Chinese Exclusion Act Centenary

Special Film Screenings: Iron Road + Saving Chinatown II: Our Heritage, Our Legend
2023-06-23 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Toronto) | AB
The Canada China International Film Festival (CCIFF) is an international event that promotes cultural exchange between Canadian and Chinese film cultures, fosters cooperation and encourages communication between artists and filmmakers from both countries, develops an interactive platform for Canada and China film technology, and enhances the communication between excellent filmmakers and cooperation in film markets of both countries. The 8th edition will be held from July 14 to Aug 31, 2023.
We will be hosting two separate screenings:
Film 1: Iron Road
The actress Li Sun won Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series in the Gemini Awards.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013119/
Film 2: Saving Chinatown II: Our Heritage, Our Legend
This documentary explores the forgotten history of the first Chinese immigrants of Montreal, re-telling never-before-heard stories passed down from the elders of the Chinese community.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21806324/

Reflecting On History, Shaping Our Future
2023-06-23 11:30 - 14:00 (America/Edmonton) | Calgary Central Library, 800 3 St SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 2E7, Canada
Join us for a momentous commemoration of the 100-Year Anniversary of the Chinese Immigration Act. Celebrate the remarkable contributions of Calgary’s Chinese community through historical storytelling, cultural performances, and acknowledgments of Chinese Canadian achievers. This nationally significant event honors our past, celebrates our present, and shapes a future of unity and inclusivity.
Join us at the Central Library at 800 3 St SE on June 23, 2023, at 11.30 am – 2:00 pm.
The order of events will include:
• Historical Storytelling of Chinese Immigration: Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the rich history of Chinese immigration to Canada through captivating storytelling sessions. Experts and historians will share compelling narratives, shedding light on the challenges, triumphs, and contributions of Chinese immigrants throughout the past century.
• Evolution of Calgary Chinatown: A dedicated segment will explore the evolution of Calgary’s Chinatown, showcasing its transformation, growth, and cultural significance over the years. Through multimedia presentations, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the vibrant history, heritage, and cultural fabric of Calgary’s Chinatown.
• Cultural Performances: The event will feature captivating cultural performances that celebrate Chinese heritage and traditions.
• City Council Acknowledgement: City officials, including members of the City Council, will be present to acknowledge and express their support for the commemoration. This acknowledgment from local government representatives underscores the significance of the event and the recognition of the contributions made by the Chinese community to the city.
• Chinese Community Acknowledgement: A special segment will be dedicated to acknowledging and honoring the contributions and achievements of the Chinese community in Calgary. This will provide a platform to recognize individuals, organizations, and community leaders who have made a significant impact on Calgary’s Chinese and Chinatown history, heritage, culture, and community.
• Chinatown Acknowledgment: The event will pay tribute to the importance of Chinatown as a cultural hub and community gathering place. The significance of preserving and celebrating Chinatown’s heritage, architecture, and cultural identity will be emphasized, highlighting its role as a symbol of resilience and community spirit.
• Online Viewing of National Recognition: As part of the event, a live stream will be set up to showcase the National Recognition of the 100-Year Anniversary of the Chinese Immigration Act, taking place at Canada’s Senate Chambers. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to witness this historic moment and join in the national commemoration virtually.
• Honoring Calgary Contributors: The event will recognize and honor individuals and organizations in Calgary who have made significant contributions to the city’s Chinese and Chinatown history, heritage, culture, and community. These acknowledgments will highlight the outstanding achievements and impact of these individuals and organizations in fostering understanding, preserving heritage, and strengthening community bonds.

Storytelling - Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Chinese Immigration Act and Calgary Chinese in Canadian History
2023-06-18 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Edmonton) | Bay 9, 1431 40 Ave NE, Calgary, Bay 9, 1431 40 Ave NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 8N6, Canada
Storytelling – Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Chinese Immigration Act and Calgary Chinese in Canadian History
1923 – 2023, 100th Year of Unforgettable History

The history background of the Chinese Immigration Act
Storytelling from family members of railway workers about their ancestors’ life and Chinese contribution to Canada and to Calgary

Guest Speakers:
David Curtis Wright, PhD, Professor of History, University of Calgary
Ronald Lee, B.A., U of L, M. ED., Athabasca

