06/30/2026
UBC Himalaya Program participates in the first-ever BC Nepal Heritage Day
On May 30th, 2026, more than 700 community members gathered at the Taj Park Convention Centre in Surrey to celebrate BC Nepal Heritage Day for the first time. Proclaimed by Premier David Eby, this day recognizes the social, economic, political, and cultural contributions of the Nepali diaspora to British Columbia and to Canada as a whole. The event celebrated the multicultural heritage of Nepal, honoring the traditions of the many ethnic communities – from the high Himalayas to the Terai plains. The celebration began with a Naumati Baja ensemble welcoming the guests, followed by opening remarks from the President of the Nepal Cultural Society of BC. Premier David Eby then delivered a keynote address highlighting the importance of preserving BC's diverse cultures and supporting the preservation of Nepali heritage in Canada. The program continued with cultural dance performances representing Nepal’s diverse ethnic communities, featured in “Purva to Paschim: A Musical Journey from the East to West”. Faculty and students affiliated with the UBC Himalaya Program met with Premier Eby, highlighting the work the program does to foster community through Nepali language teaching, the newly launched Nepali Open Educational Resource, and research collaboration.
At the event, members of the Himalaya program launched The Introduction to the Nepali Language, a free, open educational resource (OER) for learning Nepali. Please stay tuned for the next post for more updates on the OER.
