John Ralston Saul says Canada is Metis/Aboriginal.... in nature - not English/French/Scottish....

Here is John Ralston Saul's 2008 book about Canada:

SUMMARY OF A FAIR COUNTRY (from his website):

"In this startlingly original vision of Canada, thinker John Ralston Saul unveils 3 founding myths. Saul argues that the famous “peace, order, and good government” that supposedly defines Canada is a distortion of the country’s true nature. Every single document before the BNA Act, he points out, used the phrase “peace, welfare, and good government,” demonstrating that the well-being of its citizenry was paramount.

"He also argues that Canada is a Métis nation, heavily influenced and shaped by aboriginal ideas: egalitarianism, a proper balance between individual and group, and a penchant for negotiation over violence are all aboriginal values that Canada absorbed. Another obstacle to progress, Saul argues, is that Canada has an increasingly ineffective elite, a colonial non-intellectual business elite that doesn’t believe in Canada. It is critical that we recognize these aspects of the country in order to rethink its future."

	français

http://www.johnralstonsaul.com/SUM_AFC.html

Congratulations everybody, you are ALL truly Gung Haggis paddlers! You conveyed a sense of teamship, caring for each other, and for community. You paddled your best, adapted to changing situations, changing rosters, and changing race conditions. You improved with every race, both individually and together. Very little separates you from the teams that we know who finished in Rec C (O2P, Hmmm Sea Monster), Rec B (Pirates, CBC, Strokin' It Hard, Flight Centre, CC Riders) or Rec A (Metro Vancouver, Banana Fusion, Shaggin' Dragons) - except maybe a little bit of testosterone, a little bit of cardio and muscle work, a little more attention to detail such as rotation, reach, entry, paddle angle, etc. 4 seconds faster and you could have medaled in Rec C Final. 10 seconds faster and you could have medaled in Rec B Final. But it is more important to be part of a great group of people, that had fun, did their best, and can be friends together, and share meals together. I am personally very proud of everybody on the team, and I know that everybody each has something special that adds to this team. It was great to have Manfred in the boat with us this weekend. He has been a coaching friend and rival competitor and occasional teammate for many years. He says this is a good team. He likes your attitude, your paddling ability, your friendliness... and sense of fun. Manfred will not take off his pants for "just any team" you know... Special thanks to Commodore Stephen Mirowski, team manager Tzhe Lam for helping to organize the team, roster and leadership. Thanks to Keng and Gerard Graal to step in to drum and be land manager, after spending the past 3 weeks in Holland. I am sorry I couldn't spend more time with everybody over this 2 day weekend of racing... but you had to share with: * my coaching Killarney Cougar Dragons Junior Team * our being filmed for the "Chinatown Canada" tv documentary series * my being interviewed for the "Chinatown Canada" tv documentary series * my steering for out of town teams (I used to be on the Race Committee, so they know I am a good qualifited steers) * my social involvement and networking with ex-paddlers, friends on other teams, race organizers, Festival past-presidents, friends on out of town teams, friends who cheered us on, But these are also qualities that makes Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team and myself, amongst the first choice to be involved in film documentaries and books on dragon boating! How about that "Paddles Up!" book??? The very first picture is the Gung Haggis team, racing Taiwanese Boats to grab a flag..... and a testimonial by me, in a Toronto-centric book. Now about the next race.... June 18th Richmond. We can do it... one day only, put up your hand if you want to beat UniPHARM. July 25/26 Vernon - our FAVORITE! Already confirmed. Aug 8, Cultus Lake Women's regatta - With 16 women on our team... we just need 4 more. As lang's me arm... Todd   more »

Dragon Boat Festival Chail Jas Kalsi talks about importance of a boat house for dragon boats on False Creek to sponsors, politicians and dragon boat festival organizers.

The VIP tent was packed on the eve to the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival.  Politicians and digniteries walked in from the eye-dotting ceremony conducted by Taoist priests.  Parks Commissioner and former Gung Haggis dragon boat team paddler Stuart Mackinnon dotted one of the eyes with a paint brush.

Lots of great food was served in the VIP tent.  Sockeye Salmon, Tuna on wild rice patties, corn chowder - all provided from the VCC culinary arts program.

But this year's VIP party also had a serious tone.  On Tuesday, the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society had sent a letter to Vancouver City Council, stating that because of development on Falser Creek, the 21 year old festival was in jeopardy.  Festival Chair Jas Kalsi talked about the issue to the audience. 

The VIP party was attended by Mayor Robertson, councilors Ellen Woodsworth, Suzanne Anton, Raymond Louie, George Chow, and Andrea Reimer, as well as Parks Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon, and Sen. Nancy Green Raine who said that the federal government will pledge $100,000 to the RTA Festival. 

