International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas Conference 2016
I was thrilled to take part as a PCHC volunteer in this year’s ISSCO Conference 2016, hosted in the Sheraton YVR Airport Hotel from July 6-8. In total, PCHC provided a team of over thirty volunteers to support the conference from the beginning to the end of the day for the entirety of the conference.
Bearing PCHC’s orange hourglass logo on our name-tags, us volunteers manned tables, assisted during panels, and remained on standby to support the ISSCO organizers. It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to talk to individuals from the opposite side of the globe who were interested in Asian-Canadian relations and migration. Academics from China, Australia, Canada, and other countries stopped by our table and expressed great interest in our dream!
As volunteers, we had a fantastic time listening in on fascinating seminars, meeting and engaging with people from all over the world, going out for wonton noodle soup or dim sum for lunch, and laughing together at the table as we sold books and promoted PCHC’s dream. We also had the opportunity to view unique Chinese items and artefacts from the Ing Association Collection. As PCHC had partnered with the Ing Association to put on an exhibit two years ago, they were able to put on a mini-version of that exhibit for viewing at the conference. It was fascinating to take a look at these items that helped to tell a story about Chinese-Canadian history!
Thanks to all the other volunteers who dedicated their time to representing PCHC at the conference. Your hard work and help was much appreciated!
“I am impressed by the caliber of people in your team of volunteers!” – Dr. Glen Peterson, social and cultural historian of modern China, UBC
“For national unity, identity, and cohesiveness, there needs to be a greater understanding of our roots, appreciation of the sacrifices and trials of our forefathers and the fruits of that in the freedom we enjoy these days. And to know how we as individuals contribute to community and society. A museum will be instrumental.” – Ron Ng, a dedicated volunteer who flew in from Edmonton especially for the conference
“Thank you for welcoming me as a volunteer – I look forward to your PCHC-MoM events in the future! Thanks for all the community engagement work you’ve done so far!!” – Volunteer Amanda Wan
After the conference, PCHC also hosted two events — a dim sum lunch, where we gathered with attendees of the conference to discuss what we had learned, and a Chinese-Cuban Connections dialogue, where we gathered academics together to learn about the relationship between Cubans and Chinese migrants. We were told by a few participants that it was the highlight of their trip!
“Canada needs a museum on immigration from Asia, similar to Pier 21 in Halifax. Vancouver would be an ideal location for this museum.” – Wendy Jang
For photos of the conference, please see here:
https://issco2016.shutterfly.com/
To view existing photos, select the album ‘ISSCO 2016: July 6- 8, 2016‘ which contains beautiful photographs by PCHC photographer Josie Chow.
To re-live the conference through awesome live tweets compiled by Dominique Bautista, see here: