GNS Student Tours Premier During Asian Heritage Month Celebration

The beginning of May marked the declaration of Asian Heritage Month in Canada, celebrated each year to honour the contributions made to the country by Asian Canadians throughout history. Among the attendees during the City of Victoria’s celebration at the Chinese Canadian Museum in Fan Tan Alley was Alexander Turner, a Grade 8 student at GNS. 

The event saw around 40 volunteers gather to welcome the BC Premier, David Eby, who was given a tour of the museum and Victoria’s historic Chinatown. As part of the celebrations, the Premier delivered a declaration recognizing Asian Heritage Month.

For Alexander, meeting the Premier was really special. “It was a really great opportunity, it was exciting to meet him and it also felt like a lot of responsibility,” he said. “He was really nice and it was great to welcome him in and show him around.”

During their interaction, Alexander shared his knowledge about the history of the Gold Rush and talked about the significance of Victoria’s Chinatown, the oldest in Canada and the second oldest in North America, after San Francisco. 

Alexander said that the experience of touring Eby was fantastic, one that will pave the way for more opportunities like this in the future.

Beyond his historical interests, Alexander is passionate about acting and enjoys the natural beauty of Victoria. “My main interests at school are acting, I love acting, it’s one of my favourite things and that’s why I was in the play this year, Sherlock Holmes,” he said. “I also really enjoy our nature in Victoria and BC, it’s just so lovely that we have this. Especially when the weather is nice, I like to be outdoors, and GNS provides good opportunities to be outdoors.”

Alexander also talked about the importance of taking part in events like this one. “If anything like this comes up, you get to tour someone special around or you get any special opportunity, you should do it because it could be a once in a lifetime thing.”

The Government of Canada website says that Asian Heritage Month allows Canadians to explore the diverse culture and history of Asian communities in the country. It is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements and contributions of Asian communities who have been a part of shaping Canada throughout history.

“Preserving the Past, Embracing the Future: Amplifying Asian Canadian Legacy,” is the theme for 2024. This focus is intended to represent and uplift Asian voices, stories and achievements, while shining a light on their impact in Canada, including in the the arts, sports and areas of social justice.To learn more about Asian Heritage Month 2024 visit the Government of Canada website at: May is Asian Heritage Month.