Mayor Robertson said he supports councilor Raymond Louie's statements, that city council supports dragon boats on False Creek, and things are moving through the planning stage.  Robertson also shared that his son is paddling in his first dragon boat race.

Terry Hui, CEO of Concord said that Concord is committed to the Festival.
See Concord's commitment in yesterday's 24 Hours story
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local/2009/06/18/9835626-sun.html

Members of the Festival board and Race Committee talked to the politicians.  I also talked with Concord Pacific's senior vice-president of planning - Matt Meehan, who wants to come to the next Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner, as he remembers seeing me perform at Jenny Kwan's scotch tasting parties.

I chatted with Mayor Robertson (who has attended the last 2 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinners), and he told me which team his son is paddling on.  I informed him that his son was being coached by one of our Gung Haggis paddlers Gayle Gordon.

Dragon boat coach and former Olympic sprint kayak paddler, Kamini Jain, brought me 5 copies of the new dragon boat book "Paddles Up! Dragon Boat Racing in Canada."  You can bet that the other paddlers/organizers/coaches were all jealous when they saw them.  Kamini had written the chapter on coaching, and I had asked her to autograph copies for myself and my friends (Gayle and Stuart).  And.... I was able to introduce Kamini to Sen. Nancy Green Raine (former Olympic ski gold medalist) - just before Sen. Nancy left the party.

Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
Creekside Park, Science World & False Creek
June 20/21 2009

First race for GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY dragon boat team.
Saturday June 20
9:50am Race #11, lane 6

Look for us in the afternoon in race 30, 40 or 42. between 1:30 to 4pm

On Sunday, times to be determined by Sat 6pm
Semi finals in the morning, Finals in the afternoon.

Look for our kilts and tartan sashes... followed by film crews for IN THE SAME BOAT doc film... or CHINATOWN CANADA - to be seen on Omni TV

Call Coach/Clan Chieftain Todd Wong at 778-846-7090 to find us!

Here's the story on NEWS 1130
http://www.news1130.com/more.jsp?content=20090617_171321_10092

Arlene Chan has written a new book on dragon boating.

Arlene paddles on a Toronto dragon boat team.  Susan Humphries is past president of Dragon boat Canada. Arlene wrote a children's book on dragon boating, Awakening the Dragon.  This book features chapters on various topics written by top coaches, paddlers, and organizers from across Canada.  Vancouver coach Kamini Jain, former Olympic kayaker, has written the chapter on coaching.

Here's a description from Kamini's website

Description:   Paddles Up! provides an in-depth look at dragon boating from its beginnings in ancient China to the modern-day prominence of Canadian teams on the international scene, as told in the words of top coaches of men's and women's teams, experts and enthusiasts, and sports health professionals across Canada. Contributing writers include Mike Haslam, executive president International Dragon Boat Federation; Matthew Smith, president Dragon Boat Canada; Kamini Jain, Vancouver; Albert MacDonald, Halifax; Jamie Hollins, Pickering; Matt Robert, Montreal; and Jim Farintosh, Toronto. Through legends, history, and traditions, to paddling tips and mental readiness, and from choosing gear to exceptional achievements, a battery of Canadian dragon-boat notables share their considerable knowledge in one authoritative volume.

Last year in June 2008, the author Arlene Chan contacted me.  She wrote:

This is what I originally sent to Arlene, most of it is printed on page 27:


Here's a picture of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team that appears on page 23.  This is from the 2007 Vancouver Taiwanese Dragon Boat Race.  I am drumming.  Emilie is our flag puller learning out over the dragon head.  This photo is by my friend VFK whom I introduced to Arlene to be included in the book, as well as photographers Ben Lee and Heather Mclaren - photo VFK

I discovered more about Arlene.  She is a librarian with the Toronto Public Library and had written two previous books, The Spirit of the Dragon: The Story of Jean Lumb, a Proud Canadian Citizen and The Moon Festival: A Chinese Mid-autumn festival. 

When she told me she also organized a fundraiser dinner for the Jean Lumb Foundation, I had to ask, "Jean Lumb... the first Chinese Canadian woman to recieve the Order of Canada?  I know her daughter, Janet Lumb in Montreal... we met in Ottawa for a conference.  I introduced Janet to Sen. Vivienne Poy (the first Chinese Canadian senator) "

It's a small world.  Arlene told me that Janet is her younger sister.  Back in 2002, I was working for the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society.  Janet is the founder and organizer of Access Asie, the Montreal version of Asian Heritage Month Festival.  Sen. Poy is the patron senator of Asian Heritage Month in Canada, having had it proclaimed in parliament.  Sen. Poy's husband Dr. Neville Poy had an aunt in Vancouver... who married my grandmother's eldest brother.  "Auntie!" I called her.

