TORONTO, May 9, 2026 – The Asian Heritage Month Celebration Market opened on May 9 at Mel Lastman Square in North York. The two-day event features local vendor booths, live performances, cultural experiences and an opening ceremony. On site, CCTV Medium observed Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Chinese Consul General in Toronto Luo Weidong, as well as representatives from several Asian countries, community organizations and event partners attending and speaking at the opening ceremony. For Asian vendors, newcomer families and community residents across the Greater Toronto Area, this type of public cultural event is not only a festive showcase, but also a platform for local small businesses, arts groups and multicultural communities to connect face to face.
According to the organizer, the Asian Heritage Month Celebration Market is being held on May 9 and 10 at Mel Lastman Square, located at 5100 Yonge Street. The event is free and open to the public and includes more than 90 local vendor booths. The organizer’s page shows event hours from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 9 and from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 10.
The opening ceremony began at 2 p.m. on May 9. The square was crowded with families, young people, and community residents watching performances, visiting vendor booths, and taking part in activities. A lion dance helped energize the atmosphere, followed by remarks from several guests on themes including Asian Heritage Month, multiculturalism, community participation, and the contributions of Asian communities to Canadian society.
Luo Weidong said in his remarks that Asian culture is an important part of Canada’s multicultural landscape. According to information released by the Government of Canada, the theme of Asian Heritage Month 2026 is “Honouring Asian Canadians: Stories that Built Canada,” which aims to recognize the contributions of Asian Canadians to Canada’s social, cultural, economic and public life. Luo noted that for more than a century, Asian immigrants have taken part in building Canada across many fields. He added that overseas Chinese, as an important part of the broader Asian community, have actively integrated into local society, contributed in areas such as trade, education, culture and public service, and helped build bridges for people-to-people exchanges between China and Canada.
The market itself also drew significant attention. Booths included food, handmade goods, cultural and creative products, household items, and community services, with many vendors coming from different Asian backgrounds. For local small businesses and newcomer entrepreneurs, a festival market provides an opportunity to reach customers, showcase products, and build recognition in the community. For residents, it also brings different Asian cultures into public space in a more everyday and accessible way.
The public value of this kind of event is not just in its festive atmosphere. For many Asian small business owners, an in-person market is an important place to test products, meet local customers, and build brand trust. For newcomer families and younger generations, cultural performances, traditional foods, and handicraft displays can also help them see their own cultures represented in the city’s public spaces.
At the same time, large outdoor events with heavy foot traffic can create practical challenges. Residents planning to attend should confirm transportation, parking, and meeting arrangements in advance. Mel Lastman Square is located near North York Civic Centre and is accessible by public transit, but roads, parking areas, and subway entrances nearby may be crowded during peak periods. Families bringing children, seniors, or people with mobility challenges are advised to agree on a meeting point ahead of time and to note the locations of washrooms, water access, and rest areas.
A more common real-life situation is that families arrive on short notice and only then realize how crowded the area is, how limited parking is, or how difficult it is to find a place for children or seniors to rest. Compared with making last-minute plans, checking the event schedule, transit options, and site layout in advance may help reduce waiting time and lower the risk of getting separated in the crowd.
Asian Heritage Month is observed every May in Canada to recognize the contributions of Asian communities to the country’s social, cultural, economic and public life. This celebration market brings together cultural performances, local businesses and community participation, reflecting the diversity of Toronto’s Asian communities. As public cultural events of this kind continue to grow, how vendors, arts groups and residents from different backgrounds can gain more opportunities to be seen in urban public spaces remains an ongoing focus for Toronto’s community cultural activities.
(LJI by Yuanyuan)
