For this project, I decided to interview my grandpa.  During my interview with him, I discovered that he had come to Canada to study at his university. After he completed his studies, he moved to Québec to seek opportunities for his career. However, things were not going as well as he planned. In Québec, there was a group of people called the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) , who wanted Québec to be completely French-speaking. Unfortunately, my grandpa only knew English, which created a language barrier and made his journey to find a career there a lot more challenging. That’s why I used that as an inspiration for my artwork. In my artwork, you can see that I have included 3D elements to it. The yarn in my art creates the vision of thoughts rambling through his head, surrounding him with frustration and confusion. The wood tiles covered in Chinese newspapers represent what his native language is, and the words that the society said to people like him. Another 3D element that I have included is a Band-Aid. The reasoning is because he had no way to express himself since he didn't know French I find my background important to my piece as one side shows Québec and the other is Hong Kong, which is where he was from. On the Québec side, you can see the colours being vibrant and warm, demonstrating the Québec you see today, not the past. To conclude my piece, I have added 3D elements to make it more realistic and more heartfelt. I would also like to express my appreciation to my grandpa for making it this far and allowing my family and me to live the life that I have currently. 

I interviewed my Grade 7 teacher, Ms. L. Chen. In 2006, at the age of eight, she immigrated to Canada from Fujian, China, with her mother and younger brother, in search of a better life and education. She faced many challenges—learning English, adapting to a new culture, and acting as a translator and interpreter for her parents in daily life, at school meetings, and during government meetings.

Despite the difficulties, including leaving behind a peaceful rural life, strong academics, and close friends, she never gave up. Through perseverance and hard work, she became fluent in English, graduated from her dream university, and found a meaningful job.

In my artwork, I drew the Canadian flag as a background with five key events in her life surrounding the maple leaf. In the upper right, I illustrated Central Technical High School, where she attended high school. I added a track field underneath to represent how she helped the student council campaign to get it rebuilt—though it was finished after she graduated. A translation sign represents her responsibility in bridging languages for her family.

Her story reflects courage, responsibility, and determination. I admire her dream-chasing spirit and her willingness to face hardships. I hope to learn from her example and grow into a better version of myself.

This represents the new life of Ms.Lau started when she immigrated to Canada with her parents, her parents needed to move to Canada from Hong Kong. Since her parents have a friend in Edmonton, they moved to Edmonton to meet their friends there first. As she has mentioned, she is baptized as a Catholic, so coming to Canada doesn’t change her lifestyle in a religious way. Instead, when she became older, as a teenager, she started to perform more volunteering jobs for church. This is a big lifestyle change. During this time she also faced a lot of challenges including language barriers and car driving. When she first came to Canada, her accent was British since Hong Kong was a British colony. She has to speak with a more Canadian accent in order to fit in better.

The life of Ms.Lau is bumpy and full of challenges. This drawing represents two countries that are important to her, Hong Kong and Canada. The right drawing is Edmonton showing the beautiful nature view in Canada, instead on the left side it is Hong Kong, I put two of the drawings together to show the difference of lifestyle between the cities. And to show how hard it is to fit in well and have a wonderful new life here. This is also why I named it ‘A Start of New Life’. Leaving everything in Hong Kong is very hard. Especially, moving to Canada means they need to abandon everything they have and all the effort they made in Hong Kong. So the achievement that Ms.Lau can reach today is very impressive. 

In my artwork, I added three flags. The flags of Thailand, Vietnam, and Canada. I added these 3 flags because Ms. Huynh’s parents are from Vietnam. I drew a boat because they escaped by boat as refugees to Thailand and stayed in a refugee camp. Her father got held back 4 times but still managed to escape. They lived in Thailand for about 1-3 years, and they met each other. In 1985, they got sponsored by Canada, so they moved to Winnipeg and got citizenship. They faced a bit of racism since they didn’t know how to speak English and had no education. Her parents worked at a shoe factory warehouse, and now, they build cars. I made this artwork black and white using sketch pencils to highlight that this was an important part of history and their lives. Her story reminded me of when my parents came to Canada for a better life and how harsh it was for them. In this drawing, I wanted to emphasize their important identity. 

