Hearts of Freedom - Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees Exhibition Opening at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.
“After the Vietnam War, Canada welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Many fled on makeshift boats to escape harsh conditions under the communist regime. Between 1979 and 1980, an estimated 60,000 refugees arrived in Canada, most of whom had endured days at sea and vicious pirate attacks. Canadians offered to sponsor their journey to Canada in response to the crisis.
Hearts of Freedom is a Canadian Southeast Asian Historical Research Project. This initiative stems from the desire of the Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian communities to preserve the history of their refugee experience and resettlement in Canada.”
Program includes a performance of Vivian Fung's Silhouettes for Solo Erhu/Violin with violinist Karl Stobbe