New Vancouver exhibit highlights Chinese Canadian soldiers of the Second World War

An exhibit showcasing the bravery and sacrifice of Chinese Canadian soldiers during the Second World War opens this week.

A new exhibit opening this week in downtown Vancouver showcases the often-overlooked history of Chinese Canadian soldiers who fought during the Second World War.

The grand opening of A Soldier for All Seasons: Chinese Canadians in the Second World War at the Chinese Canadian Museum coincides with Asian Heritage Month and the 80th anniversary of the end of fighting in Europe.

The display aims to honour the men and women who served Canada despite not having full citizenship, a sacrifice that contributed to the eventual repealing of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1947.

“I want people to know that the World War II veterans were really important for the Chinese Canadian community because today we would not have the right to vote without them giving up their lives to fight in the war for Canada,” Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee, CEO of the museum, told CTV News.

The immersive exhibit includes a 3D “holobox” that shows actors recounting the wartime memories of real soldiers.

“We hope to use new, cutting-edge technology to tell these stories of World War II to make sure that these stories are not lost and not forgotten,” she said.

A Soldier for All Seasons opens to the public on Wednesday.