The month of May is an opportunity for the NC community to recognize and celebrate Asian Heritage Month, Canadian Jewish Heritage Month, and Polish Heritage Month. These observances invite us to learn more about the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of these communities in Canada, while reflecting on how we can continue to foster inclusion, respect, and allyship against racism and discrimination.

Asian Heritage Month

Asian Heritage Month is a time to learn about the rich history of Asian heritage in Canada, celebrating the diversity of its many communities and sub-ethnicities. Take time to honour these histories and lived experiences, and through open, respectful dialogue, deepen our understanding of both historical and contemporary anti-Asian racism.

Learning resources

As part of previous NC Libraries and Learning Centre programming, the Living Library series (Living Library #5) is available as an online resource in recognition of Asian Heritage Month. This past session featured NC Math Professor Jolie Phuong Hoang, who shared her family’s journey of fleeing Vietnam in the 1980s and the experiences that shaped her award-winning writing.

Hoang is the author of:

• Anchorless (2019)
• Three Funerals for My Father (2021)

Both books explore themes of displacement, family, identity, and resilience, and are available for loan through the NC Libraires. A recording of the Living Library session is available here.

NC Libraries offer curated reading materials to support learning, including:

• East Asian Pop Culture: Analyzing the Korean Wave
• Asian Indian Professionals: The Culture of Success
• Racial Ambiguity in Asian American Culture

Additional resources

• Global News-Asian Heritage Month: How Asian Canadians have shaped Canada
• Government of Canada- Asian Heritage Month Webpage
  • Addressing anti-Asian racism resources
  • Organizations and educational resources
  • Noteworthy Canadians of Asian origin
  • Significant events in the history of Asian communities in Canada

• National Film Board of Canada
  • Asian Communities in Canada

Canadian Jewish Heritage Month

Canadian Jewish Heritage Month is a time to learn about the rich history of Canada’s Jewish communities by honouring the diversity within this ethnoreligious group with shared historical, ethnic, religious, and cultural practices and identities. Take time to explore these histories and experiences while fostering open dialogue to better understand and confront antisemitism, both past and present.

Learning resources

NC Libraries offer curated reading materials to support learning, including:

• None is Too Many: Canada and the Jews of Europe, 1933-1948
• Jewish Roots, Canadian Soil: Yiddish Culture in Montreal, 1905-1945

Additional resources

• History of Anti-Semitism in Canada
• Jewish Heritage Month Webpage
  • Jewish Canadian History
  • Jewish Calendar and Observances
  • Jewish Religion
• National Film Board of Canada
• Full Film Selection for Canadian Jewish Heritage Month
• The Secret Life of Canada: Jewish Montreal: A culinary history – A CBC podcast episode

Polish Heritage Month

Polish Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the significant contributions of Polish Canadians to Canadian society, culture, and history. It is a time to learn about Polish heritage, traditions, and the diverse experiences of Polish communities in Canada.

Learning resources

NC Libraries offer curated reading materials to support learning, including:

• Creating Kashubia: History, Memory, and Identity in Canada’s First Polish Community
• Being Poland: A New History of Polish Literature and Culture since 1918
• Polish Cinema: A History
• From Room to Room: The Poetry of Eli Mandel

Community programming

The Canadian Polish Society Open House in St. Catharines offers an opportunity to engage more directly with local Polish Canadian heritage and community connections. Guests are invited to enjoy traditional, delicious Polish food, available for dine-in or takeout, along with Polish entertainment.

Dates & Times:

• Friday, May 8, 2026 | 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location:

• 43 Facer St., St. Catharines

NC Libraries & Learning Centres Displays

Throughout May, the NC Libraries and Learning Centres at both campuses will feature dedicated heritage month displays showcasing books and resources connected to Asian, Jewish, and Polish histories and cultures. These curated displays will include both print and eBooks to encourage deeper exploration and learning.

Additional Learning Resources

To support ongoing learning across all three heritage months, the NC community is also encouraged to explore:

• NC Libraries and Learning Centres EDI Subject Guide is a great starting point for researching and learning about EDI topics, highlighting a selection of EDI resources available through Libraries and Learning Centres.
• NC BIPOC Resources provides culturally relevant mental health and wellness supports for racialized students, connecting them with counselling services, community organizations, and tools to support emotional wellbeing and access to care.
• NC Library & Learning Centre’s streaming databases offer cultural, historical, and documentary content
• NC’s EDI Days of Significance Calendar for more information on heritage months and observances throughout the year.