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Bill 111, Nepali Heritage Month Act, 2026

Wong-Tam, Kristyn

Gilmour, Alexa

Vaugeois, Lise

Current status:

First Reading Ordered for Second Reading

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Bill 111 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill proclaims the month of April in each year as Nepali Heritage Month.

Bill 111 2026

Act to proclaim the month of April as Nepali Heritage Month

Preamble

Nepali

immigrants first started to arrive in Canada following the beginning of

diplomatic relations between Nepal and Canada in 1965, with significant

movement of migration in 1996 and 2012. Since then, Canada has been home to

tens of thousands of people of Nepali origin and ancestry, with the highest

concentration of people residing in Ontario. Nepali Ontarians have built a

strong community, especially in the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, London,

Windsor, Hamilton, Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo regions.

Nepal

is known for its beautiful mountainous landscape and is home to Sagarmatha,

most commonly known as Mount Everest, the highest mountain above sea level in

the world. Nepal is also widely noted as a land of spirituality and is a

diverse multi-faith nation-state. Over 120 languages spoken are spoken in Nepal;

the prominent languages being Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Tamang,

Newari, Bajjika, Magar and Dotyali. Nepal’s traditional and cultural landscape

is shaped by these languages and ethnic identities. Nepali festivals, such as

Dashain, Tihar and Teej, centre their celebrations on ancient traditions which

honour shared familial bonds and the elders of the community as well as the

collective appreciation of Nepali music, dance and cuisine.

The

Nepal calendar, also known as the Bikram Samvat, is a unique lunisolar calendar

that runs just over 56 years ahead of the Gregorian Calendar. Its first month

falls in April and marks the Nepali New Year and the subsequent Biska Jatra

Festival.

proclaiming the month of April as Nepali Heritage Month, the Province of Ontario

recognizes and affirms the indispensable contributions the Nepali community has

made to the political, social, economic, spiritual and cultural fabric of the

province and of the country as a whole. Nepali Heritage Month is a time to

honour the heritage, achievements and contributions of Nepali Ontarians, and to

inspire future generations by recognizing their ongoing role in building

vibrant, diverse and inclusive communities across the province.

Therefore,

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Nepali

Heritage Month

The

month of April in each year is proclaimed as Nepali Heritage Month.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Nepali Heritage Month

Act, 2026 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

April 23, 2026

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

April 23, 2026

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

April 23, 2026

Carried

Ordered for Second Reading

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