Centennial Remembrance of the Chinese Exclusion Act & CPAC Institute Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Awards Ceremony
2023-06-17 15:00 - 19:00 (America/Toronto) | CPAC Conference Hall, 4150 Finch Av E, Toronto, ON, M1S 3T9, Canada
Time & Date: 3:00 pm, Saturday, June 17, 2023
Venue: CPAC Conference Hall, 4150 Finch Av E, Toronto ON M1S 3T9
Registration: https://2023-cpac-edi-awards-cea-forum.eventbrite.com
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act. In this centennial year of this infamous piece of legislation, CPAC is presenting a public forum to remember this historical event, in conjunction with the presentation of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Awards. The program of the event includes:

A keynote speech about the past 100 years since the Chinese Exclusion Act – the historical context of the legislation, the discrimination endured by Chinese Canadians before and after the legislation, the contributions made by Chinese Canadians in the past century despite racism, the many forms of racism that Chinese and Asian Canadians still face today, the work ahead of us in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion and eliminating racial discrimination, and other relevant contents.

Presentation of the CPAC Institute Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Awards, which recognize Canadians in any region of the country who have made significant contributions to the advancement of EDI. The recipients will be Wendy Cukier, Director of Diversity Institute, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Teresa Woo-Paw, Chair of the ACCT Foundation and of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.

A community forum on the past and present of racism in Canada.

Program
2:30 pm: Doors Open
3:00 pm: Opening: Andi Shi, Executive Director, CPAC
3:05 pm Welcome Remarks: Ti Wang, President, CPAC
3:10 pm: Keynote Speech on the Centenary of the Chinese Exclusion Act: Timothy Stanley, Professor Emeritus, University of Ottawa
4:15 pm: Award Ceremony: Hugh Zhao, Chair, EDI Award Committee
Recipients: Wendy Cukier, Teresa Woo-Paw
5:15 pm: Community Forum
6:00 pm: Refreshments
6:45 pm: Close

The Chinese Exclusion Act Zoom Forum
2023-06-15 13:15 - 14:30 (America/Toronto) | Online – Zoom
Dive into history 100 years ago as we commemorate the Chinese Exclusion Act through our Zoom Forum. Engage with expert panelists, ignite discussions, and unravel Canada’s history. Don’t miss this learning experience!
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ZOOM PANEL

100 Years after the Chinese Exclusion Act: An Exhibition in the Senate of Canada
2023-06-06 08:00 - 2023-06-23 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Senate of Canada Building, 2 Rideau Street, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A4, Canada
OTTAWA, June 5, 2023 – The Senate of Canada will host “Reflections on Exclusion: An Exhibition on the Chinese Immigration Act, 1923” from Tuesday, June 6 to Friday, June 23. The exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary of this discriminatory law, also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, and gives voice to Chinese-Canadians impacted by it. The exhibition is open to the public and is free of charge. Visitors can register for a Senate of Canada Building visitor pass.
The exhibition features Chinese Immigration Certificates and key parliamentary documents tracing the path of the Act. Among the highlights is a unique installation by acclaimed artist Don Kwan, and a collage of portraits, each telling a personal story of struggle, resilience, and perseverance.
With its roots in a series of racist laws passed by the Government of Canada from 1885, the Chinese Immigration Act severely limited Chinese immigration and created a climate of fear among the Chinese in Canada. This exhibition serves as a tangible link to that past and a call for vigilance against modern forms of exclusion.
Hosted by the Senate of Canada, which bears joint responsibility (together with the House of Commons) for passing the Chinese Exclusion Act, the exhibition is as much a tribute to the courage of Chinese-Canadians as it is a reflection on how lawmakers can err in profound ways.
The exhibition is curated by Jiaqi Wu from the office of Senator Yuen Pau Woo, with the support of the Offices of the Speaker of the Senate of Canada and the Black Rod, the Chinese Canadian Museum (Vancouver), the Library of Parliament, and the Canadian Museum of History.
The exhibition is one of numerous events and activities across Canada to mark the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, including a National Remembrance Ceremony that will be held in the Senate of Canada on 23 June 2023, in partnership with Action! Chinese Canadians Together (ACCT).

