Cecilia Aisin-Gioro, a descendant of the Qing dynasty’s imperial family and great-niece of China’s last emperor, Puyi, endured the upheaval of the Cultural Revolution to become a prominent figure in global art and history. Ostracized from the country her family once ruled, Cecilia ultimately found refuge in West Vancouver, where she embraced the freedom to explore her artistic vision while protecting and celebrating her ancestral legacy. Cecilia will recount her journey of self-discovery, reflecting on her place in Chinese history and her evolution into a globally influential artist and critic.
Local Voices celebrates our community as it was and is, in the words of the people who live here. Learn about who we are, why we chose to make our home in West Vancouver, and what we do here—presented in partnership with the West Vancouver Historical Society.
Upcoming Local Voices:
- April 2 – It’s Not Bad, But It Could Have Been So Much Better: Reflections on Apartheid, Truth and Reconciliation and the Path from 1980s South Africa to 2020s West Vancouver with Eldon Phukuile
- May 7 – The Hidden Journals, Captain Vancouver, and His Mapmaker: A Coast Salish Family Story with Halikium Wade Baker and Mary Tasi
- June 4 – Finding Home: From Struggles to Belonging – Can We Ever Truly Find Our Place? with Mahshid Rezaei
Please register for each session individually.