A pair of compelling Okanagan documentary videos — one about the Okanagan’s first Chinese Canadian teacher and long-time Kelowna city councillor Ben Lee, and one about the stories of Westbank First Nation women — are featured in a public event that opens UBC Okanagan’s “Racism Matters” week on March 16.
Documenting Diversity: Okanagan Voices will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Monday, March 16, in the Rotary Centre for the Arts’ Mary Irwin Theatre (421 Cawston Ave.) in Kelowna. It is one of several public events organized by the university’s faculty, students and community partners to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The featured documentaries are Dragon Tracks: The Ben Lee Story, produced by the Kelowna Community Resources Society and the Intercultural Society of Central Okanagan, and Stories from Westbank First Nation Women, by Gayle Liman, Research Curator for the Westbank First Nation.
“Documenting Diversity is a wonderful opportunity to hear some of the stories from people in the region who by way of their determined spirit have played pivotal roles in the development of the Okanagan,” says Karen Ragoonaden, assistant professor of education at UBC Okanagan. “This evening is a great way to kick off the week of events leading up to March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.”
After the screenings, moderators will lead a question and answer period. Refreshments will be served, and the audience will be invited to meet the guests of honour, Ben Lee and Gayle Liman.
For information about contact Karen Ragoonaden at karen.ragoonaden@ubc.ca or Jannik Eikenaar at jeikenaar@yahoo.ca.
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