A project that shared stories of York Region's Chinese community, beginning with a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the documenting of historical and contemporary racism, is to receive the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming.
Standing in the Doorway: Lived Histories and Experiences of the Chinese Community is being recognized for fostering a greater understanding of York Region’s Chinese heritage, according to a news release.
Markham Museum and the York Region District School Board Museum and Archives, along with the Tribute to Early Chinese Immigrants Foundation Canada and the University of Toronto, worked together on the ambitious, multi-faceted project.
The Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming honours innovative projects that encourage greater public interest and engagement in the past. The 2024 laureates will receive their awards from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, governor general of Canada, at an upcoming ceremony.
“Standing in the Doorway reminds us that Canada’s history contains both pain and triumph,” Melony Ward, president and CEO of Canada’s National History Society, said in the news release. “This outstanding project wove together so many important threads from the past, adding to what we know about our country and deepening our understanding of what it means to be Canadian.”
Although Standing in the Doorway began with a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the documenting of historical and contemporary racism, it didn’t end there. Drawing on new oral histories, loaned artifacts, and family archives, the project team highlighted the richness and diversity of York Region’s Chinese community in areas such as the arts, culture, and sport. They created a website, a physical exhibition to tour other museums, and a travelling school program with educational resources.
Central to it all were the personal stories shared by members of the local Chinese community. The project ultimately engaged more than 500 participants in its creation, and succeeded in emphasizing the importance of representing, acknowledging, and affirming the lived experiences, histories, and stories that are often underrepresented when we talk about Canadian history.
“This award is a profound honour and a testament to the dedication and collaborative spirit of the community and project partners behind Standing in the Doorway,” said Janet Reid, curator of the Markham Museum.
“The invaluable contributions of our advisers, participants, educators, students, and families were crucial to the success of this project. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Canada’s History Society for this recognition and to the Chinese community in York Region for their active involvement in sharing this important story,” added Rebekah Mitchell, curator of the York Region District School Board Museum and Archives.
The Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming is administered by Canada’s History Society. A panel of highly respected judges follows a rigorous process to select one recipient organization or project from a francophone community and one from an anglophone community. Each receives a $2,500 prize.
To learn more about the Governor General’s History Awards and the other 2024 recipients, visit CanadasHistory.ca/GGHA2024.
