Unmoored: Vancouver's Voyage of the Komagata Maru, May 21 to Aug 18

In 1914 Vancouver was a burgeoning, multicultural port city and a hub for migrants searching for new opportunities. On the cusp of the Great War, Vancouver waged its own internal battle to determine what type of city it wanted to be. A flashpoint was the arrival of the Komagata Maru – a steamship carrying 376 British Indian passengers who were denied entry into Canada. This modest-sized exhibition – guest curated by Naveen Girn – examines the enduring impact that this dramatic event had on Vancouver. Stories, rare artefacts, images and documents provide new insights into how national policies and racial bias shaped the lives of Komagata Maru passengers and South Asian immigrants. Bringing fresh perspectives and meanings to this significant moment of Vancouver’s history provide opportunities for intercultural dialogue and for re-imagining the future of the city.