August 15, 2020 - March 26, 2023
Sister exhibition at the Hon Hsing Building in Chinatown - 27 E Pender
Open: Thurs – Sun, 10am – 5pm

Presented by the Chinese Canadian Museum Society of BC

Admission is free. We recommend booking tickets in advance online.

*Please note that this sister exhibition is separate from MOV’s upcoming feature exhibition that share the same name. You are not required to purchase an MOV Admission to view this exhibition.

Located in the heart of Chinatown, on the first floor of the Hon Hsing building, this first installment of A Seat at the Table offers a unique encounter with personal stories of Chinese Canadians. These snapshots from people’s lives show how Chinese migrants and their descendants have found ways to earn a living, challenge systemic racism, connect with others, survive and thrive through hope and resilience.

A Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia is the inaugural project of the newly established Chinese Canadian Museum Society of BC. This temporary exhibition was co-curated by the Museum of Vancouver and University of British Columbia, and supported by the Province of British Columbia and City of Vancouver. Its curatorial features are presented in trilingual English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese.

The innovative and unique quality of this living exhibition is that it continues to grow with every visitor. Visitors can choose to share their stories on camera, through in-person interviews, in writing, or simply by placing a marker on a map. These narratives will contribute to the complex and continuing story of Chinese Canadians in British Columbia. As the exhibition travels throughout the province, it will continue to gather and highlight stories from each location around the province.

Watch

View a series of short trailers that provide a glimpse into the themes and stories that this exciting exhibition project will be showcasing.

Engage

Tell us about your favourite Chinese Canadian restaurant and share any memories that they hold by posting a photo of it and tagging #SATLocal

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!

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)

Co-produced by

Supported by