You can purchase Paddles Up! on Amazon.ca here:
http://www.amazon.ca/Dragon-Boat-Racing-Canada-Paddles/dp/1554883954
or contact Kamini Jain in Vancouver
http://www.rightangleperformance.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=74

4 days to go, and the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team is ready for the biggest dragon boat festival in North America.
Wonderful practice tonight on Vancouver's False Creek waters.. we even had 30 paddlers show up for 20 paddling seats in a Gemini boat.

Not everybody is racing Rio Tinto Alcan Festival, so 3 paddlers went out on the GVRD/Metro Vancouver boat... We traded our Gemini for a 6-16 boat with Concord team.

We had 24 paddlers, then rotated drummer and steers throughout the practice. 
It's not the best way to build team consistency, but it is a way to share responsibilities, build in flexibility and teach paddlers to adapt.  By having our Commodore Stephen Mirowski at both steers and drummer positions, as well as paddling - if gives him a better view of how seating arrangements and paddler abilities will be arranged.

Thank you to Gerard Graal, who will step into our manager position.  He and Keng have just returned from 3 weeks in The Netherlands - Gerard's native home.  Keng also did a nice short job on the drummers seat, despite being a bit jet-lagged.

We started practice doing some warm-ups, and saw Alissa, Nicole and Devon paddling with the Metro Vancouver Team.  Didn't they all look good.  I swear the best looking paddler on the left side of the boat was Alissa...  With that dazzling new smile of hers!

Video of a race start for a Gung Haggis dragon boat practice a month ago.  Tzhe and Jane are lead strokes in this video - photo T.Wong.

We did a race start lined up beside the former Comp team formerly known as Scotia Dragons, now called How Wet Can You Get - which is ranked #24 out of 148 teams that have raced in regattas so far this year.  Guess what?  Gung Haggis Fat Choy is ranked #31, ahead of #33 CC Riders and #35 Metro Vancouver.
See the rankings here: http://www.dragonboatwest.net/index.php?page=14

We are doing pretty good for our development this year.  We hit the waters in March, wore our toque hats and have pushed our veteran paddlers while nurturing brand new rookie paddlers.


We worked on some race strategies, and some basic drills.  The key thing is to keep a  consistent rate.  The only improvement you can make as paddlers is to keep reaching a little bit more, get your paddle in a little bit quicker, pull with a full blade in the water, and keep your heads up to stay in time. 

Fun surprise of the evening was singing Happy Birthday to Danielle.  Today really was her birthday.  Great dedication by a rookie paddler to come paddling with us, before going out to dinner with her husband.

Here are rookie paddlers Karen and Katie paddling and looking like veterans (almost) - photo T.Wong

"News" of "In the Same Boat" has finally hit the dragon boat forum at www.dragonboatwest.net  Check out this topic:
http://www.dragonboatwest.net/index.php?topic=5581.msg52013;topicseen#new

You can identify a few of our paddlers in a "In the Same Boat" youtube trailer here:
tp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zs0eQp81Mc

Tonight, after practice - the Gung Haggis team had a dinner social at The Clubhouse japanese restaurant.

I showed dvd's of the documentaries we had been involved in previously.
It was great fun to identify the paddlers who were on the teams in 2005, 2006 and 2007.  Some are still with us, some are paddling on other teams.  We could also compare and contrast our paddling styles.  I do believe that our 2009 team is good and strong.  We have a group of core paddlers that has improved a lot since 2005.  And we have some great rookies and second year paddlers now too!

"Thalassa" is the 2005 TV series produced by France 3, which followed False Creek Women's Team and Gung Haggis Fat Choy - contrasting the premier Women's team with a mixed recreational team.  You can see us doing race visualizations, and even our one-finger lift of then coach Bob Brinson who also steered for us.

In 2006, CBC film crew shot us at the Vancouver Taiwanese Dragon Boat Race for the documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy.  Basically the story was about my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan and his descendants - 5 generations of Chinese Canadians including Todd Wong.  So they interviewed me, and filmed some of my many  community activities including dragon boat racing, speaking at Terry Fox Runs, being a cancer survivor, helping to save author Joy Kogawa's Childhood home, and the cross-cultural phenomena of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.

And we also showed footage of the 2007 Dragon Zone Sprint Regatta, captured by ZDF TV (German) for the doc - From Toronto to Vancouver by Train.  Not much footage actually made it into the aired edits - but ZDF was kind enough to make me a dvd with all the footage of our team.

See everybody on Saturday
Please arrive early with your wristband... and get lots of sleep the night before!
Cheers, Todd

It's the last practice before the race: Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team
Gung Haggis team line up at the Dragon Zone regatta on June 6th - photo Todd Wong

The Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival is the largest in North America. Dragon boat racing began in Vancouver BC, when the Hong Kong pavillion at Expo 86 donated 4 teak boats to the City of Vancouver.  I started attending the festivals for the great entertainment and shows.  It wasn't until 1993 that I first joined a team and started paddling.

