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Home Made Visible collection English
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1968 Summer - Niagara Falls; 1970 Summer - Toronto

Donor contributed description follows: "Item consists of a Chinese family's home movie featuring adults and children by the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, and family members taking care of a baby in a stroller in a Toronto park. On footage: Edward Tzen-hwa (father), Chia-chi (mother), Wendy Ming Yu (elder daughter), Millie Ming Yen (younger daughter), Cecilia Ming Si (baby). Camera: Edward Tzen-hwa Chen, Chia-chi Chen.

Shortly after arriving in Canada in 1968, the Chen family visited Niagara Falls. This clip is the last recorded footage of the elder daughter, Wendy, before she was killed in a car accident in the fall of that year. The next time the camera was picked up was for the birth of the youngest child, Cecilia."

1971 Summer - picnic

Donor contributed description follows: "Item consists of a Chinese family's home movie featuring children and adults playing with a ball at a park in or near Toronto, laying on picnic blankets, and eating. This clip includes friends of the Chen family, most of whom were also recent immigrants from Taiwan. Camera: Edward Tzen-hwa Chen.

The Chens had an immense appreciation for the outdoors and natural landscapes and wanted to nurture this relationship in their children."

1973 Winter - sledding and ice skating

Donor contributed description follows: "Item consists of a Chinese family's home movie featuring winter activities with children and adult sledding and ice skating in High Park, Toronto. On footage: Chia-chi (mother), Millie (elder daughter), Cecilia Chen (younger daughter). Camera: Edward Tzen-hwa Chen.

The Chens had an immense appreciation for the outdoors and natural landscapes and wanted to nurture this relationship in their children."

1976 Aug - swimming

Donor contributed description follows: "Item consists of a Chinese family's home movie featuring children and adults swimming in a lake. The Chen family is swimming with friends at Nickerson State Park, Brewster, Massachusetts. Camera: Edward Tzen-hwa Chen.

The Chens had an immense appreciation for the outdoors and natural landscapes and wanted to nurture this relationship in their children."

1977 Feb - piano concert

Donor contributed description follows: "Item consists of a Chinese family's home movie featuring a girl playing the piano in front of an audience, a woman watering plants at home, and family members in a living room. Millie gives a piano recital at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, followed by shots of the Chen family at home after the concert. Camera: Edward Tzen-hwa Chen.

In this piano recital, Millie was nervous as usual to perform publicly. She was grateful to be wearing her mother’s handmade skirt that was long enough to hide her trembling knees. Mavericks in many ways, Edward and Chia-chi (parents) always encouraged their children to participate in diverse cultural experiences. Millie and Cecilia both trained in the arts and later continued to take part in the arts professionally and in daily life."

1977 Jun - birthday cake

Donor contributed description follows: "Item consists of a Chinese family's home movie featuring two adults and two girls blowing out candles on a birthday cake, reading a booklet titled "Happy Birthday Mom," removing the candles, and slicing the cake. The Chen family is celebrating Chia-chi’s (mother) birthday. On footage: Chia-chi (mother), Millie (elder daughter), Cecilia Chen (younger daughter), Edward Chen (father). Camera: Edward Tzen-hwa Chen."

1977 Mar - public school choir

Donor contributed description follows: "Item consists of a Chinese family's home movie featuring a children’s choir recital. Cecilia is performing with the Runnymede Public School choir in the Sing the Rainbow event. Camera: Edward Tzen-hwa Chen.

Mavericks in many ways, Edward and Chia-chi (parents) always encouraged their children to participate in diverse cultural experiences. Millie and Cecilia both trained in the arts and later continued to take part in the arts professionally and in daily life."

1978 May - cherry blossoms

Donor contributed description follows: "Item consists of a Chinese family's home movie featuring explorations of High Park with children running up and rolling down a hill, children climbing trees, the family enjoying each other’s company surrounded by cherry blossoms, and posing for the camera. On footage: Chia-chi (mother), Millie (elder daughter), Cecilia Chen (younger daughter), Edward Chen (father). Camera: Edward Tzen-hwa Chen, Chia-chi Chen, Millie Chen.

During Cherry Blossom season, the Chen family enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in High Park. Edward (father), who was usually behind the camera, can be seen enjoying the day with his family. Over the years, Chia-chi (mother) and Millie would occasionally take over the filming to get Ed in front of the camera. Chia-chi was particularly teasing and playful on this day. She can be seen laying in the grass kicking up her feet and winking at the camera."

1980 Jan - skating

Donor contributed description follows: "Item consists of a Chinese family's home movie featuring adults and children skating on Grenadier Pond in High Park. On footage: Chia-chi (mother), Millie (elder daughter), Cecilia Chen (younger daughter), Edward Chen (father). Camera: Edward Tzen-hwa Chen, Chia-chi Chen.

The Chens had an immense appreciation for the outdoors and natural landscapes and wanted to nurture this relationship in their children."

3 J.P Birthday 1 year Old 1976 : Part 1 of 4

Item consists of an Argentine-Chilean family’s home movie featuring a party with adults and children dancing, footage of and from the top of the CN tower, a child playing around the house and pool, and a child playing with a soccer ball wearing a 1978 Argentina Championship t-shirt.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "These clips show episodes from Jean-Pierre Marchant's childhood in the mid-1970s Montreal. His parents were immigrants, recently arrived from Argentina and Chile. Throughout Jean-Pierre's childhood, they documented the family's life with a Super 8 camera (and would later switch to video). These clips depict him as a playful child, trips, and well-attended birthday parties. Looking back, Jean-Pierre recognizes that these parties were a big opportunity for the adults to get together and celebrate. The Marchants mostly socialized with people from similar backgrounds, and Jean-Pierre says that 'it was important for my parents, who were trying to make a life in a new place, to associate with others who spoke their language'."

3 J.P Birthday 1 year Old 1976 : Part 2 of 4

Item consists of an Argentine-Chilean family’s home movie featuring adults and children having a barbecue in a park, hanging out in a car, and meeting Santa Claus.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "These clips show episodes from Jean-Pierre Marchant's childhood in the mid-1970s Montreal. His parents were immigrants, recently arrived from Argentina and Chile. Throughout Jean-Pierre's childhood, they documented the family's life with a Super 8 camera (and would later switch to video). These clips depict him as a playful child, trips, and well-attended birthday parties. Looking back, Jean-Pierre recognizes that these parties were a big opportunity for the adults to get together and celebrate. The Marchants mostly socialized with people from similar backgrounds, and Jean-Pierre says that "it was important for my parents, who were trying to make a life in a new place, to associate with others who spoke their language."

3 J.P Birthday 1 year Old 1976 : Part 3 of 4

Item consists of an Argentine-Chilean family’s home movie featuring several everyday moments including children playing in the snow during winter and by the pool during the summer, parties and celebrations, a trip to Niagara Falls, and a tour of a house for sale.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "These clips show episodes from Jean-Pierre Marchant's childhood in the mid-1970s Montreal. His parents were immigrants, recently arrived from Argentina and Chile. Throughout Jean-Pierre's childhood, they documented the family's life with a Super 8 camera (and would later switch to video). These clips depict him as a playful child, trips, and well-attended birthday parties. Looking back, Jean-Pierre recognizes that these parties were a big opportunity for the adults to get together and celebrate. The Marchants mostly socialized with people from similar backgrounds, and Jean-Pierre says that 'it was important for my parents, who were trying to make a life in a new place, to associate with others who spoke their language.'"

