"A Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia" is a travelling exhibition from the Chinese Canadian Museum in partnership with the Museum of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia.
The B.C. Forest Discovery Centre is hosting the exhibit from now through Sunday, Sept. 21.
“We are please to have the opportunity to display this excellent exhibit for our 2025 season,” said Carol Miller, general manager at the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre. “We’re grateful to the Cowichan Valley Museum for their collaboration, helping us to include stories and artifacts that are local to the Cowichan Valley.”
The exhibit shares stories of belonging, racism, agency and resilience explored through Chinese Canadian restaurant and food culture.
They underscore racism's enduring impact on Chinese Canadians while highlighting their ability to resist, organize, seek justice and thrive. The exhibition’s tone strikes a balance between playful and serious. Fresh perspectives on migration, diaspora, cultural representation and agency encourage the public to rethink what it means to be British Columbian.
“A Seat at the Table exhibit makes viewers consider their relationship to the Chinese Canadian community,” said Dr. Imogene Lim, a retired professor at Vancouver Island University, descendent of Chinese head tax payers, and a board member at the Chinese Canadian Museum. Lim’s contributions to the exhibit engage museum guests in important discussions including “What is a Chinatown?” and the role of the Diners’ Rendezvous as a gathering place or third space for community.