My artwork tells the story of my grandmother’s origin, Hong Kong. That is the reason I named my artwork, Origin. It portrays her standing by herself in Canada, looking into a mirror that reflects her origin. I used a plastic sheet for the mirror to make it look shiny and more realistic. In the reflection, she stands in a row beside the family she left behind in Hong Kong. She’s with her mother, father and her brother. Hong Kong is a very crowded and busy city. It also has many tall buildings surrounding the city. That is why I drew buildings in the background to represent the bustling city life.  

My grandma wanted to leave Hong Kong because she heard that in Canada, their education was great. Therefore, she immigrated to Toronto. 

Years ago, high school ended at grade 13, not grade 12. When she attended university in Toronto, the university did not recognize that she had passed grade 13 back in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, she had to retake it in Toronto. A few years later, she graduated from university, which is why she’s wearing a black graduation gown. I used felt for her graduating gown instead of drawing it because it bolded out from the rest of the 2D drawings. I bolded out her gown because it was an important accomplishment of her life in Canada. Finally, in the background, I drew a Canadian flag. However, the red maple leaf of the flag is placed behind the mirror. It shows that even though my grandma was in Canada, her origin will always remain a part of her.

My artwork is about my mom, who travelled from her home country of Korea to pursue education in Canada. But you also must realize that that wasn’t the only factor she was considering when she moved; it wasn’t even the first priority. Her top priority was her kids. Why did she move? Because she didn’t want her children to bear the dragging weight of competitive Korean schools. Why did she move into a country where she did not speak the language? Because she wanted her kids to know English, an extremely widely spoken language, so her kids could be free from the limitations of speaking just Korean. She left her dear, comfortable life in Korea for her kids, and did look back; not just once or twice, but many, many times, and resisted the temptation to sail back to her home country because her kids were already so happy here in Canada.

The Korean and Canadian flags represent two parts of her life, the one in Korea and the one in Canada. The sign with the Conestoga College crest on it is the college she went to in Canada, and the gibberish letters symbolize her need to learn a new language. The fetus holding the heart embodies how much she loves her children, and the fact that such a tiny baby can hold the love of ten thousand men; in other words, the love of a mother. My mom is such a large part of my life, and my childhood would be shapeless without her, along with the rest of my family. I’m proud to be raised in a household where I can express myself freely without judgement and criticism. I’m proud of my mom, and I know she’s proud of me.

The fire in my art is to represent the many other horrible immigration stories, as mine had basically no struggle when trying to come to Canada, the only challenge was the 6 heavy suitcases we had to bring but it wasn’t hard. The two towers in the back were the most iconic part of Shanghai, which is where I was born and raised for the first 5 years, and the many different floating words represent the language barrier that I had experienced when first arriving in Canada. Also, I think because the journey was so smooth, I got used to the Canadian environment very quickly and learned to almost the same level as the other kids in just a few months. 

My artwork describes the hope of change and a better future, my mother hopes to find in Canada. My mother and I were both born and raised in Hong Kong. We lived an average life, rented an apartment, my mother got a job she enjoyed, I attended a good school, etc. I was terrible at Chinese, and my mother helped me study for days and nights for months to pass. It would affect my chances of getting into a good school, so in August of 2023, she finally decided to come to Canada for better future opportunities.  When we arrived, we were clueless, but thankfully, a few of my mother's friends came to Canada before us and helped us settle in. My mother struggled to find a job as she didn't have the experience and qualifications for many positions until a friend recommended her, and she got her first job. Life was ok until the job started to wear her out, and she quit to improve her mental health. Then things took a turn, and there was a family emergency, and we immediately went back to HK. Someone in my family passed away, and it was a wake-up call to my mother about how easy it is to lose a loved one; She got a choice to go to Canada and continue to live there for my happiness and future or move back to HK and care for her family. She decided to go to Canada for my future, but we called her family frequently. She made an immense sacrifice, continued the path of immigration, and put my future in Canada. My mother made a humongous sacrifice; that's the reason I am still here today. Moving here was a big challenge, and there were ups and downs. This journey is how my mother and I came here.

