‘Hmong Canada Day’ event in Waterloo Region celebrates almost 50 years in the country

A first-of-its-kind event was held in Waterloo Region on Sunday, for the Hmong community to celebrate almost 50 years in Canada.

For the first time in Waterloo Region, the Hmong community hosted an event to celebrate almost 50 years in Canada.

Hmong people are an ethnic minority with ancestral roots mainly from Laos, Thailand and a few other Southeast Asian countries.

The community gathered at Breslau Community Centre for a day full of remembrance, food and family.

Lao Chai Vang, the president of the Hmong Association of Canada, said the day was a necessary one to celebrate.

“We came to Canada [on] July 13th, 1979, which is the day we considered an important day, that the Canadian government opened the door for us to come,” he said.

Vang said 11 different Hmong families came at once from different countries almost 50 years ago, looking to escape the Vietnam War.

He also said celebrating the day is necessary when it comes to celebrating the parents that brought their children to Canada.

“Without their struggle all the way from Laos in 1975 to Thailand and to here. We would not be able to come here. So, we would like to appreciate them,” said Vang.

The event included multiple instrumental performances, cultural dances, speeches from community members and dinner for the guests.

Sy Moua is the vice-president of the same association. He helped organize Sunday’s event. Moua said Waterloo Region holds the biggest Hmong community in the country.

“It’s an opportunity for some of us in the community to share our stories of how we came to Canada,” he said. “Everyone’s got their own story. Everyone took a different path to get here but we are all, essentially, the same people.”