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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."

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."

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."

Traditional Sikh marriage in India

Item consists of a Punjabi-, Jatt-, and Sikh-Canadian family's home movie featuring family members speaking to one another, driving through the countryside, and speaking one another at a wedding.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Jagtar’s grandfather Sardar Bishon Singh left colonial India in 1902 and after enduring a two year journey via several steam ships from Calcutta, Hong Kong, The Philippines and Hawaii finally arrived on the shores of California in the Port of Stockton in 1904. Sardar Bishon Singh was instrumental in establishing the very first Sikh Gurdwara in North America in Stockton California. Following the devastating major San Francisco earthquake and then the resulting fires which completely destroyed San Francisco in 1906, Jagtar’s grandfather escaped to Vancouver British Columbia on a boxcar, marking the first of his family’s arrival in Canada. His grandfather was eventually able to sponsor his younger brothers son’s arrival to Canada in January of 1960, and Jagtar born in India in December of 1959, arrived to Canada at five years of age on December 18th, 1964. Jagtar returned to India for the first time since his childhood at 25 years old for a traditional Sikh marriage in January of 1985.

In this clip, on February 5th, 1985 in Gurdwara Karamsar Rara Sahib or Gurdwara Rara Sahib is situated at village Rara Sahib near Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Jagtar and his soon to be wife Gurinder Kaur, receive a blessing from the Gurdwara Sant Ji elder prior to their wedding. The two elder gentlemen are Jagtar’s future father-in-law Sardar Mewa Singh Kular and father Sardar Hardev Singh Dhaliwal. Here his father is visible in a pale blue suit not far from Sant Ji. This home movie memorializes these two important figures in Jagtar’s life who have since passed, his father-in-law and his father. After his father’s passing, Jagtar says it was fate to see his father here and remember him as a young man.

In the next scene, Jagtar is in his ancestral village in Toosey, Punjab, India dressed in his wedding attire. As they are leaving, elders and family women offer their blessings by giving him sweet treats.

The car and the groom's family travel down to the Milni ceremony (meeting of the two families) for introduction between the two families. After both sides of the family arrive, the fathers meet and exchange garlands. The uncles at each level exchange an official introduction. Then people gather for tea and refreshments just before going to the Gurdwara, a place of worship.

The groom’s side of the family pays respect to the Guru Granth Sahib, a living embodiment of the Sikh’s gurus."

Scarborough Bluffs beach and barbeque

Item consists of a Colombian and Indonesian-Canadian family's home movie featuring a day at the lake with children playing and adults barbequing.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "The year is 1999 and Sabrina Budiman aged 4, and her family is spending a day at the beach in the summertime, at the Scarborough Bluffs beach. Sabrina and her sister call it "ethnic BBQ" because the family brought their own charcoal BBQ, make lots of delicious food, fry up some fish and "stink up the place." A picnic table is set up with a beautiful tablecloth, and the footage documents an entire day spent at the beach. Sabrina shares that this experience was a large part of her childhood, and today we often see lots of immigrant families gathered at the Bluffs Beach in large groups with similar set-ups that include lots of food and colorful decorations.

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 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.""

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."

Mark & Flo's Wedding 1

Item consists of an Ojibwe family’s home movie featuring adults and children talking and posing for multiple wedding photographs.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "On December 1, 1995, Star Nahwegahbo’s uncle and aunt, Mark and Florence, get married in Sudbury or Espanola, Ontario. These clips capture their wedding and reception; and the personalities of Star’s family shine through; we see her grandmother, grandfather and great grandfather, her aunt giggling at her own wedding as the priest fumbles on their names, and children running and dancing in the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation community centre.

Star was around the age of 12 or 13 and recalls avoiding the camera. Around that time she had just moved from Sudbury to Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, and had difficulty with the large cultural shift. Star felt she didn’t yet have a language to speak to her identity or community dynamics due to colonization.

Upon sharing the clip with her family members, Star’s family was moved to see family that had since passed. It was Star’s first time seeing the footage, and "it was nice to see everybody so young, celebrating, having a good time."

As an artist, Star participated in the Project because she felt compelled to push back against the colonial gaze. She wanted to have more representation through her own family’s lens and to have footage and imagery for the younger generation to access, to highlight the celebration and positive times for her community."

Mark & Flo's Wedding 8

Item consists of an Ojibwe family’s home movie featuring the camera zooming in to a woman wearing a blue dress.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "On December 1, 1995, Star Nahwegahbo’s uncle and aunt, Mark and Florence, get married in Sudbury or Espanola, Ontario. These clips capture their wedding and reception; and the personalities of Star’s family shine through; we see her grandmother, grandfather and great grandfather, her aunt giggling at her own wedding as the priest fumbles on their names, and children running and dancing in the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation community centre.

Star was around the age of 12 or 13 and recalls avoiding the camera. Around that time she had just moved from Sudbury to Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, and had difficulty with the large cultural shift. Star felt she didn’t yet have a language to speak to her identity or community dynamics due to colonization.

