The Canadian Senate on June 4 unanimously adopted a motion proposed by Sen. Yonah Martin (Kim Yonah) on designating October as Korean Heritage Month. Shown above is the legislator in September 2022. (Senate of Canada's official website)

By Lee Jihae

The Canadian Senate has designated October as Korean Heritage Month.

A motion proposed by Sen. Yonah Martin (Kim Yonah) on the designation was passed on June 4.

The motion said the Senate recognized "the month of October, each and every year, as Korean Heritage Month, given the contributions that Korean Canadians have made to Canadian society, the deep-rooted friendship and bilateral ties between Canada and Korea, and the importance of Korean heritage and culture within the fabric of Canadian society."

The Canadian government has thus shown its support for the designation following the lead of its province Ontario, which in 2017 named October as Korean Heritage Month. 

Sen. Martin said Korea and Canada are conducting active exchanges in sectors like economy, culture and national security, adding that the ethnic Korean community in Canada is a great example of the country's abundance and diversity.

Assuming her post in 2009 representing British Columbia as the first ethnic Korean to join the Senate, she has served as deputy leader of the Senate opposition since 2015.

On June 7, the Korean Embassy in Ottawa and Sen. Martin will host events commemorating the designation at the Parliament of Canada.

jihlee08@korea.kr