I drew a big line down the middle of my art piece to represent a language barrier. Then, I drew scribble lines beyond the wall of the girl to represent the fact that the Canadian man can not understand Chinese. There are 4 people behind the woman because there's other people who come from the same culture but yet they still don't have the nerve to help. The only time my mom was helped was when she found these 2 people, a mother with her daughter, who helped her find the immigration office to sign up for Canadian Citizenship. This reminds me of the time when I was in China last summer, I didn’t know how to unlock the gate leading to my apartment until a kind person who also spoke English came and taught me how to unlock the gate to go to my apartment.

My artwork, “Family Hero” is themed after my grandfather.

My grandfather is an admirable person who shaped my entire family’s life. My grandfather persevered through the challenges of moving to Canada, such as the language barrier and moving alone, all to bring his family a better life. In my drawing, I sketched the same house my grandfather brought decades ago, the same house I visit every weekend with my parents and brother. In the background, I drew the Chinese flag, blowing proudly in the breeze, representing my family’s ethnicity. On top of the house, I illustrated a graduation cap, symbolizing the education my dad and uncle received after moving. The engineering materials indicate that my grandfather and dad both became engineers.

I would like to acknowledge the hardships that my grandfather went through. He built a life here in Canada by himself, worked hard every day and never gave up. Through his resilience and hard work, he was able to start a new chapter in our lives. My grandfather is the true hero of our family.

I interviewed Ms Chen. Ms Chen is from Fujian, China. She came to Canada, downtown Toronto, when she was eight. She is now a teacher in Markham. When she came to Canada, she had a lot of problems with the language. She didn't know how to speak English at first when she came to Canada. Just like me, my English is not good either.  But she didn't give up, she spent a lot of time learning English. She knows how to speak English now. I use gray to colour the letter and drew people speaking because Ms Chen doesn't understand  English at first. I drew a fist to represent her perseverance in learning English and adapting to life in Canada.

For this project, I interviewed my mother about her immigration to Canada. Through the interview, I learned that she decided to leave her home country, China, to attend school in Canada in order to further explore the world. She arrived in Toronto with a few of her friends and was roommates with them, first going to Centennial College before attending York University. Having never come to Canada and never fully learned the English language, she was unfamiliar with the streets, the people and the language. Through her dedication and perseverance despite arriving in a new country and leaving her family, it allowed me to live comfortably in Canada and know English, as it is a universal language. Opening the door to opportunities that were out of reach before. 

My art piece depicts a school because it was the main reason for her arrival in Canada, education. The flag standing beside the school depicts her heritage and nationality, China and Canada. Which is why the flag is split in half, because both are equally important to her. The tree in the top corner illustrates her growth as a person since arriving in Canada. Whether it was learning the language or getting familiar with the people and surroundings. She prospered from a small sprout to a full tree with many leaves and branches, all different aspects of her life. I am grateful for all she has accomplished for me and my family, regardless of the hardships she faced along the way.    

This artwork is inspired by my grandpa, who lived by himself before his brothers invited him to come to Canada. I created this drawing to show a peaceful moment from where he is from. The sunset and the lions represent the beauty of the land and the calmness he might have felt while watching nature. I included him in the picture, sitting outside, enjoying the view. This drawing means a lot to me because it reminds me of my grandpa’s story and where he came from. It helps me feel connected to my roots and his journey.

My artwork includes RBC bank, plane, car, my brother's imagination and the moon. Why I want to include these is because when my brother was 16, he came to Canada. But he didn't know anything, so he tried to learn new things; to study harder and find a new life. When he became an adult, he was doing job at the bank and being a captain, he accepted his job. When he was in high school, he had dreams. He wanted to go to Harvard University and he wanted to be a great psychiatrist, because he wants help others.

My artwork, “Faces of,” is a 3D piece that expresses my understanding of the responses and experiences of my brother, Tony. I chose this format to show the many perspectives and possibilities that shape people’s experiences, decisions, thinking, and stories. That’s why I named it “Faces of.”

The Face of Education
The first face represents education, which was the main reason behind Tony’s immigration. He came to Canada at age 16 to start high school at Langstaff Secondary School for a better environment and education. I created a scene of his high school using coloured yarn and hard card paper, with a large book replacing the school building. I titled the book using letters that don’t belong to any language, symbolizing the language barrier Tony experienced at the beginning.

