Toronto District School Board

Skip to Main
Toronto District School Board

Asian Heritage Month – May 2026

Categories: News

The TDSB has proudly recognized the month of May as Asian Heritage Month since 2007, following official recognition by the Province of Ontario in 2005 and the Government of Canada in 2002. 

This year’s TDSB theme is Asian Heritage: Roots, Connections, Innovations. This theme underscores the deep roots that affirm identities, the strong connections shaped through collective cultural pride, and the future innovations that will continue to strengthen communities and create opportunities for Asian Canadians in Canada and around the world. 

The TDSB is the largest and one of the most diverse school boards in Canada. Nearly one-quarter of students were born outside of Canada, and collectively, more than 120 languages are spoken across the system. According to the 2023 Student Census, 46 percent of TDSB students self-identified as Asian. 

This May, the Asian Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee has assembled a range of educational opportunities. These include an author reading for students, a panel discussion featuring TDSB educators, and a session focused on discovering traditional Asian heritage dance. 

Students, staff, and community members are invited to attend the Asian Heritage Month Virtual Launch Celebration on May 6 at 1 p.m. This live webinar will feature speakers and student performances while offering opportunities to deepen learning about Asian heritage. Join the Microsoft Teams event here

Finally, all TDSB students were encouraged to participate in the Asian Heritage Month Poster Contest. We thank all students for their submissions! Please find the winning selections below.

Happy Asian Heritage Month at the TDSB! Follow the Asian Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee on X @TDSB_AHM

Illustrated poster for Asian Heritage Month featuring the text “Asian Heritage Month” and “May 2026” with the theme “Roots, Connections, Innovations.” The artwork shows a colourful globe at the centre with a winding stone wall around it. Surrounding the globe are detailed drawings representing Asian cultures, including a dragon, lanterns, traditional clothing, a dancer, a panda, a fish, an elephant, and landmarks. The illustration is vibrant and highly detailed, with bold, warm colours throughout.

Illustrated poster for Asian Heritage Month featuring the text “Asian Heritage Month” and “May 2026” with the theme “Roots, Connections, Innovations.” The artwork centres on a large tree with visible roots and a green canopy containing the words “Our History, Our Cultures, Our Stories.” Above the tree, text reads “Together we grow. Together we shine.” Surrounding the tree are drawings of hands forming a heart, a city skyline, a lantern, a panda, a dragon, a bowl of rice, a teapot, a lotus flower, and a yin-yang symbol. The illustration uses hand‑drawn lines and bright colours.

Hand‑drawn poster for Asian Heritage Month featuring the text “Asian Heritage Month,” “May 2026,” and the theme “Roots, Connections, Innovations.” The artwork shows children holding hands while standing on the Earth. Surrounding the globe are drawings representing Asian cultures, including a lantern, a traditional stringed instrument, traditional clothing, a camel, flowers, and decorative patterns. The phrase “celebrating our rich tradition” appears across the centre. The illustration uses soft pencil lines and bright colours.

Photograph of a classroom art display for Asian Heritage Month featuring handmade paper crafts arranged on a blue background. The display includes woven paper fish and lantern shapes in various colours and patterns. Above the artwork are paper labels reading “Asian Heritage,” “Roots,” “Connections,” and “Innovations.” The poster also includes the text “May 2026” and the theme “Roots, Connections, Innovations.”