Canada Day: Reflections from Stories of Exclusion
2023-07-01 13:30 - 16:00 UTC | cSPACE Eau Claire Neighbourhood Hub, 381 2 Avenue Southwest, Calgary, AB, T2P 0C5, Canada
On July 1, join us for a Lion Dance by the Jing Wo Cultural Association starting at 1:30 outside the cSpace Eau Claire Neighbourhood Hub. Then, welcome the Stories of Exclusion artists for a discussion facilitated by Brian Wong from 2-4:30 inside the Hub.
The Stories of Exclusion project sheds light on how Chinese Calgarians and their families have been affected by the Chinese Immigration Act, which was passed 100 years ago on Dominion Day (now known as Canada Day). Also referred to as the Chinese Exclusion Act, this racist legislation essentially prohibited Chinese immigration to Canada. July 1 1923 was labelled Humiliation Day by the Chinese Canadian community.
Project leader Dale Lee Kwong and six other artists have spent a week witnessing interviews with community members about their Stories of Exclusion. On Canada Day, these artists will share their responses to these stories. This is an alternative celebration which acknowledges the intergenerational trauma caused by colonialism.
The Stories of Exclusion team includes:
Dale Lee Kwong (project lead + artist)
Cosmo Christoffersen (project manager)
Vic Ip (archivist + marketing coordinator)
Brian Wong (facilitator + translator)
Billy Kairan Guo (artist)
Kari Woo(artist)
Linda Kee (artist)
Michelle Kuku (artist)
Nick Wang (artist)
Yan Zhu (artist)
Stories of Exclusion is generously funded by the City of Calgary.