Upon sharing the clip with her family members, Star’s family was moved to see family that had since passed. It was Star’s first time seeing the footage, and "it was nice to see everybody so young, celebrating, having a good time."

As an artist, Star participated in the Project because she felt compelled to push back against the colonial gaze. She wanted to have more representation through her own family’s lens and to have footage and imagery for the younger generation to access, to highlight the celebration and positive times for her community."

Mark & Flo's Wedding 10

Item consists of an Ojibwe family’s home movie featuring many individuals sitting with food and drinks at the table.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "On December 1, 1995, Star Nahwegahbo’s uncle and aunt, Mark and Florence, get married in Sudbury or Espanola, Ontario. These clips capture their wedding and reception; and the personalities of Star’s family shine through; we see her grandmother, grandfather and great grandfather, her aunt giggling at her own wedding as the priest fumbles on their names, and children running and dancing in the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation community centre.

Star was around the age of 12 or 13 and recalls avoiding the camera. Around that time she had just moved from Sudbury to Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, and had difficulty with the large cultural shift. Star felt she didn’t yet have a language to speak to her identity or community dynamics due to colonization.

Upon sharing the clip with her family members, Star’s family was moved to see family that had since passed. It was Star’s first time seeing the footage, and "it was nice to see everybody so young, celebrating, having a good time."

As an artist, Star participated in the Project because she felt compelled to push back against the colonial gaze. She wanted to have more representation through her own family’s lens and to have footage and imagery for the younger generation to access, to highlight the celebration and positive times for her community."

Mark & Flo's Wedding 15 : Kids dancing, playing

Item consists of an Ojibwe family’s home movie featuring children pulling another child off their seat in the foreground and children dancing in the background.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "On December 1, 1995, Star Nahwegahbo’s uncle and aunt, Mark and Florence, get married in Sudbury or Espanola, Ontario. These clips capture their wedding and reception; and the personalities of Star’s family shine through; we see her grandmother, grandfather and great grandfather, her aunt giggling at her own wedding as the priest fumbles on their names, and children running and dancing in the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation community centre.

Star was around the age of 12 or 13 and recalls avoiding the camera. Around that time she had just moved from Sudbury to Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, and had difficulty with the large cultural shift. Star felt she didn’t yet have a language to speak to her identity or community dynamics due to colonization.

Upon sharing the clip with her family members, Star’s family was moved to see family that had since passed. It was Star’s first time seeing the footage, and "it was nice to see everybody so young, celebrating, having a good time."

As an artist, Star participated in the Project because she felt compelled to push back against the colonial gaze. She wanted to have more representation through her own family’s lens and to have footage and imagery for the younger generation to access, to highlight the celebration and positive times for her community."

Mark & Flo's Wedding 16 : DJ onstage and kids spin as people come in

Item consists of an Ojibwe family’s home movie featuring the DJ and individuals on a stage with music playing in the background.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "On December 1, 1995, Star Nahwegahbo’s uncle and aunt, Mark and Florence, get married in Sudbury or Espanola, Ontario. These clips capture their wedding and reception; and the personalities of Star’s family shine through; we see her grandmother, grandfather and great grandfather, her aunt giggling at her own wedding as the priest fumbles on their names, and children running and dancing in the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation community centre.

Star was around the age of 12 or 13 and recalls avoiding the camera. Around that time she had just moved from Sudbury to Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, and had difficulty with the large cultural shift. Star felt she didn’t yet have a language to speak to her identity or community dynamics due to colonization.

Upon sharing the clip with her family members, Star’s family was moved to see family that had since passed. It was Star’s first time seeing the footage, and "it was nice to see everybody so young, celebrating, having a good time."

As an artist, Star participated in the Project because she felt compelled to push back against the colonial gaze. She wanted to have more representation through her own family’s lens and to have footage and imagery for the younger generation to access, to highlight the celebration and positive times for her community."

Mark & Flo's Wedding 19 : Star and her mother, woman dancing

Item consists of an Ojibwe family’s home movies featuring a child and a woman standing by a window, with another woman dancing across the frame of the footage. The Macarena song is playing in the background.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "On December 1, 1995, Star Nahwegahbo’s uncle and aunt, Mark and Florence, get married in Sudbury or Espanola, Ontario. These clips capture their wedding and reception; and the personalities of Star’s family shine through; we see her grandmother, grandfather and great grandfather, her aunt giggling at her own wedding as the priest fumbles on their names, and children running and dancing in the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation community centre.

Star was around the age of 12 or 13 and recalls avoiding the camera. Around that time she had just moved from Sudbury to Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, and had difficulty with the large cultural shift. Star felt she didn’t yet have a language to speak to her identity or community dynamics due to colonization.

Upon sharing the clip with her family members, Star’s family was moved to see family that had since passed. It was Star’s first time seeing the footage, and "it was nice to see everybody so young, celebrating, having a good time."

As an artist, Star participated in the Project because she felt compelled to push back against the colonial gaze. She wanted to have more representation through her own family’s lens and to have footage and imagery for the younger generation to access, to highlight the celebration and positive times for her community."

