Chinese Canadian Museum announces new exhibition to honour Chinese Canadian war veterans
Set to open in 2025, the Exhibition is produced with the Chinese Canadian Military Museum in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the end of WWII
Vancouver, BC (November 4, 2024) – The Chinese Canadian Museum is honoured to announce its plans for a new exhibition, developed in collaboration with the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, to honour the dedication and sacrifices of Chinese Canadian war veterans from the First World War and Second World War.
Scheduled to launch in the spring of 2025 during the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, the dedicated military exhibition “A Soldier for All Seasons” will feature heartfelt and poignant stories of brave Chinese Canadians. Initially rejected for war service, Chinese Canadians later became instrumental in assisting the Allies in a Second World War victory, and securing equal rights for all Chinese in Canada. The exhibition demonstrates how by the end of the war, Chinese Canadians were serving in every branch of the armed forces around the world despite not being recognized as Canadian citizens.
“With Remembrance Day coming up, it is important to recognize, honour and remember the lives and sacrifices of courageous Canadians who fought so valiantly in war conflicts around the world, including the efforts of Chinese Canadians,” explains Grace Wong, Board Chair of the Chinese Canadian Museum. “We are honoured to announce our plans, in collaboration with the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, for a dedicated WWII war exhibition that pays tribute to Chinese Canadians who volunteered to join the Canadian forces, despite not being recognized as Canadian citizens.”
Currently under construction and designed by a curatorial team including Catherine Clement, “A Soldier for All Seasons” delves into the history and journeys of valiant Chinese Canadians who volunteered and served in every branch of the Canadian armed forces in WWII. Many of them were born in Canada, yet were not recognized as Canadian citizens as indicated on their identity cards with the line, “this certificate does not establish legal status in Canada.”
When they initially tried to enlist, most were rejected solely based on their race and were seen as inferior. But when Japan invaded Southeast Asia in 1941, the Allied forces were looking for Asian soldiers who could blend in and conduct espionage missions. This paved the way for the more than 600 Chinese Canadians who joined the WWII efforts, many of whom saw this as an opportunity to gain citizenship for their contributions to Canada.
“Chinese Canadian soldiers played an instrumental role in the Allied war efforts during WWII, as many of them were specifically trained in espionage to serve as secret agents behind enemy lines in Asia,” explains Randall (Bud) Wong, President of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum. “It was because of the immense contributions and sacrifices of these Chinese Canadian soldiers, that forced the Canadian government to finally repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act after the war in 1947 and accept Chinese Canadians as true citizens of Canada.”
More details of the “A Soldier for All Seasons” exhibition will be released in early 2025. For more information about the Chinese Canadian Museum and its current exhibitions, please visit www.ChineseCanadianMuseum.ca.
About the Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society | https://www.ccmms.ca
The Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society (CCMMS) was founded in 1998. Its mandate has been to collect, preserve, document and commemorate the role of Chinese Canadians in service to Canada’s military with a focus on the role these “unwanted soldiers” played in the community’s efforts to achieve full equal rights in Canada. Today, the society also works to educate a new generation of Canadians on the role the Chinese played in Canada’s history.
About the Chinese Canadian Museum | chinesecanadianmuseum.ca
The Chinese Canadian Museum Society of British Columbia is an independent, non-profit organization established in March 2020 to create a museum honouring and sharing Chinese Canadian history, contributions, and living heritage. Guided by its mission statement “Connecting to the Chinese Canadian story – addressing inclusion for all”, the Chinese Canadian Museum aspires to provide an invigorating and transformative experience for present and future generations through its exhibitions and educational programming throughout B.C. and Canada.
The first of its kind in Canada, the Chinese Canadian Museum opened to the public in 2023, and is located in the historic Wing Sang Building in Vancouver Chinatown.
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