PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

An invitation to the media and the public:
Launch of TV documentary series highlights B.C.?s ethnic heroines

Vancouver, B.C.

The Vancouver Museum will host the January 12, 2006 launch of "Mother Tongue", a TV documentary series exploring ethnic women's history in Canada. The screening of two episodes will be followed by a Q&A.

The two episodes are:

"Mary Lee Chan: Taking on City Hall". When the government announced the demolition of her neighbourhood near Vancouver's Chinatown in the 1960s, Mary rallied her community to stand up to City Hall.

"Kimiko Murakami: Triumph Over Internment" - Kimiko Murakami was interned and her farm in Salt Spring Island was confiscated after Japan attacked Pearl Harbour. Imprisoned for 8 years, she never gave up hope.

Mary's daughter Shirley Chan, Liberal MP Candidate (Vancouver East) in the 2004 elections and Kimiko's daughter Mary Kitagawa feature in the films. They will be available to answer questions at the launch.

The launch is to celebrate the B.C. premiere of "Mother Tongue" on channel M on January 15, 2006 at 9.30pm. The series will be broadcast every Sunday night at 9.30pm for 13 weeks.

Other episodes cover the stories of remarkable women from Canada's Woodland Cree, Black, Jewish, Muslim, Acadian, Rwandan, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, and Finnish communities. For more information visit: www.mothertongue.ca.

Join us at the launch:
Thursday, January 12, 2006
7:30 - 9:30pm
Vancouver Museum
located minutes from downtown in Vanier Park on the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge at 1100 Chestnut Street. Free parking is available.
For information call (604) 734-7368
RSVP to info@mothertongue.ca
Media Contact: Mother Tongue Producer and Director Susan Poizner
Phone: 416-784-2826 Cell: 416-505-1498
Email: susan.poizner@sympatico.ca