2026 Stories of Asia in Aurora

     OCMA Asian Heritage Community Workshops & Showcase

​

​

 

Stories of Asia in Aurora was a community-wide Asian Heritage Month initiative presented by the One Canada Multicultural Alliance (OCMA) to celebrate the richness of Asian cultures while strengthening intercultural understanding, community participation, and a shared sense of belonging across Aurora, Newmarket, and York Region.

​

Delivered through a three-stage community journey — Connect, Experience, and Celebrate — the project brought together more than 1,800 participants over three major event days. Residents of all ages and cultural backgrounds, including children, youth, adults, seniors, newcomer families, and long-term residents, participated in a wide range of interactive cultural experiences designed to encourage learning through participation rather than observation.

​

The project featured community dance experiences, storytelling and newcomer sharing circles, hands-on cultural workshops, traditional Asian calligraphy, arts and crafts, culinary experiences, multicultural performances, cultural exhibitions, and family-friendly community activities. Participants had opportunities to learn directly from cultural artists, workshop facilitators, performers, volunteers, and community leaders representing diverse Asian communities, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Iranian (Persian), Filipino, Pakistani, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and many others.

​

Rather than presenting culture as a performance alone, Stories of Asia in Aurora created meaningful opportunities for residents to learn, create, share experiences, and celebrate together. Through interactive participation, families explored different cultural traditions, built new friendships, strengthened intercultural understanding, and developed a greater appreciation for the diversity that enriches Canadian society.

​

The project has established a strong foundation for future multicultural programming and continues to inspire collaboration, cultural appreciation, and community engagement throughout Aurora and York Region.

A Stage Alive with Tradition

​​

A three-hour Pan-Asian Performance Showcase featuring 35 traditional and contemporary performances by local and regional cultural artists and community groups.

​

Special thanks to our participating arts organizations, including York Dance Academy, CDA Dance Inc., Northern Lights Dance Studio, Dynamic Dance Company, The North Dance Company, Aurora Dance Studio, iDance Studio, St. Andrew’s Scottish Country Dance Group, Yvonne Kelly Dance Academy, and Newmarket School of Dance, etc.

​

We sincerely appreciate the generous support and contributions of all participating artists, community organizations, and dedicated volunteers. Their collective efforts helped bring a vibrant and diverse cultural showcase to life and made the event a great success.

​