Banquet of Stories 2025
Roots & Routes Migration Stories
Where food, migration, and community meet
About the Banquet
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100+ Guests
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Local Restaurateurs
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Live Music & Spoken Word
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A Panel of Community Leaders
Throughout the afternoon, guests were transported through stories of migration and belonging. Poet Marlo Browne shared powerful spoken-word reflections on the difficult journeys made by migrant workers to Canada, while musician Javier Tarazona provided guitar performances that created a warm and reflective atmosphere.
At the centre of the Banquet were four local restaurateurs who shared both their culinary traditions and personal migration journeys. Guests enjoyed delicious dishes prepared by Ahmet Gurses of Mediterranean Specialty Foods Turkish Market, Alwaleed Ogbah of Saba Foods Middle Eastern Yemeni Restaurant, Christina Tamayo of Kulinarya Filipino Eatery, and Louis Bui of Broyé Café and Bakery. As each course was served, attendees heard stories of perseverance, entrepreneurship, and cultural preservation, learning how these newcomers transformed challenges into opportunities while building businesses that enrich Vancouver's diverse food landscape.
On a sunny fall afternoon, more than 100 guests gathered at the Museum of Vancouver for the Pacific Canada Heritage Centre - Museum of Migration Society's annual Banquet of Stories. The theme of the 2025 event was "Roots & Routes Migration Stories", as a celebration of the rich cultural tapestry of Pacific Canada through storytelling, food, music, and community connection.
The afternoon opened with welcoming remarks from Co-Presidents Lucy Sun and Stan de Mello, along with a Haida-language welcome by director Taanggunaay Grinder, and a moving land acknowledgement, ceremonial song, and drumming by Cree Elder Curtis Ahenakew.
A highlight of the event was a panel discussion moderated by director Tariq Malik. Panelists Kathy King, Vice President of Procurement Strategy at Ocean Brands, and Paul Yuen, Co-Founder and President of Bodwell High School, reflected on their experiences of migration, settlement, identity, and belonging. They shared lessons about resilience, adaptability, patience, and compassion, offering insights into both the challenges and opportunities that accompany building a life in a new country.
While the stories and food were memorable, the true success of the Banquet of Stories was the sense of community it fostered. Strangers shared tables, exchanged experiences, and discovered common ground through conversation and cuisine. People from different backgrounds gathered not simply as attendees but as participants in a shared story of migration, culture, and belonging. By the end of the afternoon, new friendships had formed, cultures had been celebrated, and attendees left with a deeper appreciation for the many journeys that have shaped Pacific Canada.
The Pacific-Canada Heritage Centre - Museum of Migration Society is grateful to have received funding from the Government of Canada through the Heritage Canada Grant, as well as Heritage BC.
Watch & See
Relive the afternoon in photos and video.
Video credit: Edison Cai
Photo credit: Anuoluwapo Adeleke
In the Press
As featured in Reyfort Media
"Banquet of Stories: Roots and Routes"
Sponsors and Partners
Huge thanks to our sponsors and partners for making this magic happen!
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Join Us in 2026
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Our Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission
As an inclusive charitable organization, we curate the collective im/migration histories to educate and foster belonging in Pacific Canada while acknowledging our role as guests on unceded Indigenous lands.
Values
We value a community built on principles of belonging, collaboration, education, empowerment, inclusivity and responsibility. These values guide our actions as we work towards equitable community relations and promote intercultural exchange.
Vision
We aspire to broaden Pacific Canada's collective migration narrative to include historically marginalized people's lived experiences and to create a space where all are welcomed and respected.