LiterASIAN Ottawa Festival 2025

 

LiterASIAN Festival is back by popular demand!  Get ready for an exciting evening of literary exploration at the LiterASIAN Festival in Ottawa on September 15 at Perfect Books! Featuring a stellar lineup of talented writers, this event promises a captivating experience as Wayne Ng, Rachel Phan, Jinwoo Park, and Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio come together to share their voices and stories. Celebrate the rich diversity of Asian Canadian literature through readings, discussions, and opportunities to connect with emerging and established authors. Don’t miss this chance to be part of an inspiring celebration of culture, storytelling, and community. Mark your calendars — we’ll see you there!

LiterASIAN 2025 presents "The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act" Book Launch with Catherine Clement

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The 2025 LiterASIAN Festival arrived with the theme of "Origins," an exploration of heritage and resilience that reflects two significant milestones: the 30th anniversary of the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop (ACWW) and the centennial of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Join award-winning Chinese Canadian community historian, curator, and author Catherine Clement as she explores the human experience of the Chinese Exclusion Act through the stories of the lives it touched – and those featured in her new book, The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act.  The stories in this book reveal haunting tales of tragedy, loss, and despair, as well as powerful examples of courage, perseverance, and resilience. They chronicle the lives of ordinary people caught in extraordinary times. Many of these stories are being shared publicly for the first time.     This event took place at the Chinese Canadian Museum on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

Book Launch and Military Exhibition Tour on July 10, at the Chinese Canadian Museum

Join us on Thursday, July 10, at the Chinese Canadian Museum!  Take a special guided tour of A Soldier for All Seasons, then join author Jack Wang for a reading and conversation about The Riveter, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.

Registration Link

 

 

Chinatown Fiesta on July 26, 2025!

 

Join the ultimate Chinatown Fiesta: Sip tropical drinks, savor street tacos, and dance to live music—wear your Hawaiian shirt and celebrate summer before the fireworks light up the night!

Today in History 30 Years Ago -- Go-For-Broke Revue

 

In the fall of 1995, the Asian Canadian Performing Arts Resource (ACPAR), co-founded by Jim Wong-Chu, launched the Go-For-Broke Revue at Vancouver’s Firehall Arts Centre. This multi-day festival showcased Asian Canadian cultural performances and was an early milestone in celebrating Asian heritage in Canada. As a precursor to Asian Heritage Month, the Revue brought together artists, writers, and performers to build community and amplify the voices of Asian Canadians on stage.

The Riveter Book Launch with Jack Wang on July 6

Step into 1940s Vancouver and war-torn Europe through the pages of The Riveter, a powerful new novel by award-winning author Jack Wang. This sweeping love story follows a Chinese Canadian man who defies racism to fight in WWII—and to find his way back to the woman he loves. Don’t miss an afternoon of unforgettable storytelling, insightful conversation, and a book signing with the author.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jack Wang is the award-winning author of We Two Alone, a celebrated story collection exploring the Chinese diaspora. His work has received numerous accolades, including the Danuta Gleed Literary Award and recognition from Canada Reads, the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, and the Journey Prize. He has held fellowships internationally and remains a vital voice in Canadian literature.

Sunday, July 6, 2025
3:00 - 4:00 pm

Chinatown Storytelling Centre

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Registration