The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team has been racing at Alcan Dragon Boat Festival since 2002.  Prior to that I coached and paddled on many different teams at the novice, recreation and competitive levels.  The Gung Haggis team emphasizes fun, fitness and multiculturalism.  That's why we wear our kilts while paddling a Chinese dragon boat tradition.

We have been asked to participate in two film documentaries.  One is a feature film titled "In the Same Boat", directed by Alfonso Chin and produced by Jacqueline Liu for Rosetta Entertainment.  Alfonso used to paddle for the CC Riders team, and our paddler/drummer Keng Graal used to be one of his teachers.

Katie, rookie Gung Haggis paddler is interviewed for "In the Same Boat" dragon boat documentary film - photo T.Wong

The second film is a multi-part series called "Chinatown Canada" produced by Kerri Beattie of Image Pacific.  They will be interviewing me about Vancouver Chinatown, and filming our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team in action, as one of the cultural off shoots of Chinatown.

We are having our final pre-race practice tonight  5:45 to 7:30pm at Dragon Zone (50 paces south of Science World - at the Green Trailer Building).

We will be working out our final race strategies, and finalizing seating arrangements.  Some of the paddlers have been away, but have returned just in time.  We have four brand new paddlers who raced their first races ever in May and June.  We have two more brand new paddlers who have yet to experience a full race with 7 or more boats. 

Our core veterans have been with the team for 4 years or more.  We have added some paddlers who have experience with other teams.  This could be the best Gung Haggis team ever.  But our roles at drummer and steers are not settled yet, and we might be rotating people.

Tonight after a debriefing... we are having a team social at "The Clubhouse Restaurant" on West 2nd - across from City TV, and on the same block as Bazzaar Novelty.

There is a dvd machine in the upstairs party room.
I will be showing documentary footage of the team from
France 3 "Thalassa" 2005
CBC Generations: The Chan Legacy 2006
ZDF "From Toronto to Vancouver by Train" 2007
but not from the 2008 Global News "Best of BC"

Toddish McWong, telling stories at 2008 Celtic Fest for the Battle of the Bards, and reading Robert Burns poetry - photo D. Martin.

Vancouver Storytelling at Main St. Car Free Days, with Todd Wong

I have been asked by Vancouver Storytellers, to give a storytelling performance
Location: located on the West Side at 18th.; on a grassy island set back from Main Street.  We are beside a tiny mall with a Pizza Hut.

It is Car Free Days starts at 12 noon at the following locations.
Commercial Drive (between Venables and 1st Ave.)
Denman St. (between Davie and Robson)
Main St. (between 12th and 25th)
Kitsilano (various neighborhood block parties)
http://www.carfreevancouver.org/

I will tell stories of early Chinese & Scottish pioneers in BC,

I will look down Main Street towards Chinatown and tell stories about my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, who came to Canada in 1896 as a lay preacher for the Chinese Methodist Church....  

I will tell stories about how James Douglas was born in Guyana to a Scottish father and a Creole mother, and came to BC to become the first governor of BC.

I will look south to the Fraser River, and recount how Simon Fraser was born in the United States, came to Canada with his Loyalist mother, and travelled through Western Canada, to explore this Westernmost land and named it New Caledonia.

I will the origins of Gung Haggis Fat Choy: 

• in 1993, when I first wore a kilt for the SFU, Robbie Burns Day celebrations
• in 1998, with a small private dinner for 16 people in a living room
• how it has grown into an annual Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner serving 550 people
• and spun off a CBC TV performance special
• The SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival, by SFU Recreation department.
  

Ida Chong, John Yap and Naomi Yamamoto were all appointed to BC Cabinet, creating the largest Asian representation ever, along with  Kash Heed who is South Asian.


Naomi Yamamoto, the first Japanese-Canadian, is sworn into the new BC Cabinet on June 10th 2009, by Hon. Steven Point, the first Aboriginal BC Lt. Governor.


Ida Chong (Oak Bay)
Minister of Healthy Living and Sport.
Chong is the first Canadian born Chinese-Canadian BC MLA.  Previously she had been minister of small business, technology and economic development and minister responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative in the last term.  I first met Ida at the BC Community Achievement Awards last April.  In August, Ida and I were two of 16 BCers voted into the BC Royal Museum's "The Party" display for the "Free Spirit" exhibit celebrating the 150th Anniversary of BC.  see: Royal BC Museum invites 6 new people to "The Party"

John Yap (Richmond Steveston)
Minister of State for Climate Action.
Yap was born in Singapore.  He has been active with many community organizations.  Our paths have crossed with his support of the Chinese Canadian veterans of Pacific Unit 280.