3 J.P Birthday 1 year Old 1976 : Part 4 of 4

Item consists of an Argentine-Chilean family’s home movie with the first half featuring of children and adults gathered in a garage and backyard, and the second half capturing Niagara Falls during the wintertime.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "These clips show episodes from Jean-Pierre Marchant's childhood in the mid-1970s Montreal. His parents were immigrants, recently arrived from Argentina and Chile. Throughout Jean-Pierre's childhood, they documented the family's life with a Super 8 camera (and would later switch to video). These clips depict him as a playful child, trips, and well-attended birthday parties. Looking back, Jean-Pierre recognizes that these parties were a big opportunity for the adults to get together and celebrate. The Marchants mostly socialized with people from similar backgrounds, and Jean-Pierre says that "it was important for my parents, who were trying to make a life in a new place, to associate with others who spoke their language."

A play in the streets

Item consists of a Japanese-Indian family's home movie featuring several children playing performing a play in the a cul-de-sac and pans out to the audience’s patio sets on the street.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "We’re in a suburban backyard in Ottawa, ON and it’s summer time in 1984. Sonia, age 4 and her younger sister, age 2 are playing with a swing set and an inflatable tipi likely from Canadian Tire. The inflatable has a small hole to pop your head in, and has imagery of the trope of the "Indian" and the "cowboy." This was strange for Sonia to see when revisiting the footage, because this type of imagery likely wouldn’t be sold anymore.

She and her sister are singing songs in Japanese (her mother’s mother tongue) and Marathi (her father’s mother tongue). The Japanese songs are ones she still recalls and sings to her own children. The Marathi songs are familiar, and Sonia recalls her father teaching them to her, but she doesn’t remember their titles, or know what they mean.

Sonia grew up in Ottawa, and moved to Toronto as an adult. Although she was the minority in school as one of two non-white children, she doesn’t remember feeling out of place. Her parents said that other children called her "blacky" but she doesn’t recall this happening.

In relation to Home Made Visible, Sonia says, "The process of drawing out pieces of history and indicating its value, [and] that it deserves to be preserved is incredible""

Acting out play titled Fun with Toy

Item consists of a Chinese-Russian family's home movie.

Project and donor contributed description follows: "George Chan gets Kate and her siblings to act out a play he’s labelled 'Fun with Toy' The toy is the mechanical alligator that came directly from China right before Christmas along with customized clothes. They play doctor and nurse with their new presents, the Ben Casey kits.

Stan, plays a mischievous boy who startles the doctor played by Kate. Linda plays the nurse, and Joyce plays the mother of a sick child (the doll). Kate calls it a 'play toy within a play of toys'."

Airplane : children

Item consists of a home movie featuring the inside of an airplane cabin, family members in their seats, passengers walking the aisles, a flight attendant serving meals, and a screen that reads "please wait system not yet available."

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "In 2004, its Cindy Long’s first time back to Guangzhou, China after immigrating to Canada. She is with her mom and her friend likely at Toronto Pearson International Airport."

Airplane flight

Item consists of a home movie featuring the inside of an airplane cabin, a flight attendant and a beverage cart, and a large screen that reads "please wait system not yet available."

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "In 2004, its Cindy Long’s first time back to Guangzhou, China after immigrating to Canada. She is with her mom and her friend likely at Toronto Pearson International Airport."

Airport waiting area

Item consists of a home movie featuring the moving walkway at the airport.

Project and donor(s) contributed descriptions follows: "In 2004, its Cindy Long’s first time back to Guangzhou, China after immigrating to Canada. She is with her mom and her friend likely at Toronto Pearson International Airport."

Airport waiting area

Item consists of a home movie featuring children waiting at the airport for a flight to Chicago.

Project and donor(s) contributed descriptions follows: "In 2004, its Cindy Long’s first time back to Guangzhou, China after immigrating to Canada. She is with her mom and her friend likely at Toronto Pearson International Airport."

Airport waiting area : ice cream

Item consists of a home movie featuring children eating ice cream at the airport for a flight.

Project and donor(s) contributed descriptions follows: "In 2004, its Cindy Long’s first time back to Guangzhou, China after immigrating to Canada. She is with her mom and her friend likely at Toronto Pearson International Airport."

America/Canada Visit Sep 89 Family Video : part 1 of 4

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie.

Project and donor contributed description follows: "The clip shows a view of the landscape outside of the family’s high-rise window. Seen are full, lush green trees, and in the distance is the Lake Ontario water line. The footage frames the wide six lane Kingston Rd. looking East. The view overlooks a sea of red rooftops, a suburban residential landscape of apartment towers in the distance and detached single family homes."

America/Canada Visit Sep 89 Family Video : part 2 of 4

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie.

Item consists of footage a family travelling to the Metropolitan Toronto Zoological Society. Project and donor contributed description follows: "In this clip, it’s the family’s first visit to Canada so the Jabbars take them to tourist sites. Seen here, the family is entering their vehicle on their way to a day excursion. S’s father is getting into a large vehicle from the late eighties. The car accommodates hand-breaks, since her father could not use his legs due to his disability.

Since S's father was the first of his siblings to come to Canada, everyone was excited to visit. It was also quite an accomplishment for a man with a physical disability to seek an independent life overseas for himself and his family so this was often admired."

America/Canada Visit Sep 89 Family Video : part 3 of 4

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie.

Project and donor contributed description follows: "As their first visit to Canada, they take them to tourist sites. Seen here, the family is enjoying a picnic at the Toronto Zoo.

Since S's father was the first of his siblings to come to Canada, everyone was excited to visit. It was also quite an accomplishment for a man with a physical disability to seek an independent life overseas for himself and his family so this was often admired."

America/Canada Visit Sep 89 Family Video : part 4 of 4

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie.

Project and donor contributed description follows: "As their first visit to Canada, they take them to tourist sites. Pictured here are views of rides at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).

S’s father, who is the eldest sibling of their generation, attracted a lot of family to visit because it is customary for people to always visit the eldest. Since S's father was the first of his siblings to come to Canada, everyone was excited to visit. It was also quite an accomplishment for a man with a physical disability to seek an independent life overseas for himself and his family so this was often admired."

Amesthgot - Father's Day 2005, Building Cabin Aug 2005

Item consists of a Anishinaabe family's home movie.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Shot in August 2005, Rebeka Tabobondung and by her partner David Shilling, hang out and have fun with his two daughters, Amethyst and Maaiingan (meaning wolf in Ojibwe) in a Toronto park. At the time, the daughters were living with this mothers so it was great to have them for the weekend. Both Rebeka and Dave shoot, and Rebeka was pregnant at the time.

Later that same summer they go to Georgian Bay on Lake Huron. They are building their cabin in Wasauksing First Nation where Rebeka's family is from. They purchased a trailer, and were clearing and building on the land. Dave shoots his daughters exploring the woods. Towards the end they are visible making the foundation and the piers. Now that they have had their land and the cabin for 14 years, it has since turned into their dream house."

