The Paper Trail: To the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act
Date: May 29
7:00 pm
- 8:00 pm
Where: Theatre
This talk will introduce the Chinese Canadian Museum (Vancouver), the first cultural institution in Canada devoted to Chinese Canadian culture and lived histories, and The Paper Trail, a feature exhibition on the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act.
Exhibition Curator, Catherine Clement will be in conversation with Chinese Canadian Museum CEO, Dr. Melissa Lee in introducing the feature museum exhibition on the Chinese Exclusion Act, and the generational trauma that resulted in the separation of Chinese Canadian families in the 20th century.
Tickets: $12 plus HST. Free for Rooms Members. Get your tickets online or by calling (709)757-8090.
About the Presenters:
Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee is an arts and culture leader with research interests in public art and social practice. She currently holds the appointment of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Chinese Canadian Museum, in British Columbia, Vancouver which was successfully opened on July 1st, 2023, showcasing 3 inaugural exhibitions in a 27,000 square foot space in the heart of Vancouver Chinatown. From 2019-2022, she was the Director of Education and Public Programs at the Vancouver Art Gallery. From 2016-2019 she was on the founding team to open Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Art, Hong Kong serving as the Education and Public Programs Curator. From 2008-2015, she was on faculty as Senior Lecturer at the English Department of Chinese University of Hong Kong. She holds degrees from McGill, Canterbury and Lancaster Universities.
Catherine Clement is an award-winning community historian, curator, and author based in Vancouver’s Chinatown. Her practice focuses on finding and telling the lesser-known or forgotten stories of the Chinese Canadian experience.
Catherine’s projects have been acclaimed for the extensive crowdsourcing she undertakes to discover lost photographs, documents and stories. She uses these unearthed materials to create a major exhibition and leave a legacy: the establishment of new community archives in public institutions.
Before developing The Paper Trail project, Catherine spent 10 years uncovering the hidden works of Vancouver's first and most prolific Chinese photographer. The project “Chinatown Through a Wide Lens: The Hidden Photographs of Yucho Chow” resulted in an exhibition, an award-winning book and a digital archive of over 600 photos that is now housed at the City of Vancouver.
Today's Events & Programs
The Macdonald Drive Junior High String Ensemble acts as musical ambassadors for their school, performing throughout the year at school and community events. Join us for their annual holiday performance featuring music that will surely get you into the festive spirit.
The ensemble also performs annually with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, providing a prelude show for their Masterworks 3 concert, and has received a gold standard at the Rotary Music Festival.
Cost: Free. No registration required.
Step into a world of family fun at The Rooms with our friends from the Mummers Festival! Enjoy an afternoon of creativity and connection for the whole family.
Browse The Rooms gift shop for holiday shopping, grab a bite in the café, and take in the stunning decorations throughout the building!
Cost: Included with regular admission to The Rooms.
This program is presented in partnership with the 2025 Mummers Festival. For more information about festival events, visit www.mummersfestival.ca.
Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador
Stroll across land and sea, and through time, to meet the peoples who have made Newfoundland and Labrador home for the past 9,000 years.
Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.
Join author Mark Critch for the launch of Sorry, Not Sorry: An Unapologetic Look at What Makes Canada Worth Fighting For.
Known for his sharp-witted skits on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Mark Critch uses his keen observational skills to explore Canadian identity and the new wave of Canadian patriotism.
In Sorry, Not Sorry, Critch delves into the heart of what it means to be Canadian at a time when national pride is on the rise. Examining everything from Newfoundland’s historic decision to join Canada to the modern-day implications of the Freedom Convoy and the evolving symbolism of the Canadian flag, he reminds us of where we came from—and of the many reasons Canada is worth fighting for. Elbows up!
Cost: $25 plus HST. Get your tickets online or by calling (709) 757-8090.
A cash bar and reception will follow the presentation, with an opportunity to get your book signed. The Rooms Giftshop will be open for your shopping convenience, where books will be available for purchase.