Stories That Bridge Worlds: UniAction’s Intimate Dinner with Author Kim Thúy

February 20, 2015 - UniAction’s Conferences & Passions: An Intimate Dinner with Kim Thúy offered a heartfelt evening of cultural exchange, storytelling, and reflection in the heart of Montréal at Saiko Bistrot Izakaya on Beaver Hall . The event brought together a few inspiring women leaders in an intimate setting that embodied UniAction’s mission of using cultural diplomacy as a force for connection, dialogue and social inclusion.

Renowned Vietnamese-Canadian author Kim Thúy, celebrated for her work Ru captivated the room with personal stories from her journey—from arriving in Canada as a refugee to becoming one of the country’s most beloved literary voices. Speaking with warmth, humour, and poetic honesty, she explored themes such as her trips to other countries like Italy, displacement, identity, intergenerational memory, and the quiet resilience of the human spirit.

Around the table, guests engaged in dialogue not only about literature but about everyday life. UniAction’s leadership emphasized the significance of these small-scale, meaningful gatherings in promoting cultural diplomacy. They noted that lasting societal impact often begins with shared human experiences—around a table, through a story, in a moment of listening. The evening demonstrated how art, literature, and food can serve as bridges between cultures and communities.

The dinner with Kim Thúy set a powerful precedent, showing how personal narrative can influence public understanding and foster empathy across borders.

Attendees left the evening deeply moved, reminded that diplomacy can take the form of storytelling—and that every story shared is a step toward a more inclusive, compassionate world.