Asian Heritage Month is an important time to celebrate the incredible diversity, accomplishments and contributions of the faculty, staff and students with Asian heritages at the University of Alberta, and our Asian communities in Alberta and nationally.
The notion of "Asian" is incredibly broad and encompasses a multitude of countries, each with its own diverse cultures and religions.
India, for example, boasts diverse cultures, languages and traditions within its borders, from the colourful festivals of Rajasthan to the serene traditions of Kerala. Similarly, China is home to 56 distinct ethnic groups, though it is often perceived from the outside as a culturally homogeneous nation.
The differences within each country in Asia can be so big that people need a national lingua franca to communicate with each other.
Such Asian diversity is represented by the Asian community in Canada, and the richness of culture that results from our differences and diversity is what stands out to me during this month.
Recognizing and appreciating these differences is important, rather than attempting to fit everyone into one homogeneous group. It is an important Canadian wisdom to take our differences as our strengths.
And yet, despite these differences, many Asian cultures share some common values — values that resonate throughout our campuses. Most Asian societies emphasize respect gratitude toward elders and the importance of family and education. We also value the three Hs: humility, harmony and hard work. These values have been enriching and will continue to enrich the Canadian value system.
I proudly identify myself as Chinese, from China, where I was born, grew up and where my family originated. A significant part of my cultural identity is deeply rooted in Chinese heritage and traditions.
However, having spent considerable periods of my life in the UK, the Netherlands and Canada and traveled to many European, Latin America and Southeast Asian countries, I also see myself as a global citizen. Each place has played a pivotal role in shaping my individuality and worldview.
In order to cherish the remarkable diversity, it's crucial that we maintain an unwavering stance against all manifestations of anti-Asian racism and discrimination — a stance that has echoed both within our communities here and beyond.
I am deeply proud of my heritage and immensely grateful for the opportunities Canada has bestowed upon me.
As an Asian Canadian, I seek to continually contribute to forging a society that cherishes diversity and celebrates the myriad cultures that weave together to form our country's vibrant history and promising future.
As an Asian Canadian, I also see it as my duty and responsibility to help connect Canada with Asia and strengthen a peaceful, respectful and mutually beneficial relationship for the benefit of our next generations in both regions.
These are the aspirations I brought to my work as a champion of the University of Alberta’s international work.
I am happy to see that all faculty and staff members of Asian descent seem to share the same aspirations as I have.
I am happy to see that an increasing number of international students from Asia are continuing to enrich the diversity of our highly globalized campus.
Cen Huang
Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (International)
