Guided Tour of “The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act”
Join Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee, CEO of the Chinese Canadian Museum, for a guided tour of The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act. Through original archival documents, personal stories, photographs, and rarely exhibited Certificates of Identity (C.I.s), the exhibition traces the history of Chinese migration to Canada, the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and the resilience of Chinese Canadian communities in the face of systemic discrimination. The tour explores how these personal “paper trails” reveal broader questions of identity, belonging, citizenship, and the ongoing legacy of exclusion in Canada.
This tour will be approximately 45 min, with time for Q & A at the end. This tour is open to all ages, however the content may be most suited to ages 12+.
This FREE tour is included with a Museum All Attractions Pass. Pre-registration is required at the link below. Space is limited.
Tour Details:
Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026
Time: 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: Please meet in the Welcome Gallery at 1:30 pm
If you have questions about this tour, please contact Erin Buelow, Learning & Engagement Producer, at EBuelow@ManitobaMuseum.ca.
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About Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee
Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee is the CEO of the Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver. She holds degrees from McGill University, the University of Canterbury, and Lancaster University, where she completed her Ph.D. on the Chinese diaspora. Fluent in English and Cantonese, she is a curator, educator, and cultural leader dedicated to advancing the understanding of Chinese Canadian history and culture through museums, exhibitions, and public engagement. She curated Dream Factory, recipient of the 2025 Canadian Museums Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Exhibitions, and is passionate about using museums as spaces for dialogue, community building, and social change.