Naomi Yamamoto (North Vancouver Lonsdale)
Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.
The first ever Japanese-Canadian MLA in BC.  Naomi's parents had been interned during WW2.  She beat out Don Bell, the former North Vancouver District Mayor and Member Parliament for the constituency nomination.  Active in the North Shore community, she has been president and manager of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce for the past 2 years, and has also previously been chair of the BC Chamber of Commerce.  While I've never met Naomi, I have known her sister Donna for many years through her theatre work.

Kash Heed (Vancouver Fraserview)
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Heed is a Simon Fraser University alumnus where he completed his BA and MA at Simon Fraser University part-time.  Formerly with the Vancouver Police Department, he was appointed Chief of the West Vancouver Police Department in 2007.  While with the Vancouver Police, he was also head of the drug squad, led the Indo-Canadian gang task force and launched the COMPSTAT system, using computer technology to track crime.


Missing cabinet after winning 3 straight election is Richard T. Lee (Burnaby North).

I'll try to identify the Scottish-Canadians appointed to cabinet - but it's a harder task because the while Mac's are usually Scottish and Mc's are usually Irish, they are sometimes interchanged.  Many Scottish-Canadians don't necessarily disclose their Scottish ancestry because Scots have long been part of BC's mainstream political culture and history.  First BC Governor James Douglas' father was Scottish, even though Douglas himself was born in Guyana to a mother who was a Free Black.  Current BC Premier Gordon Campbell claims Scottish ancestry, though I have yet to find a picture of him wearing a kilt.

See links:

Canadian Press: List of BC cabinet ministers

Vancouver Sun: New cabinet to secure BC's economic, fiscal, environmental and ...

North Shore Outlook - Rookie MLA Yamamoto earns seat on cabinet

Georgia Straight: Vancouver tops the charts in Premier Gordon Campbell's cabinet

Mixie & the Half-breeds theatrical play tackles the issues of Asian ancestry in a Mixed Race Canada.

Many Canadians are of mixed heritage.  The Métis are mostly descended from First Nations and French-Canadian heritage.  But what if you are part Asian?

Adrienne Wong and Julie Tamiko Manning might consider themselves Hapa, or Hapa-Canadians, as they count Chinese and Japanese as part of their genetic and cultural heritage.

Many well known actors are Hapa, such as Keanu Reeves, Kristin Kreuk (Smallville), Meg Tilly, Jennifer Tilly, Dean Cain (Adventures of Lois and Clark), Jason Lee - the son of Bruce Lee(The Crow), and even Kate Beckinsale.   They all have Asian ancestry.

Piano performers Jon Kimura Parker, James Parker, and their cousin Ian Parker. Rocker David Usher is Hapa, as is Sean Ono Lennon - the son of John and Yoko.

Adrienne performed an excerpt from Mixie and the Half-Breeds at the 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.   It was an inspired performance, perfect for an event that highlights cultural fusion.  She talked about growing up confronting the issues of belonging to this group or that group, but emphasizing her own uniqueness.  AND... Adrienne congratulated ALL the "Mixies" in the audience and threw licorice Twizzlers to them!

I've known both Adrienne and Julie for a number of years, and seen them both perform.  I am looking forward to this production which opens on June 19th, at the Vancouver East Cultural Lab.

mixie and the halfbreeds

WORLD PREMIERE
By Adrienne Wong and Julie Tamiko Manning
Directed by Maiko Bae Yamamoto
Produced in partnership with the Powell Street Festival Society
June 18-28, 2009
The Vancity Culture Lab at The Cultch 1895 Venables Street.
Tickets available through Ticketmaster: www.ticketmaster.ca 604-280-4444

Eggs, bananas and an aversion to rice.

Two estranged neighbours are not as different as they think. Haunted by peroxide teeth and blondissima hair, Mixie and Trixie tackle a question that has plagued mankind hrough the ages: do blondes really have more fun?

A no-holds-barred identity throw-down, Mixie and the Halfbreeds is an optimistic tale for a remixed nation.

Performances
Wednesday - Saturday, 8:00pm
Free Preview June 18, 8:00pm

PWYC Matinees Saturday June 20 & Sunday June 28 2:00pm
Tickets $20/$18, plus applicable service charges

Part of See Seven! Pass Holders can reserve through Tickets Tonight: 604-684-2787

Ancillary Events
Post Show Talkback with Adrienne and Julie: Thursday June 25
Stay after the show for a chat with the cast.

Afternoon Discussion: Saturday June 20, after the matinee
Presented in partnership with the Powell Street Festival.
A discussion with mixed race artists of different disciplines about how identity informs artistic practice and creative process. Marcus Youssef moderates with panelists Julie Tamiko Manning (theatre), cellist Cris Derksen and Jay Hirabayashi (Kokoro Dance).

Ukulele Sing-A-Long: Sunday June 28, after the matinee
Guido Heistek leads a post show jam. Novice and experienced strummers welcome. Bring your own ukulele or borrow one of ours.