Amrita's Mehndi Party, Nussarat Wedding Songs : daughter’s pre-wedding music party

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring a woman walking into a room full of people and sitting down and the camera zooms in to her hands that are decorated with henna.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "My daughters pre-wedding music party. She walks in with henna on hands. The video depicts an Indian wedding held in British Columbia. A series of ceremonies took place over the course of many days, including the singing of wedding songs during the Sangeet music party, the father of the bride singing, and the application of henna on the hands. A North Indian Punjabi dance, Bhangra, is performed by aunts and uncles of the bride. The wedding was held at the paternal aunt's house."

Amrita's Mehndi Party, Nussarat Wedding Songs : siblings sing and dance

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring a woman and man dancing.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "My sister sings while another sister and brother dance Bhangra. Video depicts an Indian wedding held in British Columbia. A series of ceremonies took place over the course of many days, including the singing of wedding songs during the Sangeet music party, the father of the bride singing, and the application of henna on the hands. A North Indian Punjabi dance, Bhangra, is performed by aunts and uncles of the bride. The wedding was held at the paternal aunt's house."

Amrita's Mehndi Party, Nussarat Wedding Songs : singing at my daughter’s wedding

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring a man singing and playing a keyboard.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "I’m singing at my daughter wedding. Video depicts an Indian wedding held in British Columbia. A series of ceremonies took place over the course of many days, including the singing of wedding songs during the Sangeet music party, the father of the bride singing, and the application of henna on the hands. A North Indian Punjabi dance, Bhangra, is performed by aunts and uncles of the bride. The wedding was held at the paternal aunt's house."

At the lake

Item consists of a Japanese-Indian family's home movie featuring a family playing in the water, exiting the lake, and a child narrating their surroundings.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "We’re in a suburban backyard in Ottawa, ON and it’s summer time in 1984. Sonia, age 4 and her younger sister, age 2 are playing with a swing set and an inflatable tipi likely from Canadian Tire. The inflatable has a small hole to pop your head in, and has imagery of the trope of the "Indian" and the "cowboy." This was strange for Sonia to see when revisiting the footage, because this type of imagery likely wouldn’t be sold anymore.

She and her sister are singing songs in Japanese (her mother’s mother tongue) and Marathi (her father’s mother tongue). The Japanese songs are ones she still recalls and sings to her own children. The Marathi songs are familiar, and Sonia recalls her father teaching them to her, but she doesn’t remember their titles, or know what they mean.

Sonia grew up in Ottawa, and moved to Toronto as an adult. Although she was the minority in school as one of two non-white children, she doesn’t remember feeling out of place. Her parents said that other children called her "blacky" but she doesn’t recall this happening.

In relation to Home Made Visible, Sonia says, "The process of drawing out pieces of history and indicating its value, [and] that it deserves to be preserved is incredible""

Autumn hike

Item consists of a Japanese-Indian family's home movie featuring a family hiking during autumn, reaching the look out, and piling into their car.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "We’re in a suburban backyard in Ottawa, ON and it’s summer time in 1984. Sonia, age 4 and her younger sister, age 2 are playing with a swing set and an inflatable tipi likely from Canadian Tire. The inflatable has a small hole to pop your head in, and has imagery of the trope of the "Indian" and the "cowboy." This was strange for Sonia to see when revisiting the footage, because this type of imagery likely wouldn’t be sold anymore.

She and her sister are singing songs in Japanese (her mother’s mother tongue) and Marathi (her father’s mother tongue). The Japanese songs are ones she still recalls and sings to her own children. The Marathi songs are familiar, and Sonia recalls her father teaching them to her, but she doesn’t remember their titles, or know what they mean.

Sonia grew up in Ottawa, and moved to Toronto as an adult. Although she was the minority in school as one of two non-white children, she doesn’t remember feeling out of place. Her parents said that other children called her "blacky" but she doesn’t recall this happening.

In relation to Home Made Visible, Sonia says, "The process of drawing out pieces of history and indicating its value, [and] that it deserves to be preserved is incredible""

Autumn leaves

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring individuals walking down the street and children playing in autumn leaves.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Baby outside cherry blossoms

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a baby grabbing cherry blossoms.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Baby outside eating

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring women feeding a baby at a picnic table.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Baby outside smiling

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a baby smiling and laughing outside .

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Baby photograph and card

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring the photograph of a baby and an information card.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Backyard

Item consists of a Japanese-Indian family's home movie featuring children playing with a swing set and a "cowboys and Indians" tent.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "We’re in a suburban backyard in Ottawa, ON and it’s summer time in 1984. Sonia, age 4 and her younger sister, age 2 are playing with a swing set and an inflatable tipi likely from Canadian Tire. The inflatable has a small hole to pop your head in, and has imagery of the trope of the "Indian" and the "cowboy." This was strange for Sonia to see when revisiting the footage, because this type of imagery likely wouldn’t be sold anymore.

She and her sister are singing songs in Japanese (her mother’s mother tongue) and Marathi (her father’s mother tongue). The Japanese songs are ones she still recalls and sings to her own children. The Marathi songs are familiar, and Sonia recalls her father teaching them to her, but she doesn’t remember their titles, or know what they mean.

Sonia grew up in Ottawa, and moved to Toronto as an adult. Although she was the minority in school as one of two non-white children, she doesn’t remember feeling out of place. Her parents said that other children called her "blacky" but she doesn’t recall this happening.

In relation to Home Made Visible, Sonia says, "The process of drawing out pieces of history and indicating its value, [and] that it deserves to be preserved is incredible""

Backyard harvest

Item consists of a Chinese family’s home movie.

Project and donor contributed description follows: "The year is 1981 and the Lo family are spending a summer afternoon picking vegetables and fruits from their backyard. One of the twins, Lorna helps their father harvest cabbage while the other twin, Vivien keeps Aylwin – the youngest and only a year old accompanied on a blanket. Featured through out the clip is the one outdoor activity that remained a family tradition over the year, picking apples from the beloved Crab Apple tree"

Badminton

Item consists of a Filipino-Canadian family's home movie featuring two adults playing badminton in a backyard with a creek in the background, a man dancing, and a child reading a book on a bench.

Baseball

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a boy and a woman passing and catching a ball with a glove.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Bathroom mirror selfie

Item consists of a Chinese-Russian family's home movie.

Project and donor contributed description follows: "Ahead of his time Kate’s dad, George, takes one of the original selfies and films himself in his bathroom mirror on Super8 Kodachrome film in 1963. Kate’s brother, Stan, recalls seeing his dad set up lights to make this possible.

George was a real film buff, a fan of Charlie Chaplin, and actively sought out arts and culture. Life and Time magazines came through the mail every week, and Kate says if it weren’t for him taking up these interests she wouldn’t have a worldview outside of small town Prairie Manitoba."

Beach

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring individuals enjoying the water and the lawn near the water.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Bijay's Graduation, Home Bhangra : graduation toast

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring three individuals drinking champagne and discussing a t-shirt that reads "A-B-C-D-E-F-U-C-K."

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "This is a graduate toast with mum and dad (my wife and I). Video shows the donors brother graduating from Stanford University, followed by a celebration in a hotel. A graduation toast is given by the father in English."

Bijay's Graduation, Home Bhangra : graduating from Stanford University with an MBA

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring a graduation ceremony with camera zoomed on crowd and individuals in a hotel room celebrating by opening a champagne bottle.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "My son graduates with an MBA from Stanford University and we celebrate in a hotel room with his mother. Video shows the donors brother graduating from Stanford University, followed by a celebration in a hotel. A graduation toast is given by the father in English."