The Face of Identity and Acceptance
The second face is made of two human-shaped pieces—one with the Chinese flag and one with the Canadian flag. They are spiraled together, showing both the cultural differences and Tony’s effort to accept and balance both sides. The fused shape represents his identity as Chinese-Canadian.

The Face of Strengthening
The final face is about strengthening. I showed Tony’s mental growth in a cartoon style inspired by a t-shirt he once gave me. The heart represents his mind, and the paper planes represent the times our family moved homes. Those experiences shaped his story and made him stronger.

Reflection
Tony’s story may not be dramatic, but he is full of quiet strength. I admire his fortitude, kindness, and responsibility. I hope that one day I can grow to reflect those same values.

This piece is about immigration, from my mother's perspective and based on what I know about her experience. Making it, I learned so much about her process, specifically the strength and courage it took to persevere through so many hurdles. Immigrating was not easy. The process was incredibly long, filled with a lot paperwork, setbacks, and mailing documents back and forth. My mother waited for months just to get a response from immigration centres. She was patient and kept hoping throughout, even in times of frustration and uncertainty. My mom, my dad, and my brother were the first of our entire family to move to Canada. The rest of our family couldn't afford to move or didn't have the chance. My family initially came on my dad's work visa. They worked diligently, and my mom attempted to adapt to the new environment and take care of our family as well as she could. They wished to stay and obtain permanent residence down the line, but when the visa expired, they had to return to India before they could finalize the process.

This story helped me to feel a closer sense of connection with my mother's experience and all that she went through. I didn't realize it was so much strength to leave her house and start over in a completely different part of the world. It caused a new sense of respect for her love and sacrifices for our family. My mother's background as an immigrant is a significant portion of who I am today. It established the life that I currently live, and it helped establish the person that I'm becoming. I'm grateful to her, and I feel privileged to be able to convey her story through my artwork. This artwork is in tribute to her determination, hope, and resilience.

I drew the Canadian flag the same colour as Senegal's because that is Mr. Ngoye's home country, where he was born and raised by his family. I drew a school because when Mr. Ngoye first arrived in Canada, he faced many struggles, such as adapting to the environment and new things. However, School was a huge problem, as he had to redo school to get a job, even though he had already gone to school in his home country and gotten a master's degree. He faced no racism when coming to Canada, as everyone was kind to him, and they treated him sincerely and kindly.

His story reminds me how grateful I am to be born in Canada. I do not have to go through the same struggles that my family went through. I am proud to be Chinese-Canadian because I can celebrate my hometown's traditions, enjoy the benefits of living in Canada, and have opportunities to get great jobs in the future.

Ms. Lau came to Canada because she wanted to study in another place. She celebrates Chinese festivals. Ms. Lau came from Hong Kong. She faced some challenges after she came to Canada. She spoke British English, but it was somewhat different from American English. This art is about Ms. Lau. I drew some Chinese festivals, because Ms. Lau still celebrates the festivals after coming to Canada. I include Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour because Ms. Lau is from Hong Kong. I drew a Toronto in the art, because Ms. Lau is now in the Greater Toronto Region. I need to study like Ms. Lau. From her experiences, I need to practise my problem-solving skills more.

This piece tells the story of my grandmother, who was born in Russia. The left side of the artwork shows the darker chapters of her early life struggles with money, education, and meeting basic needs. Despite the hard time, I included the beautiful Russian landscape, like mountains and lakes that were a big part of her world. A pocket watch in the top corner symbolizes my great-grandfather, who sold them during wartime to help support his family. Running through the centre are train tracks, showing two contrasting worlds. The right side is brighter and more colourful, representing her journey to a better life compared to the left. She was transported by train to China, but the transition wasn’t easy. It didn’t happen all at once, it was a painful shift. On the right side, I drew my grandmother with her green eyes and curly blond hair, standing in front of buildings that represent Harbin. Even though she found a new home, she also faced confusion and the emotional challenge of starting over in a different culture. I included the word “journey” in Russian on the left side, and in Chinese on the right side, showing the language barriers she faced and overcame. Creating this piece helped me better understand the strength behind her story. She’s not just a Russian woman living in Harbin, she’s someone who fought to build a life for herself and her family. Through her, I’ve got not only my unique light coloured hair, but also a connection to two different cultures. She inspires me, and I’m proud to share it through this artwork.