The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act was a landmark public history project that commemorated the 100^th anniversary of this tragic yet largely forgotten period in Canadian history. 

The unprecedented law, which targeted only the Chinese community, was in place for a quarter century and remains among the most tragic episodes in the country’s history. Yet this story, that left such profound effects on the individuals and families it touched, has been steeped in silence. Almost nothing about this period was shared by those who lived through it. Consequently, within a single generation, the trauma of exclusion was forgotten. The Paper Trail project was designed to restore some of that lost memory.

BOOK COMING JUNE 24, 2025

This is the first book to explore the broad range of human experience of exclusion as revealed through the stories of the lives it touched. The stories in these pages reveal haunting tales of tragedy, loss and despair as well as powerful examples of courage, perseverance, and resilience. Tis the first to explore the broad range of “human experiences” of exclusion as revealed through the stories of the many lives it touched. The pages 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. Crowdsourced from the fragments of memories of hundreds of Chinese Canadian families across Canada, as well as extensive and painstaking research, many stories and images are being shared publicly for the very first time.

Some feel this is a book that should be in the library of every Chinese Canadian family. A book that should be part of every family archive … and an heirloom to be passed down from one generation to the next.

CANADIAN BOOK TOUR

Take advantage of this rare opportunity. Hear award-winning community historian and author Catherine Clement share the findings of her landmark project which excavated stories of what really happened during this dark yet long-ignored period of Canadian history. Admission is free but you will need to register to reserve your seats.