Bijay's Wedding (2) Civil Ceremony, Ghori, Cocktail Reception : civil vows

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring officiant reciting wedding pledges and couple exchanging their vows.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "My son’s wedding civil vows. This video depicts an Indian family’s wedding within North American customs, and shows a couple taking their civic vows, followed by a reception. Performances are held, afterwhich the dancers receive blessings where the guests circle them with cash and leave it as a blessing. Songs of romance are sung in Punjabi and Hindi.

Skikh prayer is taken on the morning of the wedding, where the groom is wearing a traditional headdress shrouding the eyes. The headdress is tied on by the grooms sister,creating a symbol of mystery and modesty, and the warding off of the evil eye. The groom then ventures from his dwellings to his brides’, riding by horseback to symbolize the right of passage to manhood. The family surrounds the groom in a musical procession. This reenactment of an Indian tradition was the first to be held in New York City."

Bijay's Wedding (2) Civil Ceremony, Ghori, Cocktail Reception : grandson dance

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring a child dancing on a dance floor with disco lights in the background and a crowd cheering him on.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "My son’s wedding and Michael Jackson dance by my grandson. This video depicts an Indian family’s wedding within North American customs, and shows a couple taking their civic vows, followed by a reception. Performances are held, after which the dancers receive blessings where the guests circle them with cash and leave it as a blessing. Songs of romance are sung in Punjabi and Hindi.

Skikh prayer is taken on the morning of the wedding, where the groom is wearing a traditional headdress shrouding the eyes. The headdress is tied on by the grooms sister,creating a symbol of mystery and modesty, and the warding off of the evil eye. The groom then ventures from his dwellings to his brides’, riding by horseback to symbolize the right of passage to manhood. The family surrounds the groom in a musical procession. This reenactment of an Indian tradition was the first to be held in New York City."

Bijay's Wedding (2) Civil Ceremony, Ghori, Cocktail Reception : prayers for groom

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring a man encircled by woman saying prayers.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "These are prayers for the groom. This video depicts an Indian family’s wedding within North American customs, and shows a couple taking their civic vows, followed by a reception. Performances are held, after which the dancers receive blessings where the guests circle them with cash and leave it as a blessing. Songs of romance are sung in Punjabi and Hindi.

Skikh prayer is taken on the morning of the wedding, where the groom is wearing a traditional headdress shrouding the eyes. The headdress is tied on by the grooms sister,creating a symbol of mystery and modesty, and the warding off of the evil eye. The groom then ventures from his dwellings to his brides’, riding by horseback to symbolize the right of passage to manhood. The family surrounds the groom in a musical procession. This reenactment of an Indian tradition was the first to be held in New York City."

Bijay's Wedding (2) Civil Ceremony, Ghori, Cocktail Reception : riding a horse

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring a man riding a horse surrounded by family and friends dancing in New York City at the intersection of 48th street and 3rd avenue.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "My son (groom) is riding a horse through the streets of NYC to get to his marriage ceremony (traditional for India but first time it happened in NYC). This video depicts an Indian family’s wedding within North American customs, and shows a couple taking their civic vows, followed by a reception. Performances are held, after which the dancers receive blessings where the guests circle them with cash and leave it as a blessing. Songs of romance are sung in Punjabi and Hindi.

Skikh prayer is taken on the morning of the wedding, where the groom is wearing a traditional headdress shrouding the eyes. The headdress is tied on by the grooms sister,creating a symbol of mystery and modesty, and the warding off of the evil eye. The groom then ventures from his dwellings to his brides’, riding by horseback to symbolize the right of passage to manhood. The family surrounds the groom in a musical procession. This reenactment of an Indian tradition was the first to be held in New York City."

Bijay's Wedding (2) Civil Ceremony, Ghori, Cocktail Reception : sera bandi

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring women singing and putting a headdress on a seated man.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "The "sera bandi" here is my daughters tying a headdress on my son before his traditional wedding ceremony. This video depicts an Indian family’s wedding within North American customs, and shows a couple taking their civic vows, followed by a reception. Performances are held, after which the dancers receive blessings where the guests circle them with cash and leave it as a blessing. Songs of romance are sung in Punjabi and Hindi.

Skikh prayer is taken on the morning of the wedding, where the groom is wearing a traditional headdress shrouding the eyes. The headdress is tied on by the grooms sister,creating a symbol of mystery and modesty, and the warding off of the evil eye. The groom then ventures from his dwellings to his brides’, riding by horseback to symbolize the right of passage to manhood. The family surrounds the groom in a musical procession. This reenactment of an Indian tradition was the first to be held in New York City."

Bijay's Wedding (2) Civil Ceremony, Ghori, Cocktail Reception : singing at my son’s wedding

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring a wedding party listening to individuals performing.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "I’m singing at my son’s wedding. This video depicts an Indian family’s wedding within North American customs, and shows a couple taking their civic vows, followed by a reception. Performances are held, after which the dancers receive blessings where the guests circle them with cash and leave it as a blessing. Songs of romance are sung in Punjabi and Hindi.

Skikh prayer is taken on the morning of the wedding, where the groom is wearing a traditional headdress shrouding the eyes. The headdress is tied on by the grooms sister,creating a symbol of mystery and modesty, and the warding off of the evil eye. The groom then ventures from his dwellings to his brides’, riding by horseback to symbolize the right of passage to manhood. The family surrounds the groom in a musical procession. This reenactment of an Indian tradition was the first to be held in New York City."

Birthday

Item consists of a home movie featuring a house decorated for Chinese New Year and child playing the whistle.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "It’s a family friend’s birthday party at their home in Agincourt, Scarborough. Pictured are decorations left from Chinese New Year.

Since Cindy was very young when moving to Canada, she identifies more with having immigrant parents than being an immigrant herself. Cindy had a lot of family friends that shared similar cultural backgrounds, and experiences as the community of Agincourt where she lives is largely Chinese, East and South Asian, and Tamil."

Birthday party

Item consists of a Japanese-Indian family's home movie featuring children talking, singing, and eating at a birthday party. Footage also includes a child playing the violin.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "We’re in a suburban backyard in Ottawa, ON and it’s summer time in 1984. Sonia, age 4 and her younger sister, age 2 are playing with a swing set and an inflatable tipi likely from Canadian Tire. The inflatable has a small hole to pop your head in, and has imagery of the trope of the "Indian" and the "cowboy." This was strange for Sonia to see when revisiting the footage, because this type of imagery likely wouldn’t be sold anymore.

She and her sister are singing songs in Japanese (her mother’s mother tongue) and Marathi (her father’s mother tongue). The Japanese songs are ones she still recalls and sings to her own children. The Marathi songs are familiar, and Sonia recalls her father teaching them to her, but she doesn’t remember their titles, or know what they mean.

Sonia grew up in Ottawa, and moved to Toronto as an adult. Although she was the minority in school as one of two non-white children, she doesn’t remember feeling out of place. Her parents said that other children called her "blacky" but she doesn’t recall this happening.