Fall picnic barbecue

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring a fall landscapes with colourful trees, and several people gathered around a picnic table to barbecue and eat with a river in the background.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "The following clips are from 1969-71. The reels start in the winter of 1970/71 north of Montreal, at Laurentian Mountains, a known good skiing place. Bala Nundy lived in Montreal at the time just before he got married in 1971. When Bala moved to Montreal he didn’t have any family there and his close friends became his family. Here they rented a cottage for a weekend trip. Since they are all from hot countries without snow they got excited and took many pictures.

The next scenes overlook downtown Montreal; Mont Royal, Jack Cartier Bridge, horse driven buggies, etc. The 8mm footage is sped up like a Chaplin film.

In the next scene, his future wife’s family and their friends appear. This is also in the Laurentian Mountain area in the winter of 1971.

Then there is a clip of Bala downhill skiing for the first time, he hoped that this would make his grandkids laugh in the future. This was taken in 1968 in Chicopee hill near Kitchener, ON.

Then to frozen Lake Erie, and a park in Galt, Ontario (later became Cambridge, Ontario).

Now Bala’s daughter Smita says, ‘You’ll often find her dad sitting down and going through old photos.’ He is known for sharing pictures at family get-togethers and is inspired by his grandkids. He has thousands of pieces of materials and started filming in 1965."

Wedding (3) Anjah's home entry, Friday home party, Zubin Tanya Deep Cove : anniversary party

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring desserts on a table, zooms out to group of adults including on person filming the person behind the camera, everyone appears happy and are giggling, the person behind the camera starts singing happy birthday while a woman cuts a cake topped with kiwi slices, and everyone applauds at the end of the song with the camera panning to reveal many others in the room.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Adults enjoying an anniversary party. The cameraman (father/grandfather) interviews the children, asking how they like Vancouver, and their thoughts on the wedding recorded in a previous video. The clip shows a family gathering, where the adults enjoy an anniversary party, while the children watch Pinocchio in the family room."

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."

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."

Kaieteur Falls plane ride

Item consists of a Guyanese family’s home movie documenting what appears to most likely be a trip to Kaieteur Falls and includes footage from the plane's windows flying to and over the falls.

Kaieteur Falls tour

Item consists of a Guyanese family’s home movie featuring what appears to most likely be Kaieteur Falls and includes footage of a plane, people walking through the Amazon and looking at the habitat, and a lookout with a scenic view of Kaieteur Falls and the valley below.

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.

Muny : baby shower : Ngày Đầy Tháng

Item consists of an a Khmer-Krom family’s home movie featuring a birthday celebration.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "The Truong/Tram family's home movie footage shot in VHS format on January 25th 1992, captures the 1-month old birthday party of their youngest son in Brantford, ON, shortly after moving from Hull, Quebec. A full and lively gathering, their celebration includes families chatting over a community meal, speeches, gift giving, dancing to 80's music, and loving footage of a peaceful baby enjoying the party. The Truongs/Trams are of Khmer-Krom ethnicity, translating to 'Khmer of the South'. The Khmer-Krom are an [unrecognised] Indigenous group and ethnic minority in the South of Vietnam. Many Khmer people who inhabited the same refugee camps in Vietnam later immigrated together to Canada. When the Truongs/Trams arrived in Hull, Quebec (now Gatineau, Quebec) in 1989, they were able to regularly connect with a Khmer community at gatherings like these. The Troung/Tram family have since relocated to Toronto ON where they continue to celebrate and take pride in their identity, and attend Khmer language and dance classes. The Khmer Buddhist Temple of Ontario in Hamilton remains central to them and their community. Mother, Trinh Nha Truong, was happy to share her footage with Home Made Visible because she wants to show other Canadians that ‘our people live in Canada too.'"

England '1990 : garden party

Item consists of a Jamaican-Guyanese family’s home movie featuring two women and a girl dancing; panning shots of the garden, street, and views of the city; and the family chatting around a table in the backyard with music playing in the background.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "'The year is 1990, and the Burke Family is on vacation in Bristol, England. This is filmed where Leah's father, Sam grew up. All of Leah's aunts and uncles had houses in the same neighbourhood, and this is a family reunion of sorts. Here, Leah, age eight or nine, dances to ska and lovers rock with her mother, Rita and Great Aunt Sweeney, while her dad is seen off in the background, and her older brother, Jason, films.

Her dad has roots in Jamaica and her mother has roots in Guyana. At different points in their lives both immigrated to England, and later met each other there. Her parents then set off to Canada during the Pierre Trudeau years in 1972 to raise a family. The Burkes now call many places home.'"

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."

RCMP weddings : part 2 of 4

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

Project and donor contributed description follows: "In the 1960s Kate’s dad, George admired the RCMP and made a point of befriending them. This segment includes four RCMP weddings. Here at Virden United Church George, like much of the town, waits to see the bride and groom. George would later go on to screen these films at the town Holiday parties.

The Chan family was the only Chinese family in the community and his relationship with the RCMP helped him maintain his business as the owner of the Virden Café. It also helped that Kate’s mother, Clara, was Russian and hostess at their café."

