Canada is home to many diverse cultures and people from across the world. People call Canada their home because the government encourages everybody to be part of social, cultural, economic, and political affairs.
Every February, all Canadians are welcome to enjoy the festivities and celebrations of Black History Month. This tribute to black Canadians of the past and present celebrate the achievements and contributions of individuals that have made an incredibly positive contribution to the economy and prosperity of Canada. Since the 1950s, Canada has organized annual events and awareness campaigns to draw attention to the remarkable work of black Canadians in medicine, education, art, public service, politics, and human rights.
Canadians celebrate the Asian heritage in May, with events and activities taking place across the country. This is a time when Canadians from all walks of life enjoy the unique culture which has made Canada a country of compassion, diversity, and prosperity. Each year, a significant contribution is selected and 2015’s pick is Sportsmen and women that are of Asian descent.
As a crime against humanity, the Holocaust is an event that will never be forgotten. Every year, Canada stands together with the rest of the world to pay tribute to the people who were affected by this tragedy. On January 27, 1945, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps – where more than one million people were sent to gas chambers and to their agonizing deaths during the Holocaust – was liberated and now, over 50 years later, the date is marked as a day of remembrance.
Canada has represented the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance as a chairperson, educating the world and especially the youth, of the atrocities of this event.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada coordinates the activities surrounding the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). This is a United Nations convention that promotes universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction based on race, sex, language, or religion.