“Growing up in Kerala, India, Onam was always one of the happiest times of the year for me. It meant being around family, making pookalam (flower designs), wearing traditional clothes, sharing meals, and just enjoying that feeling of togetherness. Even here in Canada, I try to celebrate it with friends and the Malayali community, which makes it feel a little closer to home. It’s a reminder of where I come from and helps me hold on to that sense of belonging, even while living in Winnipeg.”

“There are many things I continue to carry with me since moving to Canada in 2005. Among them is the way we regularly hold family gatherings that extend beyond blood relationships. The people I met from my very first days here are still the same people I celebrate with during events and parties. I am also caring for my 79-year-old mother, who moved to Canada about ten years ago. Caring for elderly parents is a value deeply rooted in our culture, and it is something I intend to pass on to my children and future generations. We place a high value on believing in God and honoring Him as Catholics, and we help others in need – whether the support is financial or simply being present for them.”

“A value I carry from my Vietnamese heritage is the deep responsibility to support the people around me. In my culture, helping others is more than a kind gesture. It is a way of showing respect and staying connected as a community. Here in Canada, I continue this tradition by volunteering and offering support to newcomers and peers. This value keeps me grounded and reminds me of the community that shaped who I am.”

“One thing I carry with me from my Punjabi heritage is the language itself. Punjabi is warm, expressive, and full of feeling in a way no other language really matches for me. It’s how I stay connected to family back home, how I laugh with friends here, and even how I think to myself or pray in quiet moments.

There’s something really grounding about a language that holds your childhood memories, your first expressions of love, and your sense of who you are all at once. I try to keep it alive by speaking it whenever I can, listening to Punjabi music when I miss home, and appreciating that even in Winnipeg, it stays with me, a reminder of where I come from.”

“One thing I carry with me from my Filipino heritage is karaoke, especially during birthdays and Christmas. Growing up, karaoke was always part of our celebrations. It did not matter how you sang, as long as everyone was having fun. Even here in Canada, I still enjoy doing karaoke with friends because it reminds me of home and brings people together. It’s a simple way I keep that fun, welcoming Filipino spirit alive.”

“Being born and raised in Abu Dhabi in an Indian family, I grew up influenced by both Indian traditions at home and the diverse Middle Eastern culture around me. This blend of culture shaped my identity and taught me to be adaptable, open-minded, and comfortable in multicultural spaces from a young age. Moving to Canada, that experience has helped me settle in more easily and connect with people from different backgrounds while still staying rooted in where I come from.”

“One thing I carry with me from my Chinese heritage is the celebration of the Lunar New Year. It represents family reunion, hope, and new beginnings. Growing up, it meant cleaning the house, preparing special dishes, giving red envelopes, and staying up late with family. Even though I am in Canada now, I still try to keep parts of this tradition alive, whether by cooking traditional food or calling family overseas. Sometimes I also celebrate with friends here, sharing meals and stories. For me, Lunar New Year is a reminder that even across distance, family and tradition continue to stay present in my life.”

“I come from a Christian family in Kerala, India, where Holy Week is a deeply meaningful and sacred time for us. During this week, we prepare traditional foods like Pesaha appam, Inri appam (a traditional unleavened bread) and a special sweet milk dish – recipes passed down through generations and rooted in the remembrance of Jesus Last Supper. In my family, this meal is traditionally served by the elder male members and shared together as a symbol of unity, faith, and love. What makes it even more special is that we don’t keep it within our home – we share it with friends and neighbours as part of the celebration. Even in Canada, I continue this tradition every year, cooking and sharing it with my family and friends, keeping my heritage alive across borders.”

“I carry ‘bayanihan’ with me into every space I enter. This is a Filipino value rooted in shared burdens, quiet generosity, and the kind of unity that asks nothing in return. It’s how I was raised. In a family shaped by public service, showing up for others wasn’t a choice; it was instinct. I learned early how to read a room, to ease tension, to reach across divides and build something whole out of what felt disconnected.

When I came to Canada, I felt the weight of the distance between people, the silos, the quiet separation. It didn’t sit right with me. So, I chose to step forward, again and again, into spaces where connection felt missing. I placed myself where I could listen, hold space, and bring people together, not loudly, but intentionally. Because I believe community isn’t something we find; it’s something we create. And wherever I go, I try to leave that light behind.”

“Celebrating Tet is a cornerstone of my Chinese-Vietnamese heritage that I am passionate about passing down to my children. Beyond the festive decorations, traditional meals, and the beauty of our cultural clothing, it is a time for us to honour our ancestors and reflect on the values of gratitude and family unity. I love seeing my children’s excitement over receiving red envelopes (filled with money!), as exposing my them to these customs helps them build a strong sense of identity and pride in their background. It ensures that our cultural history remains a living, joyful part of their lives in Canada. It is important to me that they carry these lessons of respect and celebration into their own lives as they grow.”

