Discovering and claiming identity can be a daunting journey, especially for young people navigating multiple cultures. For UWinnipeg alum Fortunato Lim (BA 05, BEd 05, PBDE 13), that journey became the foundation for a lifelong commitment to education, advocacy, and community building.
Fortunato emigrated from the Philippines to Canada in the late 1980s at the age of nine. His migration story is layered and complex, shaped by Filipino roots and Chinese ancestry.
“Identity was a big part of my journey coming to Canada,” Fortunato shared. “Coming from a small town in the Philippines into a city, there were a lot of wow moments. My sense of identity, in some ways, imploded.”
As a child, Fortunato became acutely aware of difference. He was teased for his accent and the food he brought to school. His peers openly pointed out cultural distinctions and enhanced his feelings of separation from second-generation Canadian-Filipino students. These experiences led Fortunato to suppress parts of his Filipino identity and seek a deeper connection to his Chinese heritage.
Fortunato explored his Chinese ancestry through martial arts and Eastern philosophies. He delved into Taoism and Buddhism and trained extensively in Kung Fu, eventually becoming an assistant instructor and teaching self-defense classes across Winnipeg.
“I really felt connected to it,” he said. “It gave me grounding during a time when I was trying to understand who I was.”
A path through education
For the past two decades, Fortunato has worked with youth in education, both within the local Asian community and school system. However, his own journey into education was not linear. Fortunato’s first attempt at university was short lived; he felt overwhelmed by large class sizes and uncertain about his long-term direction. He left to explore other opportunities, including the army and the restaurant industry. But it wasn’t long before he realized he needed to return to university, this time, on his own terms.
Fortunato enrolled in the Arts program at UWinnipeg. Here, he was able to connect with his professors and peers much more easily.
There was something about UWinnipeg that felt more personal and more diverse.
Fortunato Lim
“There was something about the environment that felt more personal and more diverse,” said Fortunato. “At UWinnipeg I was able to connect with my professors, classmates, and communities in ways I hadn’t before.”
As a theatre minor, Fortunato found an unexpected sense of belonging within the theatre community. “There was no limit to expressing yourself,” explained Fortunato, who was still in the midst of discovering his identity. “People in the theatre community were welcoming, and for the first time, I really felt I belonged somewhere.”
By his second year, Fortunato joined the Faculty of Education. While learning about educational philosophies, Fortunato reflected on his own experiences to help shape the type of educator he would become.
“There were two key moments that happened in high school. One teacher I felt really saw me. He allowed me to use my gift of writing poetry in a positive way and nurture that passion. And then the second was a negative experience, where I was told, I was never going to amount to anything. As an educator, I really wanted to focus on being the teacher that saw my gift. I wanted to see students for who they are.”
A community connection: Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba
As Fortunato refined his vision of the educator he wanted to become, he also began seeking opportunities to connect more deeply with his own cultural identity. A chance encounter with Dr. Art Miki C.M., O.M. would soon open a new path – one that grounded his academic learning in lived experience and community advocacy.
“I was trying to find someone who could help me understand my identity,” said Fortunato. “Dr. Miki and I connected immediately. He taught me about humility and helped me transform some of my anger and confusion as a youth into purposeful community engagement.”
Dr. Art Miki, a UWinnipeg Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, is the founder of the Asian Heritage Society in Manitoba (AHSM). AHSM is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and promoting the contributions of Asian Canadians in Manitoba. It was established to honour Asian Heritage Month which is celebrate annually in May.
“Through working with the Asian Heritage Society, that was when I realized I could make a difference through education. By not just reaching more people but reaching youth, I could help them understand who they are and what they can contribute to this society.”
Bridging together: leading in education and anti‑racism
As Fortunato’s career progressed, so too did his ability to weave his personal and professional identities, all while remaining committed to student education and advocacy.
While teaching at Maples Collegiate, Fortunato founded the Asian Heritage Society Club, which continues to this day. Later, as principal of Riverbend School, a K–5 English and Ojibwe bilingual school, Fortunato deepened his leadership through relationships with Elders and Indigenous educators. Now his education philosophies have evolved to include Reconciliation and respecting the origins of the place he now calls home.
Asian heritage work today must include understanding our shared history and our responsibilities in this place.
Fortunato Lim
Today, Fortunato serves as Divisional Principal of Anti‑Racism with Seven Oaks School Division, supporting all schools from kindergarten to Grade 12. His work includes professional development for staff, classroom engagement with students, and large‑scale initiatives—such as a recent student showcase at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, featuring projects on anti‑racism, climate action, and human rights.
Fortunato’s dedication to education also extends beyond the classroom and into a variety of grassroots organizations. He is currently the president of the Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba as well as a board member of the new National Council of Asian Canadians. He is also a board member of the Mubuhay District Inc., a Winnipeg-based non-profit aimed to creating a premier Filipino economic and cultural hub in Manitoba.
Celebrating Asian Heritage Month
“In the beginning, Asian Heritage Month was about being seen and celebrating culture,” reflected Fortunato. “Celebration is still important, but there’s also a strong education piece. It’s about empowering Asian communities. We live, love, and raise our families on Indigenous lands. Asian Heritage work today must include understanding our shared history and our responsibilities in this place. There is still work to do. Not just within Asian communities, but in learning how to live together, honouring Indigenous Peoples, and building inclusive communities.”
Manitoba’s Asian community is richly diverse, represented by dozens of cultural organizations. In 2025 alone, more than 40 organizations participated in the opening of Asian Heritage Month at the Manitoba Legislature. To learn more on how you can get involved and celebrate Asian Heritage Month, visit the Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba web page.
