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Film Screening of Passage to Freedom

Plan Your Visit

Visit the Canadian Museum of History to watch a powerful documentary, Passage to Freedom, and meet the filmmaker, researchers, and interviewees.

Passage to Freedom is a moving documentary that features oral histories of Southeast Asian refugees that made the dangerous journeys from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam to Canada. The film effectively weaves archival clips of news stories, wartime footage, and interviews with former refugees and Canadian immigration officials. Canada resettled over 100,000 Southeast Asian refugees from 1975 to 1985. The Canadian response to the refugee crisis was recognized internationally with the UNHCR Nansen Medal in 1986. The film delves into the journey of the refugees’ integration into the fabric of Canadian life and highlights the contributions of this first generation and their descendants. After the screening, there will be a question-and-answer session with the filmmaker, researchers, and interviewees. End the evening with a visit to the Hearts of Freedom – Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees exhibition and a reception with light refreshments.

Content advisory: This film features coarse language and graphic first-hand accounts of physical, psychological, and sexual violence.

Event Schedule

5:00 – 6:30 p.m: French version of the film plays in the Theatre. Visitors are invited to visit the Hearts of Freedom exhibition.
6:35 – 8:30 p.m.: English version of the film plays. Visitors are invited to visit the Hearts of Freedom exhibition.
8:40 p.m.: Question-and-answer session with the filmmaker, researchers, and interviewees. Offered in English with French live simultaneous translation.
9:15 – 10:00 p.m.: Self-guided visit of the Hearts of Freedom exhibition and a reception where light refreshments will be served in the Theatre foyer.

Reserve tickets here.

Photo at top of page:
Canadian Immigration Historical Society, Henry Neufeld, and Margaret Tebbutt.

 

Dates & Times
English French
Thursday, April 6, 2023
5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.