Asian Heritage
Toronto Public Library presents a free and diverse celebration of Asian culture. From author talks to film screenings and musical performances, enjoy a variety of specially-designed events, programs and activities for all ages to experience and celebrate the broad diversity of Asian heritage and culture. Toronto Public Library also celebrates Asian Heritage Month each May.
Upcoming Programs
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Toronto in the Time of Exclusion
Monday, May 6 | 6:30 pm
Location: Toronto Reference LibraryFor almost a quarter century, the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act profoundly affected and, in some cases, devastated the lives of Chinese across Canada, including those living in Toronto. Now, 100 years later, let’s rediscover this tragic yet largely forgotten chapter of Canadian history, and hear how the early Toronto Chinese community, even those born in Canada, were impacted by this unprecedented piece of legislation.
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The Laundryman's Boy
Wednesday, May 8 | 7:00 pm
Location: Don MillsJoin author Eddie Lee as he reads from his newly published historical fiction "The Laundryman's Boy". Themes relate to Asian heritage, Chinese-Canadian history, immigration, racism, duty and friendship.
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Gayageum Music Concert
Tuesday, May 14 | 6:00 pm
Location: Barbara FrumJoin us for a gayageum music concert to celebrate Asian Heritage Month! The gayageum music concert is performed by Roa (HyunYoung) Lee, a composer, arranger and gayageum musician from Korea. Roa Lee is performing classic, jazz, waltz and pop music played with the 25-stringed Gayageum (a traditional Korean musical instrument) and traditional Korean music on the 12-stringed Gayageum.
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Toronto Chinese Orchestra Ensemble Concert
Wednesday, May 15 | 7:00 pm
Location: North York Central LibraryThe Toronto Chinese Orchestra (TCO) Ensemble performs an exquisite mix of traditional and contemporary works. Highlighting the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Chinese music, this programme features a range of songs as well as introduction to the instruments and stories behind the music.
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Henna Art with Hina Yasir
Saturday, May 18 | 2:00 pm
Location: Ethennonnhawahstihnen'Come celebrate Asian Heritage Month with us and discover the art of Henna! Learn about its history, traditions and recipe and receive a beautiful design by Henna artist, Hina Yasir.
Search all upcoming Asian Heritage events
Past Programs
Check out events you may have missed on the TPL Culture channel on Crowdcast.
Watch replays of past programs in our Asian Heritage series
- V. V. Ganeshananthan: Brotherless Night
- Deepti Kapoor: Age of Vice
- Cooking with Joshna: Dumplings with Karon Liu
- Arshia Sattar: Hindu Epics Today
- Harini Nagendra: The Bangalore Detective's Club
- Cooking with Joshna: Diwali Celebration with Aparita Bhandari
- Cooking with Joshna: Is There Bacon in Heaven with Ali Hassan
- Anuradha Roy: The Earthspinner
- Miguel Syjuco: I Was the President's Mistress!!
- Kim Fu: Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century
- Matthieu Aikins: The Naked Don’t Fear the Water
- Barnett Rubin: On Afghanistan
- Jessamine Chan: The School for Good Mothers
- Stephanie Foo: What My Bones Know
- Mark L. Clifford: Today Hong Kong
- Nathan Law: Freedom, How We Lose It and How We Fight Back
- Joanna Chiu: China Unbound
- Leo Chan: Moon Festival - Embrace the Sound and Taste of Home
- Meng Jin: Little Gods
- Gina Apostol: The Revolutionary
- Greens, Corn & Migration: Finding Food Stories on Your Plate with Chef and Food Activist Joshna Maharaj
- Thieving, Grieving and Leaving: New Fiction of Displacement
- Ocean Vuong: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous
- Leo Chan: Once Upon a Time in Chinatown
- More Than Just Chinese Food with Author and Chef Trevor Lui
- Asian-Canadian Representation in the Media
- In My View: Resilience, Art and Migration
- Kit Fan: Diamond Hill, The Disappearing City
- A Spiritual Quest through the Creation of Poetry
- Chinese Festivals and Food - Mid-Autumn Festival
- Art and Haiku In the Time of COVID