Agenda
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Opening of Exhibition Program and Tour
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Film Screening and Q/A
United College at the University of Waterloo and the Balsille School of International Affairs are proud to host Hearts of Freedom: Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees.
Join us for a FREE day of events at theBalsillie School of International Affairs on Saturday October 26th. Explore the exhibit, hear inspiring speakers, enjoy delicious food, and stay for the screening of Passage to Freedom, a 50-minute documentary featuring the powerful oral histories of Southeast Asian refugees that made the dangerous journeys from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam to Canada.
About the exhibit: Hearts of Freedom – Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees
This exhibition focuses on the incredible stories of Southeast Asian refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The impact of the Vietnam War, the Lao Secret War, and the Cambodian Genocide forced millions to flee their homelands and to seek safety in other countries. These courageous refugees risked their lives, journeyed to different host countries, and travelled thousands of miles to Canada. The exhibition tells the stories of these survivors, in their own words and through their unique perspectives, adding to the fabric of the Canadian history of immigration.
Creator and Curator: Stephanie Phetsamay Stobbe
About the film: Passage to Freedom
The film features powerful 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. The Canadian response to the refugee crisis was recognized internationally with the UNHCR Nansen Medal in 1986. The 50-minute 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.
Producer: Sheila Petzold
Researchers: Peter Duschinsky, Colleen Lundy, Michael Molloy, Allan Moscovitch, and Stephanie Phetsamay Stobbe