I AM NOT A GHOST - Book Launch
2023-06-03 11:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver) | Chinese Canadian Museum, 51 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1S9, Canada
Location: Chinese Canadian Museum. 51 Pender Street East, Vancouver B.C.
Remembering the contributions of the early Chinese immigrants on this 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act

For an invitation to this event please contact info@plumleafpress.com
Live speakers • Commentary from the Authors and Illustrator • Drinks • Appetizers • Activities for Kids
About the book:
I AM NOT A GHOST
THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY
By David Bouchard with Zhong-Yang Huang
Illustrated by Sean Huang
Foreword by Brandt C. Louie
Told in the voice of an elderly Chinese grandfather, eager for his and his countrymen’s legacy as builders of the CPR to live on, I Am Not a Ghost: The Canadian Pacific Railway reveals a part of Canadian history that has been overlooked. From the Indigenous people who helped Chinese newcomers survive in their new environment to the dangerous and life-threatening conditions under which these newcomers lived and worked, I Am Not a Ghost is sure to open some eyes on this part of Canada’s history.
“… I Am Not a Ghost provides a very personal story that goes beyond the placement of that last spike and reminds us that achievements are often on the backs of others who should be recognized and their stories told.” — CanLit for LittleCanadians
“Canada is still writing its story as a nation, and this book is an important part of that story.” — Brandt C. Louie
www.plumleafpress.com
Instagram: @plumleafbooks
Facebook: @plumleafpressbooks
Twitter: @plumleafpress

Awakening Chinatown 2023
2023-05-28 12:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver) | Victoria’s Historic Chinatown, 500 Fisgard St, Victoria, BC, V8W 1R4, Canada
Noon – 5 pm, May 28, Victoria’s Historic Chinatown

This year commemorates the 21 st Anniversary of Asian Heritage Month, and we couldn’t be more excited. After the incredible success of last year’s inaugural “Awakening Chinatown” event, we are pleased to bring our community together once again for an even bigger celebration that honours the contributions of Chinese Canadians who enrich our country’s cultural tapestry.
Presented by the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society and in collaboration with the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA), Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) and local Chinatown businesses, the Second Annual “Awakening Chinatown” festivities will take place in the vibrant National Historic Site area of Canada’s oldest Chinatown.
Join us for a lively afternoon that promises something for everyone including kung-fu, dance, music, arts, and crafts! Grab a seat by the main stage to enjoy a stunning variety of performances. Or explore some of Chinatown’s diverse shops and eateries while wandering along Fisgard Street traffic-free, which will be temporarily closed for the event between Store and Government Streets.

This year’s Traditional Celebrations will include:

Dotting of the Eyes ceremony to “Awaken the Lions”, an allegorical awakening of Chinatown itself,
The captivating rhythm and flow of traditional martial arts and lion dancing as demonstrated by the Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club,
The Lion Procession to bring good fortune and prosperity to the businesses of Chinatown,
The eternal elegance of traditional Chinese dance as performed by Chinese Dance Victoria, directed by Dr. Hua Lin,
Performances by the Happy Drum Group and Victoria Society of Chinese Performing Arts – Evergreen (Senior’s) Choir,
House of Rice Chinese drag performers, Sunshine Fitness Group, magician Justin Louie and the Victoria Chinese Opera Club,
Beautiful performances by Luka Kawabata, and Alex Chen of Pacific Opera Victoria from Chinatown’s historic balconies,
Opportunities for families to learn Chinese arts and crafts, play Chinese games, and enjoy demonstrations of Chinese calligraphy and fortune telling.

Reflection Symposium on Chinese Exclusion Act Centenary
2023-05-28 | Montreal Chinese Community United Center, 117-211 rue de la Gauchetiere West, Montreal, QC, H2Z 1C5, Canada
Reflection Symposium on Chinese Exclusion Act Centenary
Time: May 28, 2023
Place: Montreal Chinese Community United Center , 117-211 rue de la Gauchetiere West, Montreal QC , H2Z 1C5