In relation to Home Made Visible, Sonia says, "The process of drawing out pieces of history and indicating its value, [and] that it deserves to be preserved is incredible""

Birthday presents

Item consists of a Japanese-Indian family's home movie featuring a child opening birthday presents surrounded by family.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "We’re in a suburban backyard in Ottawa, ON and it’s summer time in 1984. Sonia, age 4 and her younger sister, age 2 are playing with a swing set and an inflatable tipi likely from Canadian Tire. The inflatable has a small hole to pop your head in, and has imagery of the trope of the "Indian" and the "cowboy." This was strange for Sonia to see when revisiting the footage, because this type of imagery likely wouldn’t be sold anymore.

She and her sister are singing songs in Japanese (her mother’s mother tongue) and Marathi (her father’s mother tongue). The Japanese songs are ones she still recalls and sings to her own children. The Marathi songs are familiar, and Sonia recalls her father teaching them to her, but she doesn’t remember their titles, or know what they mean.

Sonia grew up in Ottawa, and moved to Toronto as an adult. Although she was the minority in school as one of two non-white children, she doesn’t remember feeling out of place. Her parents said that other children called her "blacky" but she doesn’t recall this happening.

In relation to Home Made Visible, Sonia says, "The process of drawing out pieces of history and indicating its value, [and] that it deserves to be preserved is incredible""

Birthday songs

Item consists of a Japanese-Indian family's home movie featuring children singing in the house while opening a birthday presents.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "We’re in a suburban backyard in Ottawa, ON and it’s summer time in 1984. Sonia, age 4 and her younger sister, age 2 are playing with a swing set and an inflatable tipi likely from Canadian Tire. The inflatable has a small hole to pop your head in, and has imagery of the trope of the "Indian" and the "cowboy." This was strange for Sonia to see when revisiting the footage, because this type of imagery likely wouldn’t be sold anymore.

She and her sister are singing songs in Japanese (her mother’s mother tongue) and Marathi (her father’s mother tongue). The Japanese songs are ones she still recalls and sings to her own children. The Marathi songs are familiar, and Sonia recalls her father teaching them to her, but she doesn’t remember their titles, or know what they mean.

Sonia grew up in Ottawa, and moved to Toronto as an adult. Although she was the minority in school as one of two non-white children, she doesn’t remember feeling out of place. Her parents said that other children called her "blacky" but she doesn’t recall this happening.

In relation to Home Made Visible, Sonia says, "The process of drawing out pieces of history and indicating its value, [and] that it deserves to be preserved is incredible""

Birthday Surprise

Item consists of a Black-Canadian family’s home movie featuring a blindfolded child being led to a birthday cake and blowing out the candles with her family by her side. The footage also features the family sharing kisses in front of a birthday cake and bringing presents to the birthday girl.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows:  "Every year, on our birthdays, my parents would go all out.  Birthday surprises in our house were everything! In this family footage, shot at our third family home on Lippé Street in St. Laurent, a borough in Montreal, Quebec, you can see Heather with her siblings and parents celebrating her seventh birthday. It was December 28, 1977 – three days after Christmas – so Heather always received double the presents every year! 1977 was also the same year that her sister, Hazel, broke her arm – you can see her wearing a cast on her left arm."

Birthdays

Item consists of a Japanese-Canadian family's home movies filmed in the 1960s.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "These clips feature birthdays for two of the Ozaki children in 1966. Steven Ozaki is celebrating his first birthday indoors with extended family in April. Naomi Ozaki is celebrating her fourth birthday in May with neighbourhood children inside the family home and in the family's backyard in Vancouver."

Birthdays in Greater Vancouver Area

Item consists of a Chinese family’s home movie featuring children playing, celebrating birthdays, opening presents, and eating sweets.

Project and donor contributed description follows: "This footage documents a series of four of Derek Kwan’s birthdays in Vancouver in the nineties between October 1991 and 1994.

In October 91, the setting is a McDonald’s ball pit in the greater Vancouver area. Surrounded by friends, family and cousins, Kwan and other kids are wearing the McDonald’s card paper hats eating birthday cake, with his mom sitting behind him. At present opening time, seen in the shot is his uncle, cousins, and grandma.

For Derek’s 3rd birthday in October 1992, we are located in Richmond, a suburb 20 minutes away from the city of Vancouver. We are indoors and adults are encouraging Derek to hit a piñata of Mickey Mouse’s head that was made by Derek’s mom, Victoria. She loved to create themed birthday parties, and DIY party favors with her friends, and Derek remembers having a piñata every year, until he got too old for it.

Victoria made the piñata incredibly strong, and it’s very difficult to break. Eventually the adults jump in and start helping the kids break through the Mickey piñata. Derek shares: "Disney holds cache to it as a kid growing up in the 90s as the happiest place on earth."

Each year, when Derek opens his gift, he consistently receives boxes from the Bay, which he notes is interesting as a staple Canadian store. At his third birthday he also receives a table hockey set, another inherently Canadian gift, and the family excitedly surrounds the set.

At Derek’s fourth birthday in 1993, we are located at Chuck E Cheese. Much like the McDonalds ball pit, Chuck E Cheese was a go-to sport for 90s kids birthday parties. Derek receives action figures, and a ninja turtle toy.

Documented at Derek’s fifth birthday in 1994, is Derek’s childhood home in East Vancouver, where he lived during elementary and high school. We see the backyard and kids playing surrounding the basketball hoop.

Derek shares that thoughts of being Chinese took a back seat and he didn’t think too deeply about it growing up. East Vancouver was very diverse and being white was the minority. He grew up around Chinese, Vietnamese, Pilipino and East Indian people. Although race wasn’t a forefront in Derek’s mind, it was brought to his attention during family functions when everyone spoke Cantonese, and for cultural festivals like Chinese New Year."

Boat

Item consists of a home movie featuring an individual waving on a boat with the cityscape in the background.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Its Cindy Long’s first time meeting her cousins in China once they are a bit older. She now travels there around every 3 or 4 years. Her parents said that they were very close as children, but when they got older they couldn’t connect as easily because her cousins speak little English, and Cindy’s Cantonese and Mandarin are not strong. Now as older teens/young adults, they enjoy spending time together when Cindy visits China, and often talk about the differences in school, culture, etc, between the two places."

Boat : children dancing

Item consists of a home movie featuring children dancing over bamboo sticks.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Its Cindy Long’s first time meeting her cousins in China once they are a bit older. She now travels there around every 3 or 4 years. Her parents said that they were very close as children, but when they got older they couldn’t connect as easily because her cousins speak little English, and Cindy’s Cantonese and Mandarin are not strong. Now as older teens/young adults, they enjoy spending time together when Cindy visits China, and often talk about the differences in school, culture, etc, between the two places."

Boat : children dancing

Item consists of a home movie featuring children dancing over bamboo sticks.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Its Cindy Long’s first time meeting her cousins in China once they are a bit older. She now travels there around every 3 or 4 years. Her parents said that they were very close as children, but when they got older they couldn’t connect as easily because her cousins speak little English, and Cindy’s Cantonese and Mandarin are not strong. Now as older teens/young adults, they enjoy spending time together when Cindy visits China, and often talk about the differences in school, culture, etc, between the two places."

Boat : cityscape

Item consists of a home movie featuring the cityscape views from a boat.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Its Cindy Long’s first time meeting her cousins in China once they are a bit older. She now travels there around every 3 or 4 years. Her parents said that they were very close as children, but when they got older they couldn’t connect as easily because her cousins speak little English, and Cindy’s Cantonese and Mandarin are not strong. Now as older teens/young adults, they enjoy spending time together when Cindy visits China, and often talk about the differences in school, culture, etc, between the two places."

