Asian Heritage Month

May 11, 2015

Asian Heritage Month

May is Asian Heritage Month.

Canada’s official declaration of Asian Heritage Month states, “Asian Heritage Month offers all Canadians an opportunity to learn more about the history of Asian Canadians and to celebrate their contributions to the growth and prosperity of Canada.”

Libraries across Nova Scotia celebrate Asian Heritage Month with book displays, programs, and diverse collections of books written by authors of Asian descent, telling stories of the Asian experience.

Canada has a large number of prominent award winning authors to celebrate. Below is a just short list of some of the authors you can explore, find books from these or other authors at your local public library.

Rohinton Mistry
Bio entry in the Canadian Encyclopedia
Awards: Governor General’s Award, Giller Prize Award, Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, shortlist for Man Booker Prize, and International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
Major Works:
Such a Long Journey
A Fine Balance
Family Matters

Shauna Singh Baldwin
Bio entry in the Canadian Encyclopedia
Awards: Commonwealth Writers' Prize, longlisted for the Orange Prize in Fiction, Writers' Union of Canada Award for Short Prose, the CBC Radio/Canada Council Literary Award (short story), nominated for Giller Prize
Major Works:
What the Body Remembers: a novel
The Tiger Claw: a novel
The Selector of Souls: a novel

Wayson Choy
Bio entry in the Canadian Encyclopedia
Awards: Edna Staebler Creative Non-Fiction Award, Trillium Book Award, nominated for Governor General's Award, shortlisted for Giller Prize
Major Works:
The Jade Peony
All That Matters
Paper Shadows: A Chinatown Childhood

Joy Kogawa
Bio entry in the Canadian Encyclopedia
Awards: Obasan chosen as one of “100 Most Important Canadian Books” by Literary Review of Canada, George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award (honouring an outstanding literary career), Member of the Order of Canada
Obasan
The Rain Ascends
A Garden of Anchors: Selected Poems

Michael Ondaatje
Bio entry in the Canadian Encyclopedia
Awards: five time winner of the Governor General’s Award, Giller Prize, Booker Prize, Officer of the Order of Canada
Major Works:
In the Skin of a Lion
The English Patient
Anil's Ghost