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.
Events & Programs
Join us for Films On The Go, featuring a collection of short films from the most recent St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF).
About the lineup: Sweetgrass, perfect brows, the surprisingly queer life of a climbing clip, a giant imaginary bear, and one very bad day in 1986, this year’s Films on the Go lineup delivers seven short films packed with big emotion, sharp humour, and unforgettable moments. Crafted by filmmakers from Newfoundland & Labrador, Mi’kma’ki, Canada, and beyond.
Learn more about the films and artists here: https://www.womensfilmfestival.com/filmsonthego
Presented in partnership with the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival.
Films play on a loop in our theatre during open hours, unless the space is booked for a private event.
Join us each day for an interpretive guided tour in one of our galleries. From the story of the Cod fishery to visiting a current art exhibition to a Family Rainbow tour, there is something for everyone.
Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.
Beyond the Trenches: The Role of Newfoundland Women during The First World War
April of 2025 marked the one-hundred-year anniversary of women in Newfoundland winning the right to vote. The suffrage movement was substantially aided by the contributions of Newfoundland women, at home and overseas, during the First World War. Come and find out about their stories, experiences, and roles.
Enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience with Collections Manager Wade Greeley on this exclusive members-only tour of the museum vault!
Wade will showcase historical artwork in the museum’s collection, from 19th-century portraits to ship paintings, by sharing the journey of these artifacts into the collection and the methods used to preserve them. Discover the history of the paintings in the museum’s collection and explore artifacts rarely seen by the public.
Cost: $20 plus HST. Registration will open at 10:30 am on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Secure your spot by calling (709) 757-8090.
Enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience with Collections Manager Wade Greeley on this exclusive members-only tour of the museum vault!
Wade will showcase historical artwork in the museum’s collection, from 19th-century portraits to ship paintings, by sharing the journey of these artifacts into the collection and the methods used to preserve them. Discover the history of the paintings in the museum’s collection and explore artifacts rarely seen by the public.
Cost: $20 plus HST. Registration will open at 10:30 am on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Secure your spot by calling (709) 757-8090.
Unleash Your Inner Artist at The Rooms!
Come draw at The Rooms and practice your skills with focused exercises.
What to Expect:
Our experienced instructor will guide you through fundamental drawing techniques. Each session focuses on a different theme, from drawing the harbor view to capturing the details of our natural history collection.
This is a creative and supportive environment; all skill levels and experience are welcome! Designed for ages 15 and up.
Quality drawing supplies are available or feel free to bring your own sketch book!
Cost: $20 plus HST. 10% Discount for Rooms Members. Drop in's welcome!
Join us each day for an interpretive guided tour in one of our galleries. From the story of the Cod fishery to visiting a current art exhibition to a Family Rainbow tour, there is something for everyone.
Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.
Auks, Wolves and Whales
What fills the void when a species is no more? Legends, folklore, and history worth learning from. Come listen to the stories of the Great Auk, the Newfoundland Wolf, and Endangered Whales as they echo across the ages through their body and bones. Commiserate with the extinct, heed the calls of the endangered, hold ossified bones, and see how artists transform tragedy into hope for a sustainable future.
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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.
Join us each day for an interpretive guided tour in one of our galleries. From the story of the Cod fishery to visiting a current art exhibition to a Family Rainbow tour, there is something for everyone.
Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.
Unleash Your Inner Artist at The Rooms!
Come draw at The Rooms and practice your skills with focused exercises.
What to Expect:
Our experienced instructor will guide you through fundamental drawing techniques. Each session focuses on a different theme, from drawing the harbor view to capturing the details of our natural history collection.
This is a creative and supportive environment; all skill levels and experience are welcome! Designed for ages 15 and up.
Quality drawing supplies are available or feel free to bring your own sketch book!
Cost: $20 plus HST. 10% Discount for Rooms Members. Drop in's welcome!
Join us for a screening of the critically acclaimed film Skeet, produced by Mary Sexton, directed by Nik Sexton and featuring a standout performance by Sean Dalton, earning him a Canadian Screen Award nomination, and the People’s Pick award at the 2025 Canadian Film Festival.
Synopsis:
After being released from prison, Billy Skinner returns to his low-income neighborhood, feeling like the area has changed dramatically and what was once a predominantly white neighbourhood is now mostly occupied by refugee families. 1h44m
Tickets: $13.50 plus HST. Get your tickets online or by calling (709)757-8090.