Boat : cityscape and boats

Item consists of a home movie featuring the cityscape views from a boat and zooms in on other boats in the water.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Its Cindy Long’s first time meeting her cousins in China once they are a bit older. She now travels there around every 3 or 4 years. Her parents said that they were very close as children, but when they got older they couldn’t connect as easily because her cousins speak little English, and Cindy’s Cantonese and Mandarin are not strong. Now as older teens/young adults, they enjoy spending time together when Cindy visits China, and often talk about the differences in school, culture, etc, between the two places."

Boat : traditional dance

Item consists of a woman and a man performing a traditional dance that involves moving bamboo sticks.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Its Cindy Long’s first time meeting her cousins in China once they are a bit older. She now travels there around every 3 or 4 years. Her parents said that they were very close as children, but when they got older they couldn’t connect as easily because her cousins speak little English, and Cindy’s Cantonese and Mandarin are not strong. Now as older teens/young adults, they enjoy spending time together when Cindy visits China, and often talk about the differences in school, culture, etc, between the two places."

Boat : watching performance

Item consists of a home movie featuring two girls watching a performance on a boat.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Its Cindy Long’s first time meeting her cousins in China once they are a bit older. She now travels there around every 3 or 4 years. Her parents said that they were very close as children, but when they got older they couldn’t connect as easily because her cousins speak little English, and Cindy’s Cantonese and Mandarin are not strong. Now as older teens/young adults, they enjoy spending time together when Cindy visits China, and often talk about the differences in school, culture, etc, between the two places."

Boat : woman in traditional outfit

Item consists of a home movie featuring a woman wearing a traditional outfit and using a microphone.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Its Cindy Long’s first time meeting her cousins in China once they are a bit older. She now travels there around every 3 or 4 years. Her parents said that they were very close as children, but when they got older they couldn’t connect as easily because her cousins speak little English, and Cindy’s Cantonese and Mandarin are not strong. Now as older teens/young adults, they enjoy spending time together when Cindy visits China, and often talk about the differences in school, culture, etc, between the two places."

Bowling

Item consists of a Japanese-Indian family's home movie featuring children at a bowling alley.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "We’re in a suburban backyard in Ottawa, ON and it’s summer time in 1984. Sonia, age 4 and her younger sister, age 2 are playing with a swing set and an inflatable tipi likely from Canadian Tire. The inflatable has a small hole to pop your head in, and has imagery of the trope of the "Indian" and the "cowboy." This was strange for Sonia to see when revisiting the footage, because this type of imagery likely wouldn’t be sold anymore.

She and her sister are singing songs in Japanese (her mother’s mother tongue) and Marathi (her father’s mother tongue). The Japanese songs are ones she still recalls and sings to her own children. The Marathi songs are familiar, and Sonia recalls her father teaching them to her, but she doesn’t remember their titles, or know what they mean.

Sonia grew up in Ottawa, and moved to Toronto as an adult. Although she was the minority in school as one of two non-white children, she doesn’t remember feeling out of place. Her parents said that other children called her "blacky" but she doesn’t recall this happening.

In relation to Home Made Visible, Sonia says, "The process of drawing out pieces of history and indicating its value, [and] that it deserves to be preserved is incredible""

Boy and girl playing

Item consists of Japanese family’s home movie featuring a boy and girl toddler playing.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Boy enjoying summer

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a boy sitting on a lawn chair and riding a hot dog shaped scooter during summer.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Boy in a sled

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a women pulling a boy in a sled during a snowy winter.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Boy outside in the backyard

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a toddler boy exploring the backyard.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Boy scout salute

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a boy saluting in a cub scout uniform.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Boy walking up front lawn

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a boy walking up a front lawn and leaving his friends on a bike.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Breakfast and a tour of Ridley College

Item consists of a Pakistani-Canadian family's home movie and includes footage of Ridley College and Port Elgin.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Footage of a family eating breakfast cuts to a teenager standing by an old building. Noor’s oldest brother, Fahad is giving their father a tour of his boarding school. This is the first time her father is seeing Ridley College. He relied on extended family in Canada to help settle Fahad in his school. Dressed like any other boy from the 90’s, Fahad leads his father on a grand tour. "Being Pakistani in Saudi Arabia was difficult" Noor mentions as she talks about being separated from her brother as he went to school in Canada. To Noor "it feels like filling in the blank watching these videos…" since she was still a child when her family moved.

Shot over a few days, the home movie ends on a barbeque in Noor’s aunt home. Her aunt can be seen making fresh kebabs. "We still have those barbeques… they’re much different now, but we still make kebabs from scratch", Noor recounts."

Canada Day Centennial Parade and Party

Item consists of a Japanese-Canadian family's home movies filmed in the 1960s.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Neighbourhood children parade down a residential street in Vancouver celebrating Canada’s centennial in 1967. Amongst children dressed in outfits celebrating Canada or their country of origin, Naomi is dressed as a pioneer homesteader, Akemi is wearing a kimono and Steven is dressed as John A. Macdonald. The parade and after party were organized by their father, Doug and another neighbourhood parent."

Carrying a toddler and watching TV

Item consists of a home movies featuring a mother carrying a toddler who walks to family members watching TV.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "In China, Cindy’s parents met a couple on the train when on their way to an interview to apply to come to Canada. Perchance, Cindy and the same couple’s kids ended up attending the same school and kindergarten class in Canada. The families moved to Canada within months of each other and became very close. They lived together in adjoining units during their first two years in Canada. This video documents the housewarming get together after the families got separate places. Seen here are four girls playing together in her friend’s basement.

Since Cindy was very young when moving to Canada, she identifies more with having immigrant parents than being an immigrant herself. Cindy had a lot of friends that shared similar cultural backgrounds, and experiences as the community of Agincourt where she lives is largely Chinese, East and South Asian, and Tamil."

Cederbrae mall

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie that predominantly features a parking lot.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Celebrating Halloween in Laval, Quebec

Item consists of a Black-Canadian family’s home movie featuring children in costumes, joking around, waving to the camera, entering and exiting a home, and showing off their treats.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "The Seaman family moved to their second family home on 100th Avenue in Chomedey, Laval, Quebec in the mid-1970s. In this particular footage, Heather recalls getting ready for Halloween and dressing up in homemade costumes. Heather recalls doing a multitude of different activities as a child, and explains that they weren’t limited as children. For example, her brother, Herbert, played hockey at a high level and played guitar, while she and her sister Hazel figure skated, took piano lessons, and dance classes. "We were the only Black family in the neighbourhood and an interesting story is when we first moved there, people were shocked to see a Black family with two cars!"

In Laval, while living at their fourth family home, back on 100th Avenue in Chomedey, Heather’s mother, Althea Joseph Charles Seaman, started the ‘Laval Black Community Association’ in 1983 to bring together Black people from different cultural backgrounds. The intention was to create a support system, but also a space for people to learn about each other’s cultures and share their achievements and heritage with the wider Canadian community. Her mother also developed an annual Black History Month celebration where people showcased their artwork, music, writing, spoken word pieces and dance performances. Business people, clergy from various faiths and politicians from all levels of government were always in the audience – no matter their race or whether they were English or French speakers. "The organizations that our mom created were to give us a sense of our heritage" and to share that with others."

