July 1 at the Museum
Date:
Wednesday, July 1, 11 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Location:
Chinese Canadian Museum
[51 E Pender St Vancouver, BC V6A 1S9]
Schedule:
11 A.M. to 5 P.M. – Drop-in Crafts: Crafts that Cheer!
1 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. – Dream Factory curator’s tour (English)
2 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. – Film Screenings and Panel Discussion: The Girl with Big Feet and Gim: The Life and Legacy of a Chinese Canadian, in conversation with Karin Lee and Daniel Chen
3 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. – Dream Factory curator’s tour (Cantonese)
5 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. – Musical Performance: Sky Walker Choir Collective
Cost:
Included with museum admission
Join us this July 1 in celebrating Chinese Canadian legacies and culture. From conversations around historical memory, creative crafts, and a special musical performance, there’s something for the whole family!
These events will be conducted primarily in English.
Crafts
Kick off the day with drop-in crafts celebrating our new exhibition Momentum: Power and Identity in Sports. Create your own spirited Crafts that Cheer! By designing a felt banner flag or a foam finger featuring classic Cantonese and Mandarin cheers like 加油! (Add Oil!) or 好波! (Nice shot!).
Film Screenings
Join us for a powerful afternoon of storytelling that brings Chinese Canadian history to life through two moving films: The Girl with Big Feet and Gim: The Life and Legacy of a Chinese Canadian. Following the screenings, hear from filmmakers Karin Lee and Daniel Chen about their approach to remembering history and community narratives.
Musical Performance
End your day with a special musical performance celebrating the timeless tunes in our feature exhibition, Dream Factory: Cantopop Mandopop 1980s-2000. This electric performance by Sky Walker Choir Collective fuses pop medleys with layered choir harmonies for an unforgettable experience!
Guest Speakers
Karin Lee
Filmmaker
Karin Lee (李嘉慈) is a fourth-generation Chinese Canadian filmmaker based in Vancouver whose work focuses on Chinese Canadian history, cultural identity, and social justice. Her award-winning films include Made in China, Incorrigible, and the web series Ruby’s Plan B. Lee received a Gemini Award (renamed Canadian Screen Award) and a Leo Award for her contributions to multicultural storytelling. In addition to her filmmaking, she taught film and history at UBC as well as at the China-Canada Program at SFU, and continues to amplify BIPOC and diasporic narratives in Canadian media.
Daniel Chen
Filmmaker
Daniel Chen 陈丹宁 explores themes of belonging, migration, and cultural identity through documentary storytelling. Having lived between Los Angeles, Beijing, and Vancouver, his work is shaped by shifting ideas of “home” and by innocent yet difficult questions from family relatives such as, “Which country do you like more — China or Canada?”
He has contributed to story-telling projects and exhibitions such as the A Seat at the Table, Paper Trail, and Becoming 雲起. Alongside his creative output, Daniel works on the heritage planning team at the City of Burnaby, most recently supporting the Apology for Historic Discrimination Against People of Chinese Descent.
Sky Walker Choir Collective
Musical Performer
Sky Walker Choir Collective is a Vancouver-based pop choir formed in 2026, performing primarily in Cantonese and Mandarin. Mentored by Dino Acconci of Soler, the ensemble is shaped by folk- and rock-informed vocal techniques, with a strong focus on emotional expression and musical storytelling. Under the direction of music director Addison Wong, Sky Walker brings together singers committed to artistic growth and collaborative music-making. Following an enthusiastic reception at their debut appearance at the Jade Music Festival and LunarFest, Sky Walker continues to share performances defined by passion, musical richness, and refined craftsmanship.
About The Girl with Big Feet
In a deeply resonant tale of female emancipation and cultural adaptation, The Girl with Big Feet (Ts’ekooyaz Buke Ncha) explores self-determination and the painful choices immigrant families face as they navigate a new land. The film stands out not only for its poignant message but for its use of four languages—Dakelh (Southern Carrier), Chinook Jargon, Toisanese, and English—reflecting the complex multicultural reality of early settler life in British Columbia.
Set in 1800s Barkerville during the Gold Rush, The Girl with Big Feet follows seven-year-old Foo-Ling, a spirited Chinese girl whose joyful world in the forest with her First Nations friend Chilh is threatened by the arrival of a Chinese foot binder. As tradition collides with possibility, Foo-Ling must prove to her parents that her unbound feet are not a liability, but a strength in the new world.
About Gim: The Life and Legacy of a Chinese Canadian
Gim: The Life and Legacy of a Chinese Canadian traces the life of the late Second World War veteran and lifelong motorcyclist Gim Wong through his children’s memories. In 2005, Gim embarked on an extraordinary cross-country ride, at 82 years of age, to demand recognition and reconciliation for the Chinese Head Tax. Through candid conversations with Gim’s children, old photo scrapbooks, and a funky music video, the film paints a portrait of Gim Wong as an innovator, a family man, and ultimately a symbol of resilience in the face of systemic exclusion.
Family Discovery
Our monthly Family Discovery programs welcome visitors of all ages!
Turn your museum visit into a memorable experience with our Family Discovery days, with programs designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection across generations.
Our Family Discovery days often feature a vibrant mix of hands-on art-making, interactive story times, special museum tours, and engaging activities that celebrate Chinese cultural holidays and bring the themes of our current exhibitions to life.
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July 1 at the Museum
Join us this July 1 in celebrating Chinese Canadian legacies and culture. From conversations around historical memory, creative crafts, and a special musical performance, there’s something for the whole family!
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“Clan of the Painted Lady” Film Screening & Director Q&A
Join director Jennifer Chiu for a special screening of her latest film exploring her Hakka-Canadian heritage, followed by an audience Q&A.
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Wearing the Cheongsam: Chinese Canadian Identity Through Fashion
Join Cheryl Sim and Mia Wu, owner and senior tailor at Modernize Tailors, for a presentation discussion on contemporary cheongsam trends, garment production, and cultural appropriation.