Chinatown Pop Up Movie Club – Movie and Panel: Big Fight in Little Chinatown
2023-05-16 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | Bù Vintage Shoppe, 110 3 Avenue Southeast, Calgary, AB, T2G 0B6, Canada
Chinatown Pop Up Movie Club is an event-series where we hope to share cool spaces in Chinatown that you may not know about and to watch (or re-watch) some classic Chinese/HK movies. We want you to come to Chinatown, have fun, make memories and feel a sense of belonging.
We are excited to host our first movie which is a timely documentary on how we can preserve and develop Chinatowns in a responsible manner. Come and watch this incredible and timely documentary from Director Karen Cho. See how Chinatowns are challenged yet surviving across North America with interviews with residents and community members from Chinatowns and how they have fought to preserve and honour the history of these important cultural and historic neighbourhoods.
Coast to Coast the film follows Chinatown communities resisting the pressures around them. From the construction of the world’s largest vertical jail in New York, Montreal’s fight against developers swallowing up the most historic block of their Chinatown, big box chains and gentrification forces displacing Toronto’s community, to a Vancouver Chinatown business holding steadfast, the film reveals how Chinatown is both a stand-in for other communities who’ve been wiped off the city map, and the blueprint for inclusive and resilient neighbourhoods of the future.
If you are a Calgarian that is interested in learning more about Chinatown history, activism, and how each of us can do more in our Chinatown to create an inclusive, resilient, and thriving community, please come to this special screening with panel from Director Karen Cho and community members.
Get your tickets here (free, but limited quantities):

Picnic in Asian Heritage Month to learn the history of “Chinese Exclusion Act”
2023-05-14 13:00 - 15:30 (America/Toronto) | Parc Angrignon, 3400 Trinitaires Blvd, Montreal, Quebec, H4E 4J3, Canada
Enjoy delicious Chinese food
CCFPA dragon boat team show / Children show etc.
The history of “Chinese Exclusion Act”
Promotion of Petition e-4395

May 14, 2023 1:00-3:30PM
Contact Tina – Tel: 514-260-5835
$15/person, RSVP before 13th 12:00AM

In My Yesterday
2023-05-13 17:30 - 2023-07-23 19:30 (America/Toronto) | Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, 1055 Marginal Rd, Halifax, NS, B3H 4P7, Canada
The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 proudly presents In My Yesterday by JJ Lee, created in partnership with the Museum. In 2021, JJ Lee generously donated over 50 documents, photographs and artifacts to the Museum’s Collection. Complemented by Lee’s own artwork and family belongings, this acquisition tells a remarkable story of her family’s multi-generational emigration from China, between 1916 and 1957.
In My Yesterday is a timely exhibition as 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act. This discriminatory act banned almost all Chinese immigration to Canada only allowing 15 Chinese immigrants to Canada over a 23-year period.
Opening Reception May 13 5:30-7:30 pm
https://www.instagram.com/p/CrQXIm2ODBZ/
Image credit: JJ Lee on behalf of James and Hoi Lee [A2021.48.18]

Opening Reception – Longing Belonging, 100 Years 100 Stories
2023-05-13 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto) | Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 216 Main Street Unionville, Markham, ON, L3R 2H1, Canada
Come out to the Varley Art Gallery of Markham on Saturday, May 13, and celebrate the opening of Longing Belonging,100 Years 100 Stories curated by Long Time No See. This free public event will feature a ceremonial lion dance performance, artist tours, refreshments, and more.
Long Time No See is a collective of friends, artists and educators, is very interested in the untold stories of identity, place, traditions and people in community. Central to our work is the notion of Belonging. Centred in Toronto, we strive to honour our ancestors by sharing and teaching the stories of how Chinatown came to be, the histories that have been erased, and our responsibilities to act in solidarity with Indigenous peoples.
Over the last few decades immigration has increased to suburban areas: Scarborough, Markham, Richmond Hill, while bypassing the older downtown Chinatowns. How have diasporic communities shaped their sense of belonging in these newer communities?
Presented by the Varley Art Gallery of Markham in partnership with Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. Supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham, and the City of Markham.
Reserve a spot: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/opening-reception-longing-belonging-100-years-100-stories-tickets-597928268547
For more information, visit: https://www.markham.ca/wps/portal/home/arts/varley-art-gallery/all/upcoming/20231305

Longing Belonging, 100 Years 100 Stories
2023-05-13 - 2023-09-04 | Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 216 Main Street Unionville, Markham, ON, L3R 2H1, Canada
Longing Belonging, 100 Years 100 Stories, a community engagement project and exhibition organized by the collective Long Time No See (LTNS), tackles Canada’s troubled colonialist history by marking the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act. LTNS members engaged with local Markham communities, interviewing and photographing people in spaces that elicited sentiments of belonging, and gathering images and stories to be presented in the gallery. It is important to note that 2023 is also the centenary of the signing of The Williams Treaties—bureaucratic legislation signed by the Government of Canada and seven First Nations resulting in the surrender of the final portion of southern Ontario territory to the Canadian Government, including the land that the Varley Art Gallery sits on today.
With this project, LTNS asks us all to reflect on the questions: What is our place on this land? What is remembered? What is forgotten? What is our role in reconciliation? How do we all belong?