Celebrations and dancing

Item consists of a Colombian and Indonesian-Canadian family's home movie featuring a family gathering filled with children playing and dancing.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Sabrina Budiman’s sister, cousins, aunts, and neighbors grew up as a very close knit family. They are at a family gathering likely at Budiman’s aunt’s place in Etobicoke, ON. The table is set up for a special dinner, and everyone is dressed in celebratory clothing. It’s a party and we see adults and children having a lot of fun dancing together to Lou Bega’s Mambo no. 5, J-Low, Backstreet Boys, and Elvis Crespo’s Suavemente 1998. Being both Colombian and Indonesian and growing up in Toronto, Sabrina remembers dance as a very memorable and significant part of her cultural upbringing.

Sabrina carries a mixture of three cultures which she says felt a bit confusing: "It’s something you feel but can’t analyze as a child. Feeling it has more impact. It means that I’m a part of a larger group of people who share the same experiences, although it varies from person to person. Others have had the same struggles, successes, and personal experiences.""

Celebrations and dancing

Item consists of a Colombian and Indonesian-Canadian family's home movie featuring a family gathering filled with adults and children playing and dancing.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Sabrina Budiman’s sister, cousins, aunts, and neighbors grew up as a very close knit family. They are at a family gathering likely at Budiman’s aunt’s place in Etobicoke, ON. The table is set up for a special dinner, and everyone is dressed in celebratory clothing. It’s a party and we see adults and children having a lot of fun dancing together to Lou Bega’s Mambo no. 5, J-Low, Backstreet Boys, and Elvis Crespo’s Suavemente 1998. Being both Colombian and Indonesian and growing up in Toronto, Sabrina remembers dance as a very memorable and significant part of her cultural upbringing.

Sabrina carries a mixture of three cultures which she says felt a bit confusing: "It’s something you feel but can’t analyze as a child. Feeling it has more impact. It means that I’m a part of a larger group of people who share the same experiences, although it varies from person to person. Others have had the same struggles, successes, and personal experiences.""

Cherry blossoms and backyard

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a family enjoying cherry blossoms and playing outside in a backyard.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Children spinning and laughing

Item consists of an Indo- and Black-Caribbean family’s home movie featuring a child spinning in circles while carrying another child who is laughing and giggling.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Robert, Shanti’s nephew swings 2-year-old Layla around on his family’s farm in Puslinch. Ten years older than Leyla and an only child, he cherished the weekend and summer visits from his younger cousin.

Her mother was an active swimmer in her youth and was excited to take up her old hobby on the family farm. Layla gestures to her grandmother in the pool who is clearly enjoying her self. Smiling brightly and leisurely swimming around she tells Layla how cold the pool is and not to come in."

Chinese New Year preparations

Item consists of a Chinese-Russian family's home movie.

Project and donor contributed description follows: "On January 24th, 1963, Kate’s mother, Clara Chan, prepares for Chinese New Year the night before, setting the table and filling red envelopes with money her kids.

Cut to the next day where Stan, Joyce, Linda and Kate, are coming downstairs to receive their red envelopes. Everyone sings around the piano as Joyce plays. Upon further observation Kate’s friend notices that they are singing 'Away in a Manger'.

Clara is a Russian refugee who came to Canada after the war in 1950. Fortunately for Clara the Manitoba law that prohibited white woman from working in Chinese restaurants was repealed in 1948. Her parents met in the Virden Café in 1950."

Christmas : part 1 of 4

Item consists of a Chinese family’s home movie featuring two children playing on a swing set in the winter. Project and donor contributed description follows: "Their extended family are visiting from Macau for their first Winter visit. For many of them it was the first time experiencing the Canadian cold. "I remember we were outside playing in the snow for a really long time… the adults were playing in it just as much as the kids", Lorna recalls. The children can be seen playing on the swing bundled up in coats and snow pants."

Christmas : part 2 of 4

Item consists of a Chinese family’s home movie featuring adults outside on a snowy day and two children playing on a swing set in the winter. Project and donor contributed description follows: "Their extended family are visiting from Macau for their first Winter visit. For many of them it was the first time experiencing the Canadian cold. "I remember we were outside playing in the snow for a really long time… the adults were playing in it just as much as the kids", Lorna recalls. The children can be seen playing on the swing bundled up in coats and snow pants."

Christmas : part 3 of 4

Item consists of a Chinese family’s home movie featuring children opening and playing with Christmas presents. Project and donor contributed description follows: "During this Christmas, the family have their cousin Sau Fong visiting. The children are waving excitedly to the camera as they open and show their gifts. Over the years, uncles and aunts would occasionally stay with the Lo family while studying English at the local college. Home movies were one of the ways they stayed connected to relatives in Macau and shared their life living in Canada. Copies were routinely made to send back.""

Christmas : part 4 of 4

Item consists of a Chinese family’s home movie featuring children opening Christmas presents and performing a dance in a living room. Project and donor contributed description follows: "During this Christmas, the family have their cousin Sau Fong visiting. The children are waving excitedly to the camera as they open and show their gifts. Over the years, uncles and aunts would occasionally stay with the Lo family while studying English at the local college. Home movies were one of the ways they stayed connected to relatives in Macau and shared their life living in Canada. Copies were routinely made to send back.""

Christmas 1962 sign

Item consists of a Chinese-Russian family's home movie.

Item consists of footage of a sign with Christmas 1962 written on red. Project and donor contributed description follows: "Christmas 1962: George captures holiday decorations, neon lights, dinner and his kids opening presents, etc."

Christmas '92 : Singing

Item consists of a Jamaican-Guyanese family’s home movie. Clip represents a portion of the VHS cassette from 1992 consisting of a brother cooking breakfast on Christmas and a sister filming a tour of the house.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "It's Christmas, 1992, and within the short span of this clip the presence of almost Leah Burke's whole family is felt. From her dad offscreen singing along to gospel (Mahalia Jackson's 'Go Tell It On the Mountain), to her brother, the then sullen teenager, seen cooking pancakes for family breakfast, to finally Leah, who weaves through the house filming. She reveals herself as the documentarian in a mirror reflection waving ‘Hi'. In present day, Leah recalls, 'This is a typical Burke house family moment'."

Christmas '92 : Sunrise

Item consists of a Jamaican-Guyanese family’s home movie. Clip represents a portion of a VHS cassette from Christmas Day in 1992 featuring the narration of a sunrise and featuring panning shots of a snowy street and building in Peterborough.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "'This is Friday, Dec 25th, 1992,' Leah's dad, Sam, begins the voice-over in this clip made in the Burke's family home in Peterborough, ON. Her father describes the beautiful sunrise that clear Christmas morning. It contrasts the weather from just a week prior when there was a record breaking 70 cm of snow, which was the worst snowfall in the province in 90 years. This filming style and voice-over in the Burke's home movies was characteristic of her father, Leah says, 'He wouldn't wait for anybody, he would just start filming.'"

Christmas Day Breakfast in St. Laurent, Quebec

Item consists of a Black-Canadian family’s home movie featuring children gathering around a kitchen table, making the sign of the holy cross, pointing to watches they just received for Christmas, and eating brunch with two adults.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "The footage shows the Seaman family with some cousins, enjoying Christmas brunch at home on Lippé Street, in St. Laurent, where they lived for about three or four years. Christmas was a big deal in their house. Annually, they would enjoy a big breakfast before opening presents. As Catholics, the day would also include attending Christmas mass, then later welcoming relatives and friends at the home for a holiday celebration, involving lots more food, including Caribbean dishes and desserts."

