What on Earth is an Asian Canadian? An Interdisciplinary Space Asiancy Symposium

What on Earth is Asian Canadian? is the inaugural symposium of the Interdisciplinary Space Asiancy Symposium series

Place, Date, and Time
Paul Cadario Conference Centre
Fri, Feb 28, 2025 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST

Welcome to the What on Earth is Asian Canadian? Interdisciplinary Space Asiancy Symposium!

Join us for the inaugural symposium of the Interdisciplinary Space Asiancy series as we delve into the burgeoning field of Asian Canadian Studies through a day of engaging panels. Taking up Roy Miki's coinage and understanding of "asiancy," this series turns it to consider its interdisciplinary and spatial possibilities. Though Donald Goellnicht observed that Asian Canadian Studies has been slow to consolidate as a discipline in the academy, the discipline has a longstanding history outside the academy, in Asian Canadian communities, through the cultural and political production of entities like the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop, Rungh Magazine, Desh Pardesh, Yellow Peril: Reconsidered, Chinese Canadian Cultural Productions, the National Association of Japanese Canadians, the Chinese Canadian National Council and more.

But now that it has made its entry into the academy, how can we understand its relationship to the traditional disciplines, and more specifically to Asian Canadian scholarship done in disciplinary contexts. How can all of these contexts be brought into conversation with one another?

Whether you're a student, scholar, artist, or community member, this symposium offers a unique interdisciplinary space to learn, connect, and engage with the Asian Canadian community. Come share your perspectives, ask questions, and be part of these important conversations.

Professor Larissa Lai is the Richard Charles Lee Chair in Chinese Canadian Studies
Canadian Studies Program, University College and the Department of English 
University of Toronto