An exhibition that commemorates 100 years since the passing of the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, known also as the Chinese Exclusion Act in Canada.
The exhibition features hundreds of certificates of identity documents (C.I. certificates) used to track Chinese Canadians during the Chinese Immigration Act – the most ever publicly displayed in an exhibition. The papers also were a constant reminder of a second-class status in Canada.
In partnership with the Chinese Canadian Military Museum and curated by Catherine Clement, this community-sourced exhibition, with a national focus, probes the nature of paperwork and documentation over the contested terrain of history, with a diverse array of families of Chinese descent, from across Canada contributing to the exhibition.
Curator: Catherine Clement
Digital Archive: Paper Trail Collection at UBC Library, Rare Books and Special Collections
Research Room
Looking to find your family’s own paper trail? The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act’s curatorial assistant, Naomi Louie, will be providing research assistance through the Research Room.
Location: Paper Trail - Second Gallery [by the desk]
General hours: Wednesdays, 1:00 - 4:00 P.M.
Assistance includes:
Help find and interpret Chinese Immigration (C.I.) Certificates
Explore digital archival materials
Assist in researching Chinese Canadian history
The Research Room has been relocated from the first floor. To schedule an appointment or contact them outside of office hours, email naomi.louie@chinesecanadianmuseum.ca. (There is no fee associated with this support.)
Exhibition Supporters
Where is this exhibition?
Vancouver's Chinatown
51 E Pender St, Vancouver BC V6A 1S9The Chinese Canadian Museum is now permanently at home inside the Wing Sang Building. Originally a two-storey structure built in 1889 by merchant Yip Sang, the Wing Sang Building was later expanded in 1901 and 1912, and remains the oldest building in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