RCMP weddings : part 4 of 4

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

Project and donor contributed description follows: "In the 1960s Kate’s dad, George admired the RCMP and made a point of befriending them. This segment includes four RCMP weddings. Here at Virden United Church George, like much of the town, waits to see the bride and groom. George would later go on to screen these films at the town Holiday parties.

The Chan family was the only Chinese family in the community and his relationship with the RCMP helped him maintain his business as the owner of the Virden Café. It also helped that Kate’s mother, Clara, was Russian and hostess at their café."

RCMP dinner at Virden Café

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

Item consists of footage of a town with Christmas decorations and individuals at a restaurant. Project and donor contributed description follows: "An RCMP dinner at Virden Café including all of the grooms and brides."

House with Christmas decorations

Item consists of a Chinese-Russian family's home movie featuring a snowy house with Christmas decorations on the lawn. Project and donor contributed description follows: "George Chan filmed Christmas decorations in town, day and night."

Queen Elizabeth's Christmas message

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

Project and donor contributed description follows: "George films the TV and captures Queen Elizabeth's message to start off the Christmas day."

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. "

I & A (ages 7 & 3) Feb 2003 video letter for India Grandma : part 1 of 3

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie.

Project and donor contributed description follows: "The children are reciting; reciting a shopping list, nursery rhymes like "itsy bitsy spider," and their ABCs. The video letter of the boys learning to write and spell is a way to build and maintain a relationship with their grandmother from afar."

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."

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 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.""

Kavadi : hooks

Item consists of a Tamil family’s home movie.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "At nine-year-olds, Abhirami Balanchandran visits Sri Lanka for two months with her family for the second time. It was 2003 and during the civil war so it required multiple checkpoints before she was able to reach her hometown of Jaffna located in the north. They visited for Thaipusami, where she witnessed Kavadi for the first time. Kavadi is a ritual done for the Murugan, God of War where the back is pierced with several hooks while people partake in ceremonial dance. It was traditionally done for both sacrifice and preparation for war. It was Abhi’s first time witnessing something like that from her community which was definitely a cultural shock. ‘It was jarring, fascinating and beautiful.’ So much has changed since this video was taken and looking back at the footage of what Jaffna looked like has skewed her idea of what home looks like."

Happy St. Mary Day

Item consists of an Eritrean family's home movies featuring a cake with "Happy St. Mary Day" text decoration, children sitting on a couch eating cake, and a child dancing in front of the camera.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Lu Asfaha’s family begins the day by preparing their home roasted coffee for the Jebana (coffee pot) on the Assumption of St. Mary. Raised in a family of Christian Orthodox, Lu grew up taking the day off to observe this religious holiday with her family. Food, drinks and even a custom cake is ornamentally laid out to celebrate the day. Lu can be seen animatedly gesturing to the camera as she talks to her uncle behind the camera, a common occurrence in their home movies.

The only footage selected that did not take place on the Assumption of St. Mary is a typical family dinner of the Asfaha eating Injera and Tsebhi from a large dish. Common to many cultures from across the African continent, her family can be seen eating by hand, enjoying the flavourful dish. The adults appear to handle the spice level better than the children.

When asked about her identity, Lu speaks of the unique experience of being Eritrean in Toronto. Being from an East African identity that has a significantly smaller population compared to the Somali and Ethiopian one, the specific social location of Eritreans tends to be either rendered invisible or lumped in with the dominant East African identities represented in the city."

Family dinner eating Injera and Tsebhi from a large dish

Item consists of an Eritrean family's home movies featuring a family eating a meal together and discussing a Portuguese related class assignment.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Lu Asfaha’s family begins the day by preparing their home roasted coffee for the Jebana (coffee pot) on the Assumption of St. Mary. Raised in a family of Christian Orthodox, Lu grew up taking the day off to observe this religious holiday with her family. Food, drinks and even a custom cake is ornamentally laid out to celebrate the day. Lu can be seen animatedly gesturing to the camera as she talks to her uncle behind the camera, a common occurrence in their home movies.

The only footage selected that did not take place on the Assumption of St. Mary is a typical family dinner of the Asfaha eating Injera and Tsebhi from a large dish. Common to many cultures from across the African continent, her family can be seen eating by hand, enjoying the flavourful dish. The adults appear to handle the spice level better than the children.

When asked about her identity, Lu speaks of the unique experience of being Eritrean in Toronto. Being from an East African identity that has a significantly smaller population compared to the Somali and Ethiopian one, the specific social location of Eritreans tends to be either rendered invisible or lumped in with the dominant East African identities represented in the city."

First Christmas

Item consists of a Chinese-Canadian family’s home movie documenting Christmas celebrations.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "It’s Christmas eve, December 24th, 1994 at Kristina Wong’s family home in Scarborough, Ontario. Kristina Wong is about to experience her first Christmas. In the film you can also see her dad and her two sisters. Her mom is filming. Kristina recalls how her parents filmed a lot of her and her siblings growing up and stopped by the time she reached her teens."

