Passageways: A Pocket Edition of Odysseys and Migration
Exploring Chinese Migration, Belonging, and Identity in Canada
This is a compact, travelling edition of the Chinese Canadian Museum’s inaugural introduction exhibition Odysseys and Migration. Designed for museums and cultural centres with limited space or infrastructure, this modular display uses flexible pull-up panels to bring key stories of Chinese Canadian migration to a wider range of communities. Featuring rich visuals, personal narratives, and accessible historical context, Passageways offers an adaptable format that makes it possible to share these important histories in alternative locations — inviting reflection, dialogue, and connection wherever it goes.
Curators: Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee, Sarah Ling
Exhibition Design: AldrichPears Associates
Editor: Henry Heng Lu
Curatorial Committee: John Adams, Dr. Imogene Lim, Dr. Tiffanie Ting, Grace Wong
What You’ll Discover
Passageways invites visitors to reflect on questions of home, belonging, and heritage through:
Stories of early connection between Chinese migrants and Indigenous communities
Waves of migration and return between Canada and regions across the globe
Personal narratives that challenge stereotypes and celebrate diasporic identity
A global lens on Chinese Canadian history that links past to present
This pocket edition serves as a prelude to the full Odysseys and Migration exhibit, offering a compelling introduction to the Chinese Canadian Museum’s broader exploration of diaspora, place, and identity.
Why It Matters
Migration is not a single moment—it is an ongoing passage that defines who we are and how we connect. This exhibit challenges simplified views of Chinese Canadian history and reminds us that these stories stretch across oceans, generations, and identities.
Exhibit Highlights
Early Encounters: Chinese-Indigenous relations on the West Coast, beginning in the 18th century
Global Movements: 20th–21st century migrations from Africa and Southeast Asia to Canada
Vancouver as a Hub: Ongoing transpacific connections with Hong Kong
Reflections on Identity: How diaspora communities shape—and reshape—what it means to be Chinese Canadian
