Asian Heritage Month 2025: Unity in Diversity
Canada designates May as Asian Heritage Month. Asians are the fastest-growing demographic in Canada, primarily due to immigration. Between 2016 and 2021, six of the ten leading countries of origin for immigrants to Canada were in Asia. Each May, Canadians are encouraged to learn, honour, and celebrate the diverse ways that Asian communities have shaped Canadian history and their continued contributions to society.
This year, we celebrate Asian Heritage Month under the theme “Unity in Diversity: The Impact of Asian Communities in Shaping Canadian Identity.” Library and Archives Canada invites you to explore the many treasures in our collections—from historical documents to contemporary publications—that showcase the stories, voices, and impact of Asian communities in Canada.
Highlighting Asian presence in Canada’s history
July 1, 2025, will mark the 102-year anniversary of the passing of the Canadian Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, commonly known as the Chinese Exclusion Act. Under Section 18 of this piece of legislation, government agents completed a Chinese Immigration (C.I.) form called C.I.44 for the mandatory registration of “every person of Chinese origin or descent in Canada.” This is an important aspect of this legislation: even those born in Canada were required to register, not just people who immigrated to Canada from China. Not complying with this registration could lead to fines of up to $500, imprisonment for up to twelve months, or both.
This was part of the efforts by the Canadian government to restrict immigration from China that started in 1885. The Canadian Chinese Immigration Act remained in effect until 1947.
These records are an invaluable resource for research into Chinese Canadian history, notably for genealogical purposes. Each form records such details about a person as their name and known aliases, address, occupation, age, marital status, and the names and addresses of their spouse and/or children in Canada. The forms also include a photograph of that person.
You can search the database to find records for Chinese immigrants who came to Canada and Newfoundland between 1885 and 1952. Despite what its name suggests, the database also includes records pertaining to individuals born in Canada to Chinese parents.
Research and resources
If you’re interested in learning more about the family history of Asian Canadians, we have a research guide that can help you get started. We also have a curated list of resources on Japanese Canadian and Chinese Canadian genealogy that might interest you.
You are also invited to explore and celebrate the stories that highlight the strength and perseverance of the Asian communities in Canada.
Documents from our published heritage collection
To learn more
Visit the May is Asian Heritage Month web page to discover more resources about Asian communities in Canada and learn about their varied contributions to our country’s history.
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