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TIFF Community Impact “Exclusion: Beyond the Silence”
Posted: April 29, 2025
Screening on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at Cinema 3 – Piers Handling Cinema at 7 p.m.
To commemorate Asian Heritage Month, TIFF Community Impact is honoured to present a free screening of award-winning actor and playwright Keira Loughran’s feature debut, Exclusion: Beyond the Silence.
This intimate documentary follows two granddaughters, Keira Loughran and Helen Lee, as they trace the bold legacies of their grandmothers, Jean Lumb and Foon Hay Lum, who fought for family reunification in the face of the discriminatory Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, better known as the Chinese Exclusion Act. Travelling across Canada and to China, Loughran explores the Act’s profound personal, familial, and cultural impacts on Chinese Canadian communities and documents artist-activists and cultural organizations working to amplify Chinese Canadian experiences.
Following the screening, director Keira Loughran, Helen Lee, Justin Poy, and a representative from CCCGT join us for an onstage conversation about the making of the film, the impact of exclusionary practices and legislation on immigrant communities, and the resilient histories and present realities of Chinese Canadians.
This event is presented in collaboration with the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto (CCCGT). CCCGT is a dynamic multicultural hub that aims to promote and preserve Chinese culture and heritage in the context of Canadian society.
Helen Lee has been a dedicated leader and advocate within the Chinese community, her church, and, more recently, as a passionate voice for residents and families in long-term care. With more than 30 years of experience in the Ontario Public Service, Lee spearheaded innovative initiatives in human resources, labour relations, and change management. She retired early to spend time with her grandmother, Foon Hay Lum, who moved into long-term care at the remarkable age of 107. Following her grandmother’s passing, Lee emerged as a prominent Seniors’ Advocate, championing improvements in long-term care and advocating for the preservation of public health care. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Halton Health Coalition. Lee’s outstanding contributions were recognized with the Orville Thacker Award from the Ontario Health Coalition, honouring her exceptional commitment to enhancing public health care for seniors in Ontario. Her involvement in the documentary Exclusion: Beyond the Silence revealed her deep connection to a lineage of strong, independent women, inspiring her ongoing mission to create meaningful change.
