[BCMA] A Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia feature exhibit at the Sidney Museum

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

Hello BCMA Colleagues,

The Sidney Museum and Archives is excited to announce our new exhibit *A
Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia*



For Immediate Release

A Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia feature
exhibit at the Sidney Museum

Sidney, British Columbia, April 9, 2026 - The Sidney Museum and Archives is
excited to announce the opening of its 2026 featured exhibit, A Seat at the
Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia. Developed by the Chinese
Canadian Museum in partnership with the Museum of Vancouver and the
University of British Columbia, this exhibit will be on display from April
24-November 15, 2026.

A Seat at the Table examines  Chinese immigration to this province as a
story that is local and global, historical and contemporary. Using food and
restaurant culture as an entry point, the exhibit features stories that
point to the great diversity of immigrant experiences and of the
communities that immigrants develop.

A Seat at the Table sets the stage for moving stories of separation, loss
and alienation but also of solidarity, tenacity and success. Animated maps,
short films, and art installations show Chinese immigrants forging social
connections with other migrant and Indigenous communities in British
Columbia while maintaining ties with their relatives in China. These
stories underscore the extent of systemic racism and its enduring impact on
Chinese Canadians while highlighting their ability to resist, organize,
seek justice and thrive.

A Seat at the Table is one of the largest museum projects on Chinese
Canadian history and culture in Canada to date. The research component
includes an extensive and ongoing oral history project. The exhibition
seeks to diversify representations of Canada and make them more inclusive.
It also seeks to transform public understanding of Canada’s long engagement
with the Pacific and successive waves of Chinese migration. Fresh
perspectives on migration, diaspora, cultural representation and agency
encourage the public to rethink what it means to be British Columbian.

To accompany this exhibit, the Sidney Museum will be presenting displays
representing aspects of Chinese Canadian history in Sidney, North Saanich,
and the surrounding islands. Through recent research and oral history
sessions, the Sidney Museum has new perspectives and increased
understandings to share about the substantial Chinese

Canadian history in the region. From the long history of restaurants owned
and operated by Chinese Canadian Sidney residents to the Chinatowns of
Sidney and James Island in the early 20th century, there will be much for
those interested in local Chinese Canadian history to discover.

Please join us for an opening reception on Thursday, April 30th at 5:00pm
at the Sidney Museum to celebrate the opening of the exhibit. Space is
limited, so please RSVP to outreach at sidneymuseum.ca.

The Sidney Museum is located at 2423 Beacon Avenue, in the lower level of
the Old Post Office building. The museum is open everyday from
10:00am-4:00pm. Admission is by donation. Please visit sidneymuseum.ca for
more details.


-30-


For more information contact:

Michael Goodchild

Executive Director, Sidney Museum

(250) 655-6355

director at sidneymuseum.ca


-- 
*Charlotte Clar* (she/her)
Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator
Sidney Museum & Archives

2423 Beacon Ave L-3
Sidney BC  V8L 1X5
250-655-6355
outreach at sidneymuseum.ca
sidneymuseum.ca
*We respectfully acknowledge the Sidney Museum & Archives has been shaped
by the colonial history of Canada, and is located in Sidney/SETINES on the
territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ People including the **BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin),
SȾÁ,UTW̱ (Tsawout), MÁLEXEŁ (Malahat), W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip) and W̱SÍḴEM
(Tseycum) First Nations.*
*We understand that territory acknowledgment is just one part of
Reconciliation, and the museum continues to work towards other ways that we
can participate in Reconciliation alongside Indigenous communities.*
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