Asia Connect Festival: A New Cultural Milestone for Manitoba

On May 30, the University of Manitoba campus will come alive with colour, energy, and community as it hosts the inaugural Asia Connect Festival—a landmark event that marks a new chapter for Manitoba.

Thanks to the advocacy of MLA Jennifer Chen, Asian Heritage Month is now officially recognized across the province. But beyond that legislative milestone, something just as powerful is taking shape: a grassroots movement led by youth, fueled by culture, and rooted in community.

At its centre is Al Bello, a University of Manitoba student and the founder of Asia Connect. What started as a modest idea—a gathering to share stories and heritage—has evolved into a full-scale, student-led festival featuring food trucks, cultural pavilions, performances, and local vendors.

“I just wanted to celebrate that—exchanging culture, exchanging stories, the heritage,” says Bello. “And it just so happens that this is the first year Asian Heritage Month is officially recognized. I wanted to commemorate that achievement.”

Civic Impact: Youth Leadership in Action

The social plus-value of Asia Connect lies not only in its festivities but in what it represents: young people stepping into civic leadership, creating inclusive cultural platforms, and inviting all of Winnipeg into a deeper dialogue about identity, diversity, and belonging.

This festival isn’t just for students—it’s for everyone. Local restaurants, artists, small businesses, and cultural groups from across the city have come together to support and take part. With over a dozen market vendors and five food trucks—many of them Asian-owned—Asia Connect also highlights the economic vibrancy of Winnipeg’s Asian communities.

At a time when national conversations around immigration and identity are increasingly divisive, events like this act as cultural counterpoints. They remind us that diversity isn’t a challenge to manage—it’s a strength to celebrate.

A Platform for Representation

Representation matters. Through its food, performances, booths, and stories, Asia Connect provides Winnipeg’s Asian youth and communities a space to be seen and heard on their terms.

“We have so much culture, so many stories,” Bello reflects. “I just wanted to create a space for us to share, to educate each other, and to be aware that we’re all the same in our humanity.”

The event features more than 10 cultural showcases—from traditional dance to contemporary fusion—as well as cultural booths hosted by student groups from both the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg. These displays invite deeper engagement and foster cross-cultural learning.

More Than a Festival: Building Belonging

Asia Connect is more than an event—it’s a civic intervention. It offers a sense of belonging, especially for immigrant and second-generation youth who often navigate complex questions of identity. By co-creating this space, young people are not just preserving heritage—they’re shaping the multicultural future of Winnipeg.

MLA Jennifer Chen, the province’s first Asian MLA, will speak at the event—a powerful gesture of intergenerational solidarity and civic recognition. Her presence underscores the importance of institutional support for grassroots initiatives.

A Call to Action for Winnipeg

Asia Connect is a living example of community empowerment. It invites civic leaders, educators, and everyday citizens to support cultural initiatives not as spectators but as participants. It reminds us that civic engagement isn’t confined to ballot boxes—it happens in conversations, food courts, dance circles, and in the simple act of showing up.

Al Bello’s message to fellow young leaders is both a reflection and a challenge:

“To all the young leaders out there—Asia Connect started as a small note. Don’t wait for the perfect time. Go for that idea. Push for it. Trust that it’ll grow.”