Henry Tsang: The 1907 Anti-Asian Riots in Vancouver
2023-05-08 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Vancouver) | Vancouver Central Library, 350 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6B 6B1, Canada
What happened in 1907 that led to racist and violent demonstrations against the Asian immigrant communities in Vancouver? How can we make sure something like it doesn’t happen again?
Based on his 360° Riot Walk, Henry Tsang has curated a book that combines essays and photography to shine a light on the darkness of Vancouver’s past and its uncertain future: White Riot.
Henry Tsang will be in conversation with two contributors from the book: community organiser Melody Ma and educator karine 吳玨穎. Join them for a powerful conversation about community, solidarity and resistance.
Henry Tsang is an artist who explores the spatial politics of history, language, community, food, and cultural translation in relationship to place. His artworks take the form of gallery exhibitions, 360-degree video walking tours, curated dinners, and public art. Henry teaches at Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver.
Melody Ma 馬勻雅 is a community organiser and neighbourhood advocate for Vancouver’s Chinatown. She led a campaign called #SaveChinatownYVR that helped defeat a controversial development project at 105 Keefer, and coordinated the Chinatown Summer Events series as a way for the community to reclaim space. Melody is a member of VPL’s Board of Trustees.
karine 吳玨穎 (she/佢) is an uninvited immigrant-settler-occupier un/re-learning on the stolen and shared lands of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. She is grateful for finding a home in the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance in BC, where care and decolonization are practised collectively.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED – https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/641605b8263d5f4c754b59a6

Gallery 101 presents: After Exclusion, Happy Fruit by Ed Kwan & Don Kwan
2023-05-06 14:00 - 2023-06-10 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Gallery 101, 280 Catherine St, Ottawa, ON, K1R 5T3, Canada
Gallery 101 presents: After Exclusion, Happy Fruit by Ed Kwan & Don Kwan
May 6 – June 10 2023
280 Catherine Street, Ottawa
After Exclusion, Happy Fruit by queer Chinese-Canadian brothers Ed Kwan (aka China Doll) and Don Kwan explores two centenary legacies. The first: the federal government of Canada’s racist enactment of the Chinese Immigration Act on July 1, 1923, which effectively banned persons of Chinese origin from entering Canada for 24 years before it was repealed. And the second: the Kwan family’s own centennial in Canada – a legacy that began with the arrival of their maternal grandfather Chow Kwai Fong in British Columbia.
The exhibition delves into the legacies in two parts. After Exclusion reflects on the both the immediate and lasting impacts of discriminatory government policies, including the Chinese Head Tax (1885-1923); the revocation of voting rights at provincial and federal levels from Chinese-Canadians and those of South-Asian origins (1872, 1907, and 1920 until 1951); and the Chinese Immigration Act (also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, 1923-1947); as well as continuing effects of colonialism and racism. In contrast and defiance of these histories is Happy Fruit: one literal translation of gay ( 开心果 ) and a celebration the brothers’ queer Chinese identities and family history using language and play.
Through installation, sculpture and performance, Don and Ed challenge traditional cultural norms and reflect on the intersections of culture, identity, and history. Their remarkable works embody the power of art as expression, truth-telling, and activism.
After Exclusion, Happy Fruit opens Saturday, May 6 from 2:00-5:00 PM at Gallery 101. Join us for art installations, performances, food, mahjong and more to celebrate Asian Heritage Month and the opening of the exhibition. Artist talks, tours, and a special China Doll Karaoke and Bingo fundraiser for Yet Keen Seniors’ Day Centre are also in the works throughout the month. Follow @G101Ottawa on Instagram and Facebook, or visit our website G101.ca/exhibits/after-exclusion-happy-fruit for upcoming event details.
Gallery 101 acknowledges the support from the City of Ottawa, Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Canada Council for the Arts. We honour and respect the original people of the territory we currently occupy: unceded and unsurrendered Anishnaabe-Aki who have been living and working on this land since time immemorial.

