New to Canada

This year Toronto Public Library celebrates Newcomers and Asian Heritage Month with the whole package, featuring storytellers, authors, chefs, dancers, reporters, artists, drummers, painters, singers, designers and musicians, each bringing us a taste of many exotic cultures right here in our city.

Everything is free so come out and join in the fun at many branches which are proudly hosting mini-festivals. In order not to miss any of the events, you may pick up your Asian Heritage Month Program Guide and Reading List from your nearest branch.

Agincourt Library's "China Homelands Festival" is action-packed for Saturday, May 4, from 10 am-4:30 pm with the following highlights: 

Children's Storytime; A Lion Dance presentation; Chinese Calligraphy; Oriental Food and Tea sampling; "The Chinese in Canada-One Reporter's Odyssey" featuring Jan Wong; Evolution of Chinese food in Toronto, "From Chop Suey to Peaking Duck ..." by Arlene and Leo Chan. 

You may not want to miss the following: Download Agincourt Library 2013_Asian Heritage Month :

Chinese Tea (Pu-Ehr) Workshop (on May 6th @ 6:30pm); the South Asian Cuisine Tasting Table (on May 14th @ 2pm) featuring Toronto's amazing chefs, Karen Johnson & Ronica Sajnan; plus the Asian Seniors Celebration featuring Fok Dancing and Hakka Cooking Demonstration (on May 31st @ 1pm), all of which will be held at Agincourt library. Registration is required as space is limited.

You are encouraged to visit all of our branches mentioned below, and enjoy our free programs:

"Belly Dancing & Japanese Doll Making" at Woodside Square

"Asian Henna & Paper Fan hands-on Crafts" at Bridlewood

Chinese Brush Painting" at Albert Campbell

"Timar-Salek -Persian Indonesian fusion music concert" & "Henna Hand Painting" at College/Shaw

 "Feng Shui and the Environment" at Burrows Hall; 

"Oniroku Puppet Show and Origami" at Danforth/Coxwell

"Japanese Taiko Drumming Concert" at North York Central

"Pan-Asian Celebration -Ghazal, wadoks, mendhi..." at York Woods

"Hula Girls" at Queen/Saulter

"East Indian Family Night Puppet Show" at Long Branch;

"Tai Chi" at Riverdale; 

"Toronto Ismaili Muslim Youth Choir" at Goldhawk Park

"South Asia Homelands" at Cedarbrae; "West Asia Homelands" at Brentwood; "East Asia Homelands" at Malvern; "Pan Asian Food Fusion Festival" at Downsview; "Community Asian Arts Fusion Festival" at Palmerston; "Chinese Cultural Festivals" presented in partnership with Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture, at Riverdale (Brush painting with Dr Lien Chao), Sanderson (photography workshop presented in English and Cantonese by Tam Kam Chiu) and Toronto Reference Library, featuring Michael Cormier in conversation with journalist Jan Wong, discussing his new book, "The Legacy of Tiananmen Square."

This year's Program Guide  has included a Recommended Reading List of some popular Asian authors for all age groups. Here's a selection that would engage you and zap you into another world ...

Adults:

Teens:

Children:

For more information on this topic click here.

Toronto Public Library hopes that the Asian Heritage Month experience will be an enjoyable and meaningful one for you this year. We would certainly appreciate your feedback as to which programs you have enjoyed the most!