Asian-Canadian contributions worthy of acknowledgment

I thank all of our government spokespeople who have vigorously defended and upheld Canadian citizens and residents of Asian ethnicity.

Now I would like to ask government departments and racialized groups themselves to take active steps to further social harmony and cohesion, by making known and publicizing the many positive aspects of Asian-Canadian contributions to Canada.

Examples abound, from the Chinese railway labourers who contributed to the West joining Confederation, the many Asians and Indigenous people who built a fishing industry, the Japanese farmers clearing Maple Ridge land, the miners, the millworkers, Asian workers who keep our buildings clean and Canadians fed, as well as the many doctors, caregivers, merchants, architects and artists, all contributing to Canada’s economy, culture and well-being.

There are also Canadians of Asian and minority ethnicity who gave their lives, so that even those who scapegoat others, can make that choice in Canada.

Collectively, Asian Canadians give extremely generously to their community, but as a Japanese Canadian whose community before the Second World War experienced much hardship resulting from animosity, I would also like to encourage more individual Asian Canadians to be less reserved, and practice reaching out in a principled way, to non-Asian others more.

Many Asians are well-integrated, but even before the virus, I sensed some hostility to the insularity and sometimes conspicuous consumption displayed by some members. I would like all of us to get along.

Masako Stillwell, Richmond