Silent T shirt auction: local artists and crafters create unique designs inspired by MIXING. Featuring work by Natalie Purschwitz (huntandgather.ca), CBC diva Margaret Gallagher, Adrienne Wong, Ruthie Sumiko Tabata and Kirsty Munro. Shirts are on display in the lobby throughout the run.

“Then Bowie says, ‘Iggy would have loved you my little china girl.’ And I say, ‘shhh...’ and throw my drink in his face. ‘I’m Japanese you moron!’ Then I wake up.”

Eastside Stories is an offshoot of the Heart of the City Festival,
3 community leaders will speak at Carnegie Centre June 21st at 3pm. 
Shirley Chan, Hayne Wai and Larry Wong

Event 3. Standing up for Community with Shirley Chan, Hayne Wai and Larry Wong, Sun June 21, 3pm Carnegie 3rd floor (see below and http://www.heartofthecityfestival.com/news/eastside-stories/

Shirley, Hayne and Larry are contributors to the book EATING STORIES: A Chinese Canadian and Aboriginal Potluck

All three helped to fight against the freeway proposal that would have knocked a swath through Chinatown in the 1960's.

Shirley and her mother helped lead the protests against freeway development in Vancouver Chintown in the 1960's, and were the topic of the documentary film Mary Lee Chan takes on City Hall. Mother Tongue | chinese community

http://www.mothertongue.ca/community.php?id=1093574665

Hayne has been involved with many anti-racism programs, and has served on the boards of Chinese Cultural Centre and Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens, and Saltwater City Vancouver Centennial Exhibition.  He founding member of Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC.  Hayne is also my cousin, role model, and one of my inspirations in creating Gung Haggis Fat Choy

Larry Wong is curator of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and Archives.  He is also childhood friend of Wayson Choy, and founding member of Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC.

ON A QUIET NIGHT
Monday, June 8, 2009 at7:30 p.m.
FREE

(Reservations required; 604-662-3207)

The Garden will reverberate ON A QUIET NIGHT with Canadian classical chamber music music to enchant the ears and soothe the soul. Join critically acclaimed musicians Ariel Barnes, cello; Kathryn Cernauskas, flute; Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa, piano; and Heather Pawsey, soprano on a musical stroll through the serene and intimate spaces of this authentic Ming Dynasty garden for a joyful celebration of the rich and ancient culture of China alongside the wealth of Canada's multicultural traditions with works that include Music for Piano (Alexina Louie), Cold Mountain Songs (texts by the 8th century poet Han Shan, translated by Red Pine; music by Rodolf Komorous); On A Quiet Night (Chan Ka Nin); and A Simple Tune Without Words (for china bowl and chopsticks, by Murray Adaskin), among others.

This plaque identifies the ancestral villages and cities where the Mayne Islanders of Japanese ancestry came from.  And lists a map of where each of the families had lived on Mayne Island before they were removed and sent to internment camps in the BC interior.

Todd poses on the bridge to the island - photo D. Martin

A stream trickles down to a water pump, and reeds in the pond.

This is a little resting house, where I discovered a newspaper clipping from the Georgia Straight.  It was a Chronicles column from former Mayne Island resident Terry Glavin.  This was especially significant for me, because since 2005, I have been an organizer for the "Save Kogawa House Campaign" to save the childhood home of author Joy Kogawa, and since 2007, Terry Glavin and I have become friends.  This year in April, he received the Lt. Gov. Award for Literary Achievement, the first time it was awarded to a non-fiction writer.  See my article 2009 BC Book Prizes with Terry Glavin

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team raced Saturday afternoon in the Dragon Zone Regatta


Every June the Dragon Zone regatta is run 2 weeks prior to the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival.  This allows the race officials, race organizers to know that the equipment is working, and that volunteers are trained.

On Saturday morning, the top teams raced.  These teams are expected to be in the Competitive and Rec A division during the festival.  On Sunday afternoon, teams that have finished in Rec B-E or Novice Divisions raced.  Junior teams are raced on Sunday morning, along with teams that couldn't race on Saturday.

Katie is interviewed, after her first-ever dragon boat race, for the film documentary "In The Same Boat" - photo Todd Wong

It was a busy day for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.  We were also filmed for the documentary film "In the Same Boat."  This is a film about dragon boating, and is following a few teams that will race at the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival.  We were chosen because we specialize in promoting multiculturalism, and the film makers liked the fact that we are the only dragon boat team wearing kilts.


1st Race - lane 3
We were 1st or 2nd in our first race by fractions.
Very good race, trading places with Chilliwack Crusaders right beside us.  Good steering by Commodore Mirowski.
Our friend Manfred Preuss, was paddling on the Crusaders.  In 2005, Manfred raced with Gung Haggis at the Alcan Festival.  He is the founding president of the Fraser Valley Dragon Boat Association, and created the Fraser Valley Dragon Boat Festival at Harrison Hot Springs.
Crusaders 2:39.870
Gung Haggis 2:40.150
That's a difference of 0.280 seconds.

