The Huron County Museum, in collaboration with the Huron County Local Immigration Partnership, is hosting a special event in honour of Welcoming Week on September 19th.
The evening will feature a screening of the Canadian drama film Ru, followed by a panel discussion reflecting on the local response to the refugee crisis of the 1980s. This marks the start of the museum’s annual Multilingual Movie Nights film series according to Curator of Engagement and Dialogue at the Huron County Museum and historic Gaol, Sinead Cox.
The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the screening of Ru, a film based on the award-winning novel by Kim Thúy. Ru tells the story of Tinh, a young girl from Vietnam, who moves to rural Quebec with her family after fleeing the turmoil in her home country.
Following the film, a panel discussion will take place around 8:30 p.m., featuring local residents who were involved in sponsoring refugees or who themselves arrived in Canada as refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos during the 1980s.
This period saw a large number of Southeast Asian families seeking safety and new beginnings in Canada, including in Huron County.
This event is part of Welcoming Week, an initiative aimed at celebrating and supporting newcomers to Canada, recognizing their contributions, and fostering a sense of belonging for all. The museum’s Multilingual Movie Nights, beginning with Ru, are a celebration of the many languages and cultures that make up Huron County.
In addition to the screening and panel discussion, guests will be treated to a light snack and a choice of hot or cold drinks. The event is free to attend, though donations are welcomed. To help the museum prepare for the event, attendees are encouraged to pre-register on Eventbrite, though walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits. Pre-registration will close one hour before the event begins.
Future screenings in the Multilingual Movie Nights series will be included with regular admission to the museum. Admission is free for those with a Huron County library card or museum membership.
Written by: K. Milhomens