First birthday celebration

Item consists of a Chinese-Canadian family’s home movie documenting Christmas celebrations.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "It’s Dec 30th, 1994 the day after Kristina Wong’s first birthday. She celebrates with her dad, mom and two sisters in Scarborough, Ontario. Kristina recalls that growing up in Scarborough in the 90s, ‘everyone was an immigrant. To me, I lived beside Pacific Mall so everything was very Asian growing up so I felt more Canadian than Chinese versus the opposite.’’"

Shovelling snow

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring children in the snow.

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."

Dishes and homework

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a woman washing dishes and boy working at a 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."

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."

Flowers on a house

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring flowers growing on the side of a house.

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."

Driving downtown

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a car driving downtown of a town.

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."

Dr. and Mrs. Masaharu Taniguchi Lecture Series

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring footage of a program, individuals entering a building, and an individuals at a microphone.

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."

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."

Family meal

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a family at a table eating a meal and a boy in a high chair, and also includes the family sitting on a couch.

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

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."

Family picnic

Item consists of a Japanese family's home movie featuring a picnic at a park with individuals sitting, chatting, and eating at a picnic table. Footage also includes captures individuals kayaking and enjoying the lawn near the lake.

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""

Playing cards

Item consists of a Japanese-Indian family's home movie featuring children and a man playing cards.

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 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""

Piano : girl with bow

Item consists of a home movie featuring a girl with a bow practising the piano.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Cindy Long is practising piano at their home in Agincourt, Toronto. She took lessons at the New Conservatory of Music in Scarborough. She began group lessons at age 6, and continued to play through high school. Because she was given the choice to continue lessons or not (rather than being forced to practice as some of her peers did), she gained a love of piano and music that remains to this day."

Ski lift

Item consists of a home movie featuring individuals going up a ski lift.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Cindy Long’s dad is filming her and her friend skiing at Horseshoe Mount St Louis Moonstone near Barrie ON."

Skiing

Item consists of a home movie featuring individuals skiing downhill and zooming in on a girl.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Cindy Long’s dad is filming her and her friend skiing at Horseshoe Mount St Louis Moonstone near Barrie ON."

Scouts Canada pledge and badges

Item consists of a home movie featuring a girl pledging to a scouts program and receiving badges.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Cindy Long was one of only 2 girls that participated in her Scouts Canada pack that held meetings at CD Farquharson Junior Public School. Here she is being honoured with a badge representing her moving up in ranking in the Cub Scouts (ages 8-10) program."

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."

New Conservatory of Music : playing the piano

Item consists of a home movie featuring a girl playing the piano in an auditorium.

Project and donor(s) contributed discussion follow(s): "Cindy Long is practising piano at their home in Agincourt, Toronto. She took lessons at the New Conservatory of Music in Scarborough. She began group lessons at age 6, and continued to play through high school. Because she was given the choice to continue lessons or not (rather than being forced to practice as some of her peers did), she gained a love of piano and music that remains to this day."

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 : 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."

Montreal Caribbean Carnival

Item consists of a Black-Canadian family’s home movies featuring crowds and performers at Montreal Carifiesta parade. Participants in costumes are playing mas, marching with a masquerade band. Several carnival bands - made up of dozens and sometimes hundreds of participants, wearing themed costumes created by various Caribbean designers and assembled by volunteers - would dance and perform for crowds and a group of judges (who would select and later announce the best mas band) at a local stadium, before the masquerade bands would make their way through downtown streets. In the 70’s and 80’s, the Carifiesta parade would mainly make its way along Ste-Catherine Street in Montreal, before the parade was moved to nearby René Lévesque Boulevard in later years.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "This footage was shot in the mid-1970’s and marks one of the first Montreal Caribbean Carnival celebrations in the city. Heather’s parents, Richard and Althea Seaman, brought her and her siblings, Hazel and Herbert, to see their first few parades as spectators. In later years, the family was occasionally involved as participants – whether helping to create costumes, build floats or march in the annual parade. The summer event was established to celebrate and showcase the Caribbean culture and heritage of immigrants, who were born on one of the diverse islands of the West Indies or those who had ancestry there. While Caribbean immigrants in Toronto started their carnival celebration - Caribana - in 1967, to mark Canada’s centennial celebration, Montrealers held their first Carifiesta parade and festival in July 1975."

Couvrette Street, St. Laurent, Quebec

Item consists of a Black-Canadian family’s home movie featuring a child brushing the teeth of a younger child. Footage also features children playing on a swing set in a park, a boy riding a bicycle and a girl riding a tricycle, and playing on a slide.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Daily life in Montreal, Quebec. This footage shows Heather trying to teach her younger sister Hazel how to brush her teeth. Heather describes this footage as "normal kids doing normal things." Heather recalls playing at the park across from her family home a lot and riding their bikes. She describes the home in this footage as her "first family home in Montreal," located on Couvrette Street in St. Laurent, which is a borough in Montreal, Quebec."

Hugs

Item consists of an Indo- and Black-Caribbean family’s home movie featuring a girl giving a woman a hug.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Shanti’s sister’s farm is a treasured place in their family’s collective memories. With 90 acres of land, the farm was a beloved retreat to the country for the Toronto family. In the footage, Leyla can be seen showing her picked grapes to her mother. Above them, Shanti’s mother picks grapes from their pergola.

