Pan-Asian Unity: AHF and NCAC Launch National Hub to Combat Racism

CALGARY, AB – May 04, 2026 – In a landmark announcement coinciding with the start of Asian Heritage Month, the Asian Heritage Foundation (AHF) has officially launched as a national hub for all Pan-Asian communities, joining forces with its partner, the National Council of Asian Canadians (NCAC). The collaboration signals a new era of unified action, aiming to both celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of Asian Canadians and intensify the fight against a persistent tide of anti-Asian racism.

This strategic expansion transforms the AHF from a prominent provincial entity into a national resource centre, while the NCAC brings its sharp focus on social justice and anti-racism advocacy, born from the grassroots activism of the Act2EndRacism network.

A New National Chapter for Pan-Asian Communities

Founded in 2002 by the Honorable Teresa Woo-Paw, the Asian Heritage Foundation has long been a cornerstone of cultural promotion in Alberta. With a network of over 25 community groups and 200 volunteers, it has stood as the largest Pan-Asian organization in the province. Its work was instrumental in the national designation of May as Asian Heritage Month, an initiative Woo-Paw inspired alongside Senator Vivienne Poy in 2002.

Now, AHF is scaling its mission to a national level. The new hub is designed to be a central point for Canada's diverse Asian communities to access resources, foster collaboration, and build collective strength. The vision extends beyond cultural showcases to include youth empowerment through mentorship and a concerted effort to reshape mainstream narratives to fully reflect the historical and ongoing contributions of Asian Canadians.

"I am honoured and grateful to see Canadians come together to celebrate Asian Heritage Month. Our goal as an organization is to bring all cultures and communities together, Pan-Asian and otherwise, to learn, enjoy and grow as one nation," stated Teresa Woo-Paw, Founder and Chair of AHF. Her statement underscores a vision of inclusive growth that the national platform aims to facilitate.

From Grassroots Activism to a National Council

Partnering with AHF in this national endeavor is the National Council of Asian Canadians (NCAC), an organization that evolved from the Act2EndRacism network. Formed as a grassroots coalition in response to the alarming spike in anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, Act2EndRacism mobilized communities from coast to coast to track racist incidents and advocate for systemic change.

The NCAC, officially launched in 2025, carries this legacy forward with an expanded mandate. While continuing the critical work of combating bigotry, it also focuses on celebrating the successes of Asian Canadians and advocating for a just society where all citizens can participate equitably in public life.

"By stepping into this national role, we are creating an opportunity for all pan-Asian organizations and communities to access resources, build community and grow stronger together," said Anne-Marie Pham, Co-Chair of NCAC. This partnership provides a powerful infrastructure for the council's advocacy work, linking its social justice mission with AHF’s extensive community network.

A United Front Against a Rising Tide of Hate

The timing of this national initiative is critical. While the most intense surge of pandemic-era hate may have subsided from its peak, the threat of anti-Asian racism remains deeply embedded in Canadian society. Statistics Canada data reveals a stark reality: police-reported hate crimes targeting East or Southeast Asians skyrocketed by 293% between 2019 and 2020. While numbers have since declined, they have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 158 incidents reported in 2023.

Furthermore, the data only tells part of the story. Community-based reporting projects have documented thousands of incidents, and many more go unreported due to a lack of trust in the justice system or the pervasive nature of micro-aggressions that are hard to prosecute but deeply damaging. This racism is also intersectional, with studies showing Asian women are disproportionately targeted, facing both racialized sexism and sexualized racism.

The problem is not limited to one group. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in online hate and reported crimes targeting South Asian communities, whose own reported hate crimes increased by 227% between 2019 and 2023. The work of the NCAC, supported by AHF's national platform, is positioned to address this multifaceted crisis head-on, providing a unified voice against all forms of anti-Asian hate.

Reimagining Asian Heritage Month

Together, AHF and NCAC are poised to transform Asian Heritage Month from a series of local events into a profound national dialogue. The month-long celebrations, with events showcased across the country on the organization's website, will serve as a platform not only for cultural pride but also for education and advocacy. This partnership explicitly links the celebration of heritage with the fight for equity, sending a clear message that the two are inseparable.

The Canadian landscape includes other vital national bodies, such as the Coalition Against Anti-Asian Racism Canada (CAAARC) and the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice (CCNC-SJ), which have been crucial in the fight against discrimination. The emergence of the AHF/NCAC national partnership adds another powerful, collaborative force to this movement, creating a more robust and interconnected ecosystem of support and advocacy.

As Canadians are invited to participate in events throughout May, this initiative represents more than just a new organizational structure. It embodies a strategic and hopeful vision for the future. This dual-pronged approach of celebration and advocacy marks the beginning of a new, more unified chapter for Asian Canadians, striving to build a society where their heritage is not only recognized but fully integrated into the fabric of the nation.