Christmas presents

Item consists of a Japanese-Indian family's home movie featuring children opening and playing with presents in front of a Christmas tree. Footage also contains one musical toy playing "When you wish upon a star."

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "We’re in a suburban backyard in Ottawa, ON and it’s summer time in 1984. Sonia, age 4 and her younger sister, age 2 are playing with a swing set and an inflatable tipi likely from Canadian Tire. The inflatable has a small hole to pop your head in, and has imagery of the trope of the "Indian" and the "cowboy." This was strange for Sonia to see when revisiting the footage, because this type of imagery likely wouldn’t be sold anymore.

She and her sister are singing songs in Japanese (her mother’s mother tongue) and Marathi (her father’s mother tongue). The Japanese songs are ones she still recalls and sings to her own children. The Marathi songs are familiar, and Sonia recalls her father teaching them to her, but she doesn’t remember their titles, or know what they mean.

Sonia grew up in Ottawa, and moved to Toronto as an adult. Although she was the minority in school as one of two non-white children, she doesn’t remember feeling out of place. Her parents said that other children called her "blacky" but she doesn’t recall this happening.

In relation to Home Made Visible, Sonia says, "The process of drawing out pieces of history and indicating its value, [and] that it deserves to be preserved is incredible""

Christmas turkey dinner

Item consists of a Chinese-Russian family's home movie featuring footage of carving and eating a turkey dinner.

Project and donor contributed description follows: "It’s Christmas dinner in 1953, the Chan family sits around the table, Stan, Joyce, Linda and Kate. They are joined by Dad’s first son, Karl Chan, sitting to the right of Kate’s mother, Clara. Karl came to help out in the Virden Café as Virden was in the midst of an oil bloom. Kate’s dad George always remained behind the camera. "

Cityscapes

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring views of cars driving, people crossing streets and walking on the sidewalk, and the downtown core.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Cityscapes of Baghdad, Iraq

Item consists of an Iranian-Canadian family’s home movie featuring cityscapes of Baghdad including footage of traditional architecture.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Although Aeyliya was born in London, England, she spent a year of her childhood in Baghdad, Iraq, a place in which she does not have too many strong memories of, yet finds fascination with when she watches her footage.

"My grandmother, mom, brother, and I are in the footage. It’s very interesting to see this place that kind of has a memory for me, and then seeing family members like my grandfather who’s no longer alive, and then seeing my mother as a ‘young mother.’" Aeyliya describes having memories of eating certain candy in Iraq, and specifically in the footage she speculates that her mother was going to the mosque perhaps to pray, while she and her brother were running around in the courtyard. "[It’s] very surreal to see your past, to see yourself and your history. When I first watched the footage I thought ‘oh, this is kind of a weird feeling, strange, but still good.’" There are a number of ways ones life could’ve been dramatically different. "Where is home?" She ponders."After migrating to Iraq from London, my parents decided to leave Baghdad for better economic opportunities and migrated to our final destination Canada."

Aeyliya’s family came to Montreal "literally" by boat. "We left London to Montreal and took the QE2, and then settled in St. Catherines, Ontario. "One decision that you have no control over could dramatically change your life," Aeyliya adds, describing her thoughts behind her parents decision to live in Iraq for a year, nearly settling there, before plans changed and then moved from London to St. Catherines instead, "I look at the footage and think of that sometimes." After migrating to Iraq from London, my parents decided to leave Baghdad for better economic opportunities and migrated to our final destination Canada. "

Cleaning a car

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a man cleaning a car.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Cleaning up

Item consists of a Chinese-Russian family's home movie.

Project and donor contributed description follows: "Mom and Joyce picking up the wrapping and cleanup, etc."

Commonwealth of Dominica family vacation

Item consists of a Black-Canadian family’s home movie featuring a plane on the tarmac; children enjoying sugarcane and an adult milking a cow; adults and children drinking from a freshly-picked coconut; children swimming at a beach; cityscapes in parts of Dominica, with streets, buildings and mountains in the background; children playing in a shallow river; a family carrying beach supplies and walking on a path surrounded by a tropical forest.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Heather and her siblings met and visited her paternal grandparents for the first time in 1978. "My grandfather was born in 1898. He lived to about 105, so he got to see three centuries – the late 1800’s, the 1900’s and he died in the early 2000’s." This was the family’s first vacation overseas, a memorable time in the Commonwealth of Dominica where Heather’s parents were born and raised - her father in Vieille Case and her mother in Portsmouth. In the travel clips, various footage shows the time Heather and her family swam at Purple Turtle Beach, enjoyed sugarcane, fresh coconut water and watched her Dad milk a cow on her grandparents’ property in La Haut. There’s also footage of their visit to a busy city. Then back in the countryside, Heather notes, "That’s just us walking with a relative through a village in Dominica" as the relative carries a load of laundry, washed in the river, in a basket on her head. In those days, there was no plumbing or electricity in the rural area where her grandparents lived, so Heather remembers it being pitch-black at night, with only lanterns, candles and the moon to light the way. Using the outhouse there at night was scary for her as a child."

Community picnic

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a community picnic.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Community picnic

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a community picnic and includes footage of dancing and children playing. Footage of flowers is also included.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Terry Watada became interested in his family history when he realized his parents were forced into internment camps by the Canadian government during World War II. The youngest of two boys and with an 18-year age gap, he only came to know this history in his late teens. The footage selected shows glimpses of Terry’s childhood and features community members with whom he grew up. A small clip shows Terry wearing his cub scout uniform. In 1959, he was eight-years-old and was part of the 45th cub scout "wolf pack"; he later became a scout until the age of 17.

The families on the farm near the beginning of the footage feature the Watada family visiting the Itos in Cooksville, Ontario. Mr. Ito had connections with Terry’s father when he lived in BC; Mr. Ito was a former employee of Matsujiro Watada. Because his father helped with the down payment of their farm, the Watadas would receive bushels of vegetables every season during Terry’s childhood.

A prominent feature of his childhood, Terry and his family attended organized community picnics along with other members of the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. A game played was the catching of mochi balls. A coveted gift since the process to make it by hand was time consuming. The picnic near the end of the selected home movies depicts a Shinto lion dance (around 68’ or 69’). There were always religious undertones at these picnics, either Buddhist or Shinto along with the Obon festival that would take place every year. The religious undertone would shift as they became an event that no longer only catered to a Japanese audience."

Compilation of home movies

Item consists of a Barbadian- and Guyanese-Canadian family's home movie and includes footage featuring a Popeye cartoon, Alvin and the Chipmunks cartoon, children playing, a birthday celebration, a crowd outside and a man speaking into a microphone, a parade with cars as floats, adults hanging out, a hall filled with adults eating and dancing, a picnic at a park, gatherings with Christmas decorations in the background, a family dog wearing a hat, and a family gardening.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Its 1974 or 1975 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Mike Nobrega, cousins, aunts, extended family and friends are seen in domestic settings. They are also pictured sharing a picnic in the summertime. Mike was born in Toronto, and moved to Nova Scotia when he was young. His father is from Guyana and mother is from Barbados. The community around where he grew up was very diverse, including people from the Ukraine, Poland, Carribean, Italy. Many came to work in steel and coal mines."

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