Migrant Dreams poster
The University of Winnipeg’s Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies and Institute of Urban Studies co-present* the film Migrant Dreams on Friday, March 10, at 7:00 pm at the Dramatic Arts Centre, 585 Ellice Avenue. The film’s acclaimed director, Min Sook Lee, will introduce the film and speak about her experiences working with migrant workers. The film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Lee, migrant workers, and community advocates. This event is free and open to the public.
Bringing attention to the myriad challenges faced by migrants and their families, the recently released documentary, Migrant Dreams, tells a heart-wrenching story of desperation, struggles, and hope. The film focuses on the experiences of migrant women from Mexico, Thailand, and Jamaica who come to Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which critics argue treats migrants as modern day indentured labour. Taking place in southern Ontario, the film documents individuals’ desires to achieve a better life as they negotiate a system that allows both their labour and vulnerability to be exploited by unscrupulous employers and recruiters.
This screening stems from collaborative endeavours involving two community-based advocacy groups (the Migrant Worker Solidarity Network and Migrante Manitoba) and individuals from UWinnipeg and the University of Manitoba in an effort to promote discussion, dialogue, and community engagement around the topic of migration.
*This screening is co-sponsored by the Manitoba Chair for Global Governance Studies; University of Manitoba – Department of Women’s & Gender Studies, Margaret Laurence Endowment Fund; University of Winnipeg – Institute for Women’s & Gender Studies; University of Winnipeg – Institute of Urban Studies; University of Manitoba – Department of Sociology; and The Social Planning Council of Winnipeg.