Having recently started ballet classes, Leyla is wearing a pink ballet outfit complete with her own tutu. Endured by her outfit and feeling affection, Leyla is hugged by her grandmother.

At almost 4 years old, Layla and her grandmother are preparing the lights (diyas) for Diwali. In the Caribbean, the diyas would be lit outside the home, but since the family lived in an apartment the practise was kept to inside the home. Carefully, Leyla is guided in helping her grandmother. Her mother was a retired nurse to prepare for the holiday. Leyla grew up watching her grandmother during her daily prayers and helping on Diwali.

In rare form, Shanti is in front of the camera. As the family documenter, Shanti is usually the one behind the camera. Dressed as a witch, Shanti can be seen posing with her daughter who decided to go as a fairy princess this year before their evening of trick-or-treating."

Holding a newborn

Item consists of an Indo- and Black-Caribbean family’s home movie featuring a woman holding a newborn and a child asking to hold the baby.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Shanti has recently given birth to her second child, Rohan on April 8th 2001 at Scarborough Grace General Hospital. Her mother (a nurse herself) supported Shanti during the delivery. Leyla, the oldest and only child for the first 6 years of her life meets her younger brother for the first time on video.

Born closer to Easter, the rest of the family is able to travels down to meet the new member of the family. Robert who is now 16 is meeting his youngest cousin for the first time."

Holding a newborn

Item consists of an Indo- and Black-Caribbean family’s home movie featuring a woman holding a newborn

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Shanti has recently given birth to her second child, Rohan on April 8th 2001 at Scarborough Grace General Hospital. Her mother (a nurse herself) supported Shanti during the delivery. Leyla, the oldest and only child for the first 6 years of her life meets her younger brother for the first time on video.

Born closer to Easter, the rest of the family is able to travels down to meet the new member of the family. Robert who is now 16 is meeting his youngest cousin for the first time."

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."

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 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."

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."

Family wedding in Canada

Item consists of a Pakistani-Canadian family's home movie featuring a family barbeque, children playing at a park, and a wedding reception.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "At four years old, Noor is in Canada visiting her family to attend a relative’s wedding. After seeing the clip, she noticed her cousins are only speaking to her in Urdu. When she asked them why they weren’t speaking in English, she was told they thought she couldn’t speak English. Noor attended an International English primary school in Saudi Arabia with children from English speaking countries. The footage cuts to a night time gathering. Noor is dressed up with her family attending a relatives wedding. Children and adults can be seen mingling and dancing around."

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."

Mark & Flo's Wedding 5

Item consists of an Ojibwe family’s home movie featuring a bride and a man walking towards the camera.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "On December 1, 1995, Star Nahwegahbo’s uncle and aunt, Mark and Florence, get married in Sudbury or Espanola, Ontario. These clips capture their wedding and reception; and the personalities of Star’s family shine through; we see her grandmother, grandfather and great grandfather, her aunt giggling at her own wedding as the priest fumbles on their names, and children running and dancing in the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation community centre.

Star was around the age of 12 or 13 and recalls avoiding the camera. Around that time she had just moved from Sudbury to Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, and had difficulty with the large cultural shift. Star felt she didn’t yet have a language to speak to her identity or community dynamics due to colonization.

Upon sharing the clip with her family members, Star’s family was moved to see family that had since passed. It was Star’s first time seeing the footage, and "it was nice to see everybody so young, celebrating, having a good time."

As an artist, Star participated in the Project because she felt compelled to push back against the colonial gaze. She wanted to have more representation through her own family’s lens and to have footage and imagery for the younger generation to access, to highlight the celebration and positive times for her community."

Mark & Flo's Wedding 7 : the kiss

Item consists of an Ojibwe family’s home movie featuring the officiant congratulating the couple, the ceremonial kiss, and an applause.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "On December 1, 1995, Star Nahwegahbo’s uncle and aunt, Mark and Florence, get married in Sudbury or Espanola, Ontario. These clips capture their wedding and reception; and the personalities of Star’s family shine through; we see her grandmother, grandfather and great grandfather, her aunt giggling at her own wedding as the priest fumbles on their names, and children running and dancing in the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation community centre.

Star was around the age of 12 or 13 and recalls avoiding the camera. Around that time she had just moved from Sudbury to Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, and had difficulty with the large cultural shift. Star felt she didn’t yet have a language to speak to her identity or community dynamics due to colonization.

Upon sharing the clip with her family members, Star’s family was moved to see family that had since passed. It was Star’s first time seeing the footage, and "it was nice to see everybody so young, celebrating, having a good time."

As an artist, Star participated in the Project because she felt compelled to push back against the colonial gaze. She wanted to have more representation through her own family’s lens and to have footage and imagery for the younger generation to access, to highlight the celebration and positive times for her community."

