A Seat at the Table is a multi-sited and collaborative exhibition project that explores historical and contemporary stories of Chinese Canadians in BC and their struggles for belonging.

Using food and restaurant culture as entry point, the project highlights stories that reveal the great diversity of immigrant experiences and of the communities immigrants develop. It also addresses themes of belonging, racism, agency, resilience and reparation as important facets of the complex picture of Chinese migrants and their descendants in the province.

Learn more and explore each exhibition site

A Seat at the Table.jpg — Vancouver Chinatown Location

On view until March 30, 2023

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A Seat at the Table2 (1).png — Museum of Vancouver Location

On view until April 2, 2023

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The official exhibition catalogue for A Seat at the Table is now available in 2 versions (English & Simplified Chinese) (English & Traditional Chinese)!

Visit the MOV online shop or the MOV admissions desk to order your copy.

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Professor Henry Yu, a member of the UBC History Department and Principal of St. John's College, presents an overview of the systemic discrimination experienced by Chinese immigrants to Canada, mixing his own family's story with the broader history of Vancouver's, BC's and Canada's policies and regulations. Prof. Yu is co-curator of an upcoming exhibit on Chinese-Canadian immigration entitled A Seat at the Table, opening soon at the Museum of Vancouver and in Chinatown.

Video by the Vancouver Historical Society

Love, genetic and ancestral relations are all characteristics that can define family. To some, groups of people sharing a cause or a passion and supporting each other also qualify as families. Immigrants and their descendants have created many groups or families, to feel connected to a place, traditions, and each other.⁠
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Share a photo of your “family” and tag #SATMyFamily. Your story and portrait will be featured in the physical A Seat at the Table MOV exhibition and online. ⁠If you do not have a public social media account, you can submit your photo here: www.tinyurl.com/SATMyFamily

Share your visit of both exhibition locations using the hashtag #ASeatAtTheTableBC!

Co-Curation
Denise Fong
Viviane Gosselin
Henry Yu

Content development/Interpretive Planning
Catherine Clement (Chinatown Exhibition)

Design
Goodweather (Exhibit Design)
Yen-rong Hsiao (Graphic Design)

Film and Virtual Reality
Centre for Digital Media
Hammer & Tong
INSTRCC Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies

Advisory Committee
John Atkin (Civic History), Larry Bafia (Centre for Digital Media), Belle Cheung (City of Vancouver), Catherine Clement (Vancouver Chinatown History), Kim Gough (Royal BC Museum), Kevin Huang (hua Foundation), Vincent Kwan (Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden), Winnie Kwan (Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden), Imogene Lim (Vancouver Island University), Sarah Ling (Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC), Tina Loo (UBC), Carmen Papalia (Art and Accessibility), Hayne Wai (Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC), Michelle Willard (Cumberland Museum and Archives), Baldwin Wong (City of Vancouver), Bill Yuen (Heritage Vancouver)