanese-run businesses as it gives me a chance to speak Japanese, eat some great food, and most importantly build connections with the community. Going to arts and culture events and activities around town, such as the Powell Street Festival, Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre and so many theatre, film, and literary events and festivals that include programming by artists of Japanese descent make me feel connected to my Asian heritage.

Who in your life made a significant impact in becoming the person you are today?

My parents, Takeo and Kazue Maeda, had the most impact on my life. My dad constantly reminded me to remember where we came from; that we're Uchinanchu, from Okinawa. It was important to him that I understand and embrace the distinct culture, language, history, and stories of our elders as a way to inform how I moved through life. In many ways, the learning I've been doing in my adulthood around Indigenous rights, reconciliation, and justice (or lack thereof) here on these lands, deepened my understanding, connection and interest in further connecting to my Okinawan culture, history, and community.

Do you have any advice for your fellow Asian community members that are on their own journey of self-discovery?

Self discovery comes at its own pace and it can feel both slow and urgent at the same time. For me, it hasn't just been about a journey of ethnocultural self-discovery; it's included my sexuality, the power and privilege I hold in certain spaces while lacking it in others, my professional interests, navigating expectations others have of me and those I have for myself, and deciding what to let go.Surround yourself with people who care about you and love you. People who will be there for you, as you will be for them. Find your community(ies). Lead with curiosity. Take your time.

CBC Gemhas also got you covered all month long with programming that celebratesCanada's diverse Asian heritage. Stream the titles below (and more) for free!

• Designer and chef Jackie Kai Ellis travels outside of her comfort zone to learn more about her people's story on a plate inHouse Special.
• Explore local traditions and difficult conversations onRavi Patel's Pursuit of Happiness.
• Learn the secret language of Nushu and how it bonded generations of Chinese women with hope and survival inHidden Letters.
• After winning it big at the casino,Lucky Grandmaattracts the wrong kind of attention and finds herself right in the middle of a Chinatown gang war.

Check out the fullAsian Excellence Collectionon CBC Gem, including favourites suchasRun the BurbsandBollywed.