Mark & Flo's Wedding 12 : Family serving food

Item consists of an Ojibwe family’s home movie featuring a woman bringing food to a table.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "On December 1, 1995, Star Nahwegahbo’s uncle and aunt, Mark and Florence, get married in Sudbury or Espanola, Ontario. These clips capture their wedding and reception; and the personalities of Star’s family shine through; we see her grandmother, grandfather and great grandfather, her aunt giggling at her own wedding as the priest fumbles on their names, and children running and dancing in the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation community centre.

Star was around the age of 12 or 13 and recalls avoiding the camera. Around that time she had just moved from Sudbury to Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, and had difficulty with the large cultural shift. Star felt she didn’t yet have a language to speak to her identity or community dynamics due to colonization.

Upon sharing the clip with her family members, Star’s family was moved to see family that had since passed. It was Star’s first time seeing the footage, and "it was nice to see everybody so young, celebrating, having a good time."

As an artist, Star participated in the Project because she felt compelled to push back against the colonial gaze. She wanted to have more representation through her own family’s lens and to have footage and imagery for the younger generation to access, to highlight the celebration and positive times for her community."

Mark & Flo's Wedding 17 : a wave

Item consists of an Ojibwe family’s home movie featuring a man sitting down at a table, pulling out a cigarette, and waving to the camera.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "On December 1, 1995, Star Nahwegahbo’s uncle and aunt, Mark and Florence, get married in Sudbury or Espanola, Ontario. These clips capture their wedding and reception; and the personalities of Star’s family shine through; we see her grandmother, grandfather and great grandfather, her aunt giggling at her own wedding as the priest fumbles on their names, and children running and dancing in the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation community centre.

Star was around the age of 12 or 13 and recalls avoiding the camera. Around that time she had just moved from Sudbury to Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, and had difficulty with the large cultural shift. Star felt she didn’t yet have a language to speak to her identity or community dynamics due to colonization.

Upon sharing the clip with her family members, Star’s family was moved to see family that had since passed. It was Star’s first time seeing the footage, and "it was nice to see everybody so young, celebrating, having a good time."

As an artist, Star participated in the Project because she felt compelled to push back against the colonial gaze. She wanted to have more representation through her own family’s lens and to have footage and imagery for the younger generation to access, to highlight the celebration and positive times for her community."

Premiere Communion de Josiane : multiple generations dancing

Item consists of a Haitian family's home movie featuring multiple generations eating and dancing to music in a living room.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "The year is 1985 and in Verdun, Quebec, eight or nine years old Josiane Blanc celebrates her Catholic communion. Here she cuts her cake among her mom and family members."

Premiere Communion de Josiane : cake

Item consists of a Haitian family's home movie featuring a child in a white dress cutting a large decorative cake in the shape of a chapel and book cake with help from and supervision of three women. A child is a black suit and tie also appears in the footage.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "The year is 1985 and in Verdun, Quebec, eight or nine years old Josiane Blanc celebrates her Catholic communion. Here she cuts her cake among her mom and family members."

Zubin Tanya Sikh Camp, Zubin's 13th Birthday

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring a child coming out from a hallway to a living room and the man behind the camera says and starts singing happy birthday along with two women and another child who give the birthday boy hugs.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "we’re celebrating my eldest grandchild’s 13th birthday. Video takes place in the religious temple, a Sikh Gurdwara. When immigrating to Canada, the sister of the donor lived with her parents, who insisted her children participate in religious education. Featured here, are the children praying in Punjabi, a language foreign to them. Later, the eldest grandchild celebrates his 13th birthday and receives presents. In the last clip, the child recites a prayer on his birthday in order to receive a gift and cheque."

Zubin Tanya Sikh Camp, Zubin's 13th Birthday

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring a child reciting phases in another language while looking at the camera.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "Video takes place in the religious temple, a Sikh Gurdwara. When immigrating to Canada, the sister of the donor lived with her parents, who insisted her children participate in religious education. Featured here, are the children praying in Punjabi, a language foreign to them. Later, the eldest grandchild celebrates his 13th birthday and receives presents. In the last clip, the child recites a prayer on his birthday in order to receive a gift and cheque."

Wedding (3) Anjah's home entry, Friday home party, Zubin Tanya Deep Cove : picnic

Item consists of an Indian family’s home movie featuring two children standing on a rock in water at Vancouver and taking to the camera about their trip.

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "My family having a picnic at Deep Cove North Vancouver. The cameraman (father/grandfather) interviews the children, asking how they like Vancouver, and their thoughts on the wedding recorded in a previous video. The clip shows a family gathering, where the adults enjoy an anniversary party, while the children watch Pinocchio in the family room."

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."

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 : 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."

Road trip

Item consists of a Guyanese family’s home movie.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "In 2008, Shenaz sets up her Super 8 camera to test it out on the trip from Scarborough to North York and back again. The footage moves at double time, in a time lapse, due to the short filming capacity of Super 8 cameras. Her aunt accompanies her on the first leg of the trip, her expression almost static in the bright winter sunshine. As her aunt exits the car at her destination, Shenaz sets up the camera on the dashboard to face her for a moment, slipping on her sunglasses. The camera is later refocused on her father in the passenger seat, as she drives him to his chemotherapy session. For the last portion of the road trip, Shenaz turns the camera onto the road itself, finally parking in front of her home where she began."