2nd Race - lane 2
We made changes, putting Jane on the drummers seat, moving Todd to steer, and Stephen Mirowski to paddle.  The team adjusted to the changes, but our rate was a bit high, and we lagged from the start. Our friends GVRD 44 Cheeks took off from us at the start.  Their steers Dave Samis, often paddles with us in races that GVRD doesn't enter.
Gung Haggis - 2:43.190 - 5th place
Crusaders - 2:41.560 - 4th place
GVRD - 2:30.860 - 2nd place

3rd Race B Final - lane 2
We decided to keep Jane on the drummers seat.  Devon spared out to go to work, and Debbie Poon came in after spending the morning doing research on the ferries.  We had a strong start, and took an early lead.  We surged farther by midpoint, and pulled away with a strong finish by TWO BOAT LENGTHS. 1st place in B division - by 2 lengths... It's a good demonstration that the team could actually race well in A Division.  This does wonders for the confidence of our paddlers.
1st place Gung Haggis 2:36.110
2nd place Hmmm Sea Monster 2:46.300
3rd place Crusaders 2:46.330

Way to go Gung Haggis...
And everything was captured by the documentary film crew shooting "In the Same Boat."

Please post pictures to Flickr and join the Gung Haggis dragon boat team flickr group.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/584030@N22/

Flower Drum Song makes you laugh and sing...
It's Rogers and Hammerstein in 1950's San Francisco Chinatown!

May 29-June 14
Waterfront Theatre
Directed by Rick Tae
Produced by Joyce Lam
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre
www.vact.ca

This VACT production is amazing, it should become a Vancouver regular.  Who knew Asian Canadians could put on such a good song and dance musical, worthy of being included into "Theatre Under the Stars" or at any of Metro Vancouver's stages. 

Actor Jimmy Yi is a knockout!  He plays Sammy Fong the night club owner who might or might not get married to Linda Low, played coquettishly by Lannette New.  But Linda might also marry Wang Ta, played by Isaac Kwok.  Or Ta might marry Mei Li (Rosie Simon).  And somebody else also has a crush on Ta.  Sound confused?  You should be.  It's a classic Love triangle times 2 with some great songs and dance numbers thrown in.

But then there is also Ta's father Wang Chi Yang, played by BC Lee (now known as the former Vancouver City Councilor), who wants to lay down the family law as he insists that Ta should be married, and sets out to set up a traditional Chinese style arranged marriage.  Gee... Sammy Fong has a picture order bride just arrived into town... how convenient.

Jimmy Yi as Sammy Fong with Lannette New as Linda Low - photo courtesy of VACT

Okay... forget that the characters and the setting are Asians in San Francisco's Chinatown.  This could be a plot similar to Shakespeare's As You Like It, or Gershwin's Girl Crazy, or Lerner and Lowe's Brigadoon, or Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific.  Love, trying to find the right person, and the ensuing moral dilemmas are universal themes in every language and culture. 

Flower Drum Song originally debuted in 1958 on Broadway with dance great Gene Kelly choreographing the moves.  This Rogers and & Hammerstein musical has everything.  Dancing, singing, corny jokes, love stories... and controversy!  It's a classic tale of old traditions versus assimilation into the New World. Addressing social issues within the Broadway musical format is the legacy of Rogers and Hammerstein.  They aptly addressed racism, sexism and classism with their hits Oklahoma, Carousel, The King and I, South Pacific and The Sound of Music. In particular, The Sound of Music addressed how some Austrians objected to Nazi Germany taking over their country prior to WW2.  The King & I addressed how the kingdom of Siam dealt with and resisted the growing colonialism of Asia by European nations.

Set in 1950's era San Francisco, this VACT production addresses the nostalgia of the era.  Director Rick Tae has found the balance for the show in a post-modern politically correct environment, by willingly playing up the campiness of the 50's beatnik era language.

It is the older brother Ta (Isaac Kwok), the first born son, that is caught in the middle.  He wants to please his father, but he also wants to forge his own identity.  Kwok is a recent graduate from Capilano University's Musical Theatre program and does a good job in the lead role, singing and acting his way between the show's generation and love match issues.  His strong voice and good looks should could easily find him cast in leads for Brigadoon and other shows. 

Lannette New has a tough job, living up to the role of Linda Low played so excellently by Nancy Kwan in the 1961 movie.  The Low character is flamboyant role of a night club performer - sexy and independent - not your typical Chinese daughter-in-law material. New reigns in the energy with sweetness and presence.

With Vancouver's huge Chinese population, you would think ethnic Chinese actors would get tired of the perennial stereotypecasting playing Chinese waiters, kung fu baddies, chinadolls and gangsters.  But where do people get the chance to expand their horizons and resume lists?

