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Canadian Observances in Celebration of Multiculturalism

Canada is committed to recognizing its diversity and celebrating its multicultural nature. As a result, numerous days and months have been set aside to honour various groups. These observances include:

Making Tonolli
Multiculturalism Day
In 2002, the Canadian government announced that June 27 would be known as Multiculturalism Day. Although not a statutory holiday, the day is a time to reflect on the diverse groups that have helped build Canada and work towards a country where all groups are mutually respected.
Asian Heritage Month
In 2002, the Canadian government officially declared May Asian Heritage Month. Festivities are held throughout the month in honour of the numerous contributions Asian-Canadians have made to the country. The month also highlights Canada’s diversity and encourages all citizens to be aware of the traditions and contributions of other ethnic groups. The month celebrates people from all across Asia, including people from such diverse nations as India, Sri Lanka, China, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
Black History Month
In December 1995, the government of Canada stated that February was Black History Month. This declaration was in honour of the numerous contributions made by Canadians of Black ancestry. During the month, governments, libraries, schools, and other organizations all across the country work to tell the story of the experience of Black Canadians, including their experiences as immigrants, the difficulties they faced, and the impact they have had on Canada.
Cree Nation moccasins
National Aboriginal Day
June 21, 2006 marked the tenth anniversary of National Aboriginal Day. That is the day of the summer solstice, a day on which many Aboriginal groups have traditionally celebrated their culture. National Aboriginal Day is a time for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people to celebrate their cultures and for other Canadians to recognize the impact these groups have had on Canadian society. Many celebrations include dancing and song.
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day
St. Jean Baptiste is the patron saint of French-Canadians; therefore, it is fitting that the national day recognizing Francophones in Canada should be named in his honour. On June 24, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Francophones all across the country join with non-Francophones to celebrate French culture in Canada.

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Asian Heritage Month

Canadian Multiculturalism Day

Black History Month

National Aboriginal Day

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day

Cultural Heritage Museums in Alberta

There are many museums in Alberta that preserve and celebrate the culture and history of diverse ethnic groups. Some of these museums are Alberta historic sites and are part of the jurisdiction of the Alberta Ministry of Community Development. Others are small and locally run. These museums include:

Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village shows a Ukrainian settlement from 1892 to 1930. There are many historic buildings, including three Ukrainian churches, a school, a grain elevator, and a sod hut, known as a burdei. Costumed interpreters role play real Ukrainian immigrants, letting visitors get a true feel of what it was like in a Ukrainian immigrant settlement.
Stephansson House
Stephansson House is located near Markerville, Alberta. It is the restored home of the Icelandic-Canadian poet Stéphan G. Stephansson. The museum has costumed interpretive guides who give visitors a glimpse into the life of immigrant pioneers.
Father Lacombe Chapel
Father Lacombe Chapel is located in St. Albert, Alberta. The site features the restored chapel that Father Lacombe built in the 1860s to house the first St. Albert Roman Catholic Mission. The museum is fully bilingual, with tours offered in both English and French, in recognition of Alberta’s Francophone heritage.
Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre
The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre includes the Dr. Henry Fok Cultural Hall, modelled after the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and featuring a seventy foot ceiling. The centre also features a museum whose exhibits include Chinese imperial costumes and life-size terra cotta soldiers.
Musée Girouxville Museum
Musée Girouxville Museum is a bilingual museum in the town of Girouxville in the Peace River area. It features over six thousand exhibits and articles showcasing the life of early Francophone pioneers, missionaries, and fur traders.
Danish-Canadian Natioanl Museum
The Danish-Canadian National Museum is located in Dickson, Alberta. The museum itself is surrounded by over seven acres of traditional Danish gardens. Among the attractions at the museum are a bust of Hans Christian Anderson, an island castle and drawbridge, and numerous artefacts of early Danish life.
Beth Tzdec Heritage Collection
The Beth Tzedec Heritage Collection in Calgary features such artefacts from Calgary’s early Jewish community as textiles, religious items, and books.
Basilian Fathers Museum
The Basilian Fathers Museum, located in Mundare, Alberta, celebrates the life of Ukrainian pioneers. Its exhibits include a thatched-roof house typical of one lived in by an early settler. The museum also showcases the efforts of the priests from the Order of St. Basil the Great, commonly called the Basilian Fathers, who worked with the Ukrainian settlers and helped found numerous churches.
Musée St. Paul Museum
The Musée St. Paul Museum is divided into three sections. The first celebrates the Métis who helped to build the town, the second investigates the French-Catholic missionaries who came to the area, and the third showcases the French pioneers who settled in the region. In keeping with its goal of celebrating the French and Métis heritage of St. Paul, the museum is completely bilingual.
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden
The Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden in Lethbridge, Alberta, was opened in 1967, in celebration of Canadian and Japanese friendship. The garden is laid out in a traditional Japanese style. Features include a mountain and waterfall, a dry rock garden, and streams and bridges.

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Canada Tourism site for the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village

Canada Tourism site for the Stephnansson House

Canada Tourism site for the Father Lacombe Chapel


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