In Solidarity With The Chinese Community - Fighting Against Inequality, Injustice And Racism
2023-03-19 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Toronto) | Place Sun-Yat Sen, 1055 Rue Clark, Montréal, Quebec, H2Z 1K3, Canada
In Solidarity With The Chinese Community – Fighting Against Inequality, Injustice And Racism
Time: March 19, 2023 10:00-11:30 am
Start point: Place Sun-Yat-Sen, 1055 Rue Clark, Montréal, QC H2Z 1K3
End point: Guy-Favreau Complex, 200 René-Lévesque Blvd W, Montreal, Quebec H2Z 1X4
10:00-11:00am Several representatives of organizations read open letters of solidarity and voluntary speakers speak
11:00-11:10am Departure from Place Sun-Yat-Sen towards René Lévesque, turn left and follow the pavement to the Federal Building
11:10-11:30am After a short speech by the organizers, public speaks out their voices.

"Two-Gun" Cohen & China Lecture
2023-02-28 15:30 - 17:00 (America/Toronto) | University of Alberta – Pembina Hall 3-58, Pembina Hall, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H8, Canada
Two Gun Cohen (Morris Cohen) was a realtor in Edmonton in early 20th century. In the dark days of racism against Chinese Canadians, Cohen stood up protecting Chinese Canadians and performed as their spokesman. In early 1923, the Chinese community in Edmonton informed Cohen of the “Act” for help, who was then Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s bodyguard in China. Dr.Sun “dispatched a telegram on May 17, 1923, to the Minister of Interior requesting that discussion of the bill banning immigration be suspended…”

A lecture led by Dr. George Dong, author of General Two Gun Ma Kun- Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Jewish Bodyguard, a biography of an Edmonton-based Jewish Canadian, who travelled to China and
became a leading military advisor for the Chinese army and Dr. Sun Yat-sen (the national father of modern China).
It is the first historical novel in Chinese in memory of Morris Cohen.
This lecture marks the 100 year anniversary of Cohen’s move to China.
George Shouliang Dong, M.A in English Literature from the University of Guelph and ABD in Comparative Literature from the University of Alberta; is a retired Journalist for the CBC and RCI(Radio Canada International), and retired staff reporter for the BBC World Service, and OMNI TV.
He is the recipient of the Daya Feng International Literature Award (2014), First Chinese Film-TV Literature Award (2022), Canada China International Film Festival Script Competition 2022, and Alberta Newcomer Recognition Award (2022).

SWALLOWING MOUNTAINS - Exhibition by Karen Tam
2023-02-17 10:00 - 2023-08-13 17:00 (America/Toronto) | McCord Stewart Museum, 690 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1E9, Canada
As part of its Artist-in-Residence program, the McCord Stewart Museum presents the exhibition Swallowing Mountains by multidisciplinary artist Karen Tam, a tribute to the women of Montreal’s Chinatown from the 19th to the 20th centuries. In this immersive installation, you will discover objects from the Museum’s collection, works created by the artist, objects belonging to members of the Chinatown community, and photographs.
The exhibition explores the relative silence in public records and historical accounts of women in Montreal’s Chinatown in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as the discrepancy between the historical attraction to chinoiseries and Japanism and the reality of Chinese women living in Canada since the late 19th century.
2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Chinese Immigration Act, which banned virtually all forms of Chinese immigration to Canada. This policy, combined with a head tax, led to a strong imbalance in the proportion of women within Chinese Canadian communities, who were prohibited from joining their husbands there. Despite their under-representation in the early 19th and 20th centuries, Chinese women’s contribution to Chinatown’s vitality and economy was considerable. The exhibition Swallowing Mountains thus pays homage to the many contributions of women who have lived and worked in the neighborhood over the past century and a half.
SWALLOWING MOUNTAINS
The title of the exhibition refers to the name that the first waves of immigrants from China gave to Canada, Gold Mountain, in reference to the gold rush and the opportunity to make a fortune in Canada. Over time, the gold mountains of Canada’s El Dorado also became synonymous with the separation of families. Swallowing Mountains becomes a metaphor symbolizing the need to swallow, one kilometre at a time, the immense distance that separates loved ones in order to reunite them.