Liberty Village

Item consists of a Guyanese family’s home movie filmed by Shenaz Baksh in 2005. Clip features employees at their desks working and drinking beers. Recording also features the CN tower with cranes and construction of Liberty Village in the foreground.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Liberty Village in 2005 was a rapidly changing place, and Shenaz Baksh, equipped with a brand new Super 8 camera decided to document it. The community had changed so much and by the brief shots of construction seen outside her office window, would only continue to change more. This gave Shenaz all the more reason to archive her workplace of five years. Nearing 15 years later, Shenaz's coworkers marveled less at how spaces change over time, like Shenaz had intentioned, but more at their youthful appearances."

Mahaica Market, Guyana

Item consists of a Guyanese family’s home movie on black and white footage featuring wide and panning shots of market stalls, mid and close shots of merchant interactions with customers, and tracking shots of customers walking through the market.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "As a child, Shenaz wandered Mahaica Market with her mother shopping for the weeks groceries. As an adult and as a filmmaker, Shenaz wanted to capture her childhood memories and archive the vendors in the market. For Shenaz, recording her trip back to her childhood community had less to do with being Guyanese and more to do with being a filmmaker and an artist."

Tire swing

Item consists of a Filipino-Canadian family's home movie featuring a woman spinning two children on a tire swing.

La Ronde

Item consists of a Moroccan family's home movie featuring two children and a woman entering the park to ride the carousel, bumper cars, and ferris wheel amongst many other children’s rides. Footage contains a 360 degree cityscape views of the Jacques-Cartier bridge, Longueuil, and Montreal (including the Olympic Stadium).

Donor(s) and project contributed description follows: "A couple take their young daughter down to La Ronde on a warm sunny afternoon. Opened since 1967, this amusement park continues to be a popular family attraction during the summer season and a common childhood experience for many Montrealers. Yousra remembers going to the park with her family every couple of years and the excitement this visit would bring. She recounts how they"would be out from the day until night".

When asked about her memories of the day, Yosura remembers most clearly the bumper cars and atmospheric nostalgia of being in that place. Like many families with home movies on older formats, she grew up seeing the tapes throughout the years, but stopped once her family no longer had a VHS player. Born and raised in Montreal, but with Moroccan heritage Yousra describes herself as being"someone with two identities [we] are culturally bilingual… I try to define myself and not let others define me.""

Raptors Junior Dance Pak (1996) Part 2

Item consists of an Afghani family’s home movie featuring children and teenagers from the Raptors Junior Dance Pak line dancing on stage behind Six Nations country singer Rebecca Miller singing "Listen to the Radio" at the YTV Achievement Award recipients.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "Around 1994, 9-year old Azada Rahi living in a nearby co-op auditioned at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre to be part of the junior Toronto Raptors Dance Pak. The choreographer was Clarence Ford, who auditioned kids, teens and young adults from all over the city, and ran the Pak once the crew was established. He was a delight to work with, was extremely kind, and was great at keeping so many young people organized and focused.

Here, November 2nd ,1995, at the SkyDome (presently the Rogers Centre) the Pak rehearses the same routine over and over in preparation for the opening performance at the first-ever Toronto Raptors game. On the day of the performance, Azada recalls pushing through the stomach flu to perform, her hard work could not go to waste, and it was a very exciting time. They had already performed at the Toronto Raptors opening dinner gala the previous summer. The Junior Dance Pak continued to dance at games and other functions for some time, though Azada only stayed with them for about a year and a half to two years.

In 1996 the Pak was hired to perform at the YTV Achievement Awards. Dawning matching plaid and denim ensembles, the Pak backup danced for Indigenous Canadian country singer, Rebecca Miller. This country line-dancing number was one of three performances they did at the Awards that evening, including one with Aashna Patel.

For Azada, the years she spent in the Pak, encountering Canadian athletes and entertainers were "fun and weird". These tapes are the sole recordings of her dancing that she has had access to. Looking back at the footage proved surprisingly hilarious, and are a chance to reflect on herself as an uninhibited young dancer."

Montreal snow storm

Item consists of an a Haitian Canadian family’s home movie featuring the family and their neighbours shovelling snow and digging out the street. Recording also features children playing in the snow and a tractor plowing the street. Video was filmed by André and Ginette Valcin.

Project and donor(s) contributed description follows: "On March 4th, 1971, Montreal saw the "Storm of the Century", a massive snowstorm brought 43cm of snow and 100/km winds to the city. It would take 41 years for this snowfall record to be broken. People lost electricity for as long as ten days. Nadine recalls living on St. Leonard and not being able to see through her patio doors and that the only people who could get around were emergency vehicles and snowmobiles. Of course this major setback meant snow days for everyone, and Nadine's parents and neighbours got to shovelling. In a predominantly Italian neighbourhood, Nadine suspects her family may have been the only Black family on this street. With no school, five-year old Nadine took pleasure in the Montreal pastime of building snow forts."

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'."

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