On Thursday, July 17th, Pacific Canada Heritage Centre – Museum of Migration Society (PCHC-MoM) hosted its first-ever Open House at the Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) Office located at 2610 Victoria Drive. ISSofBC is a non-profit organization that supports newcomers and refugees in British Columbia. Dr. Patsy George CM OBC MSW LL.D, a long-time activist and community leader who serves as an Advisor to PCHC-MoM, was pivotal in securing this office space for our organization. PCHC-MoM is honoured and proud to now call this space our home.

The Open House also marked a significant milestone in our organization’s journey and served as an opportunity to introduce our mission and vision to community partners, new collaborators, staff from ISS of BC staff and fellow organizations. It was also a chance to build meaningful collaborations and foster long-term relationships rooted in shared values and community care.

Attendees included PCHC-MoM’s collaborative partners, such as representatives from Capilano University, including Carrie Jung, as well as PCHC-MoM Board Members Stan de Mello, David Pais, and Pat Parungao (our immediate past President), and Advisor Hayne Wai. We were especially honoured to be joined by long-time supporter and activist Dr. Patsy George CM OBC MSW LL.D.

We would also like to acknowledge our dedicated volunteers who made the event possible: KK Chu, Carmen Tarazona, and Gina Chu, as well as our Summer Digital Content Curators, Javier Tarazona and Alexandra Anokwuru.

The Open House also marked a celebration of International Nelson Mandela Day (July 18th), which added depth and meaning to our event by honouring the legacy of Nelson Mandela, the global icon for justice, peace, and reconciliation. Established by the United Nations in 2009, Nelson Mandela Day is a call to action encouraging acts of community service in recognition of his life’s work.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was a heartfelt talk by Dr. Patsy George, who had the rare honour of meeting Nelson Mandela in person while working as a public servant for the provincial government and volunteering with the United Nations in Canada. She reflected on her moment with Mandela and shared powerful insights into his life and legacy. Dr. George touched on the immense challenges faced by Mandela during his 27 years in prison, the brutal realities of apartheid, and the stigma and devastation of the HIV/AIDs crisis in South Africa during his presidency. She emphasized his unwavering courage, compassion, and commitment to justice, even in the face of suffering and hardship. Her words reminded all in attendance that the fight for freedom and dignity is ongoing and must be carried forward with the same conviction Mandela showed.

The event was a tremendous success. Many attendees expressed how deeply they resonated with PCHC’s values. It helped give people a sense of community and belonging. These are values that deeply reflect PCHC’s mission and purpose. Finally, Dr. George reminded us that Mandela’s life is not just a story of political change but of profound human resilience and moral leadership, values that PCHC-MoM strives to embody every day.