Cantopop in Canada: Songwriting and Performing Identity

Join us for a panel discussion featuring Ching Choi (蔡紫晴) and handwash (手洗), two Vancouver-based musicians who create and perform in Cantonese. Moderated by Dr. Zoe Lam from UBC Asian Studies, this fireside-style conversation explores how language, migration, and identity shape their songwriting and creative practice across borders. Together, they reflect on the experience of moving between Hong Kong and Canada, draw inspiration from classic Cantopop, and share how Cantonese remains a powerful medium for storytelling in the diaspora.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
Location: Chinese Canadian Museum (51 E Pender St.)
Time & Schedule:
3:30 P.M. – Doors
4 to 5 P.M. – Panel discussion with Ching Choi and handwashCost: Free with admission
Register: RSVP here
This event will be conducted in English and will incorporate elements of Cantonese.
This event is presented in collaboration with the UBC Cantonese Language Program, with support by the UBC Pop Culture Cluster, and is part of the public programming for the exhibition Dream Factory: Cantopop Mandopop 1980s-2000.