“Something meaningful that I carry with me as a Filipino living in Canada is the joy and spirit of Filipino gatherings, especially during birthdays and holidays. In our Filipino culture, celebrations are never just about the occasion, they’re about bringing people together, sharing food, laughter and creating a warm welcoming space for everyone. Even being far from the Philippines, I keep this tradition alive by hosting gatherings with family and friends, preparing familiar dishes, and making sure that no one leaves without feeling included and cared for. Whether it’s a simple get together or a bigger holiday like Christmas, I try to recreate that same lively and heartfelt atmosphere I grew up with and I make sure that my kids will experience the same joy. It’s my way of holding on to my roots and passing on the joy of Filipino culture, even while building a life here in Canada. These celebrations remind me of the importance of connection and gratitude and one of many ways to teach my kids.”

“One tradition I carry with me from Sri Lanka is the celebration of Sinhala and Tamil New Year, which marks a time of renewal, gratitude, and togetherness. Growing up, this celebration meant preparing traditional foods, wearing new clothes, and spending time with family and neighbors. Even in Canada, I try to honour the New Year by cooking traditional dishes and taking a moment to reflect and reset. Celebrating this tradition helps me stay connected to both my culture and the values of harmony and community.”

“I carry with me the Chinese belief that “reading ten thousand books is not as valuable as traveling ten thousand miles.” Whenever I enter a new environment, I prefer to observe, experience, and learn how people live before expressing my opinions. To me, respecting a culture means first understanding its daily rhythms, unspoken norms, and ways of life rather than speaking too quickly. This approach may sometimes make me seem quiet or reserved, but it comes from a place of humility and a desire to learn deeply. I keep this value alive by staying curious, observing carefully, and appreciating the human and cultural details that cannot be found in books.

We may seem quiet at first, but if we go out for a chat or a meal, you’ll soon discover how talkative and friendly we can be.”

“One of the most meaningful parts of my heritage from Punjab, India is the tradition of langar- a communal meal where everyone sits side by side, regardless of status, and shares the same food. It embodies humility, equality, and quiet generosity, values that have shaped how I see the world. Living in Canada, I carry this forward by cooking Punjabi meals, inviting friends to gather, and creating spaces where people feel welcomed and included. In those moments of sharing, I’m reminded that home isn’t just a place, it’s something you build through connection, wherever you are.”

“There is a word in the Filipino language that has no direct English translation, yet carries profound meaning: bayanihan. It embodies the spirit of community, unity, and shared purpose. People coming together to help one another, especially in times of need, without expecting anything in return. It is both an act of kindness and a reflection of collective strength. More than a tradition, it is at the very core of what it means to be Filipino, a value that lives within us all, no matter where we are in the world.”

“I carry with me the language and the traditions of my home, which can be understood in the lens of Kapwa Psychology. Learning and re-learning the Filipino language (1987 Constitution), we see that language shapes us and our views of the world. Kapwa, as a value, emphasizes the need for community and connection, and it is the reason why I invite fellow Filipinos to reconnect with our culture. We have a shared identity and we are stronger when we foster deep empathy and cohesion within our community.”

“My Asian heritage has given me three things I carry with me every day in Canada: courage, perseverance, and hard work. These values come from my family and from growing up in India, where I learned that no matter where you go in the world, you thrive when you remember who you are. They remind me to stay grounded, to keep moving forward, and to honour the sacrifices that brought me here. I keep these values alive through my work, my community involvement, and the way I show up for others. For me, they are a constant reminder that identity is not something you leave behind – it’s something you carry with pride.”

“Chinese heritage in Canada dates back to 1788, when a group of Chinese workers came to British Columbia to help build a trading post. In 1858, the first Chinese community was established. Beginning in 1880, many Chinese labourers helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway. However, Chinese people were the only group in Canadian history to be subjected to an ‘entry’ or ‘head’ tax, beginning in 1885. The Chinese Exclusion Act was enacted in 1923 and remained in effect until it was repealed in 1947. Personally, working with my former boss, MLA Chen, to witness the passing of Manitoba’s Asian Heritage Act means a great deal to me and will remain a cherished memory forever.

For me, connecting with the traces of my ancestors’ lives and hard work, celebrating Lunar New Year gatherings, eating dumplings, giving red envelopes as blessings, visiting historic cultural centres and old Chinese restaurants in Chinatowns across Canadian cities, and remembering the spirit of enduring hardship, perseverance, and quiet dedication all remind me of my parents and relatives far away in Asia.”