ALPHA Education

August 6, 1945 - Hiroshima.
August 9, 1945 - Nagasaki.

Yoshimura Kichisuke was 18 when the bomb dropped. Years later, he drew what he saw on the riverbank: figures moving wordlessly, skin hanging, clothes in shreds. He called them "from another world." We remember by listening to those who were there.

Friendships make peace possible 😁

One day. Two laws.

July 20, 1885. Chinese Canadians helped build this country, and were then banned from voting in it. Remembering is how we start giving back the voices that were taken.

On July 7, 1937, fighting broke out at the Marco Polo Bridge near Beijing, reportedly sparked by the disappearance of a single Japanese soldier.

What followed were failed negotiations and rapidly escalating tensions, which turned into Japan’s full-scale invasion of China, the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

The war would last eight years, claim millions of lives, and impact generations to come.

July 1st is not just Canada Day. For Chinese Canadian communities, it is often known as “Humiliation Day.” A day that marks the anniversary of the Chinese Immigration Act (more commonly known as the “Chinese Exclusion Act”), enacted in 1923.

This law banned nearly all Chinese immigration to Canada, separated families for decades, and systematically blocked economic and social participation. It was repealed only in 1947.

The above 1918 immigration certificate of Wong Lee is one of thousands of documents that bear witness to the anti-Chinese racism that prevailed in Canada, well before the Chinese Exclusion Act. In 1885, the Canadian government introduced a head tax to discourage immigration to Canada. From 1885 to 1952, C.I. certificates were solely issued for Chinese residents, a constant reminder of their second-class status in Canada.

Remembering this history is part of building a more just and honest Canada.

Since 1996, June 21 has been National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day of spiritual and cultural significance for generations of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities; marking a time of renewal, connection, and celebration.

Today is World Refugee Day. Every person who seeks refuge deserves to be welcomed, not merely tolerated. Displacement is not inevitable; it is the result of failures we have the power to address.

Sexual violence in conflict is not an unavoidable consequence of war. It is a weapon. Survivors deserve acknowledgement, truth, justice and reparations.

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈 This June, we honour the resilience and joy of LGBTQ+ communities around the world. We remain committed to the ongoing work toward a more inclusive world where everyone is seen, valued, and celebrated.

On National Indigenous History Month, we honour the strength, resilience, and rich heritage of Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Did you know? Indigenous soldiers, proud Métis, Cree, and Anishinaabe members among them, served in WWII as part of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and Royal Rifles of Canada, fighting in the Battle of Hong Kong.

The HKVCA's Indigenous Veterans Project is helping bring these long-overlooked stories to light!