In collaboration with the University of Western Ontario (UWO), the Salvadoran Canadian Association (ASALCA) planned to conduct interviews for the Virtual Museum of Migration Stories in six major Canadian cities with significant Salvadoran populations. In late 2022, it was decided that Toronto would be the first city to host these interviews.
To prepare, the ASALCA team carried out a four-hour on-site visit to the Quaker House, the selected venue for the interviews scheduled for January 5–6, 2023. The purpose of this visit was to identify the most suitable filming locations within the building, set up equipment, and address logistical details. Reference photos were also taken to help other team members review the setup before returning to assist with the actual recording sessions.
Leading up to the interviews, ASALCA dedicated time to identifying Salvadorans who arrived in Toronto during the 1980s, a period marked by the Salvadoran Civil War. The goal was to invite individuals willing to share their personal stories of migration — reflecting on the hardships they faced, their settlement experiences, and the circumstances that led them to choose Canada as their new home.
On January 5 and 6, an ASALCA representative, the UWO Project Director, and a two-member camera crew set up the stage and created a welcoming, safe environment for participants to tell their stories. The interviews captured deeply moving and powerful testimonies of forced exile, resilience, and determination, revealing how Salvadorans built new lives and communities in Canada.
