Want to understand the backstory to Canada’s 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act?
The long-awaited exhibition “The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act” opens July 1, 2023 at the Chinese Canadian Museum, marking the 100th anniversary of this dark but largely forgotten period in Canadian history. This national exhibition is an unflinching look at a quarter-century of exclusion (1923-1947), revealing stories and objects uncovered through interviews and extensive research: stories of loss, despair and fear, as well as powerful examples of courage and perseverance.
Since the exhibition focuses heavily on the exclusion period, we wanted to offer you an opportunity to learn more about the backstory to this chapter in Canadian history.
What led Canada to design such a drastic and unprecedented law? Why were Chinese singled out from all other migrant groups, including other Asians? How did circumstances, world events and the U.S. shape the thinking of Canadian lawmakers? What propelled these ideas to grow, and how did other Canadians react? Finally, why did exclusion create such an enormous paper trail?
Join us for a special, live online event.
The Backstory to Exclusion:
A conversation between curator Catherine Clement
and Dr. Henry Yu of UBC History
Monday, June 26, 2023
5:00 p.m. Pacific time
6:00 p.m. Mountain
7:00 p.m. Central
8:00 p.m. Eastern
9:00 p.m. Atlantic
9:30 p.m. Newfoundland
Here is your opportunity to better understand what shaped this momentous period and get a glimpse into what your ancestors were hearing and experiencing as the doors to Canada began to close.
Sponsors and partners:
UBC Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies
Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC
Chinese Canadian Military Museum
UBC Centre for Asian Canadian Research and Engagement
UBC Public Humanities Hub
UBC Studios