For the past 10 years, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre has been producing plays to showcase Asian Canadian talent, and feature works by North American Asian playwrights such as David Henry Hwang.  Asian comedy nights have become annual features that grew into sketch comedy contests.  The Sex in Vancouver series was adapted from the Sex in Seattle series originated by Kathy Hsieh and Serin Ngai's

Producer and president, Joyce Lam also had a vision to put on Rogers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song as a full production in Vancouver.  Incredibly, it had never happened before.  Two years ago she saw Jimmy Yi, in the staged reading by APPLAUSE! Musical Society, and in that moment, she knew she had her casting for Sammy Fong.

Amazingly, the original 1958 production got six Tony Award nominations, and spun off some national tours and the popular 1961 musical film version. It also marked the first time in musical history that a mostly Asian cast appeared on the Broadway stage.

But the work and film fell out of favour in the late 1960's due to criticism of the gender and racial stereotyping of the era, in the wake of the rising civil rights movement.

In 2002, playwright David Henry Hwang reworked the original music and storyline for a Broadway revival that received multiple Tony nominations, a Grammy nomination for the soundtrack.

More later

MONTREAL POET WRAPS UP RESIDENCY THIS WEEKEND

 

Historic Joy Kogawa House celebrates success of its first writer-in-residence

 

During his residency in Vancouver Asfour has hosted a number of writers for readings at the house, including Judy Rebick, Ann Diamond, and Daphne Marlatt, George Stanley, and Nilofar Shidmehr—three poets nominated for this year’s Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. On Saturday, May 30, Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson join him for a final reading.

 

Asfour has also welcomed visits from writing classes and he has coached numerous individual writers. Following an evening class at the house, SFU Writers’ Studio lyric poetry instructor Rachel Rose wrote: “John has been so generous with his time, meeting many students for individual consults.” Another writer said: “I had a very good, productive meeting with John and learned more in meeting with him than I had learned in a whole year studying creative writing at university. He taught me how to edit.”

 

Asfour’s frequent writing consultations did not keep him completing a book of poems entitled Blindfold, which is partly autobiographical—born in Lebanon, Asfour was blinded at age 13 during the Civil War in 1958. His poems explore feelings of loss and displacement and suggest that the disabled often feel like foreigners in their own land, hampered by prejudice (sometimes well-meaning), communications barriers and the sense of “limited personality” that characterizes the immigrant experience.

 

While in Vancouver Asfour also presented poetry readings to a variety of audiences, including the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Christianne’s Lyceum of Art and Literature, the BC Muslim School and in collaboration with Neworld Theatre at the Vancouver Public Library. On Thursday, 58 students from Killarney Secondary School will practice their creative writing while scattered over the lawns, patio, and deck at Kogawa house.

 

Asfour is the author of four books of poetry in English and two in Arabic. He translated the poetry of Muhammad al-Maghut into English under the title Joy Is Not My Profession (Véhicule Press), and he selected, edited and introduced the landmark anthology When the Words Burn: An Anthology of Modern Arabic Poetry, 1945–1987 (Cormorant Books).

 

Further information can be found on the website of the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society at www.kogawahouse.com or by calling (604) 263-6586.

 

ends/more

 

Contacts:

Kogawa House Society: Ann-Marie Metten (604) 263-6586

 

Notes to Editors:

1. Information on Historic Joy Kogawa House

 

Historic Joy Kogawa House is the former home of the Canadian author Joy Kogawa (born 1935). It stands as a cultural and historical reminder of the expropriation of property that all Canadians of Japanese descent experienced after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Between 2003 and 2006, a grassroots committee fund raised in a well-publicized national campaign, and with the help of The Land Conservancy of BC, a non-profit land trust, managed to purchase the house in 2006.

 

Together with Joy Kogawa, the various groups decided that the wisest and best use of the property would be to establish it as a place where writers could live and work. Following the models of the writer-in-residence programs in place at the Berton House Writers’ Retreat in Dawson City , Yukon , and Roderick Haig-Brown House in Campbell River , BC , the Historic Joy Kogawa House writer-in-residence program brings well-regarded professional writers in touch with a local community of writers, readers, editors, and librarians. While in residence, the writer works to enrich the literary community around him or her and to foster an appreciation for Canadian writing through programs that involve students, other writers and members of the general public.

Beginning in March 2009, as a partner with TLC, the Historic Joy Kogawa Society will begin hosting writers to live and work in the house on a paid basis. Funding is provided through the Michael Audain Foundation for the Arts, the BC Arts Council, the Canada Council and through donations from the general public.

Holidays and good food go together.

Menu board on the patio of the Wild Fennel restaurant on Mayne Island - photo Todd Wong

On Mayne Island we visited the Wild Fennel Restaurant, Springwater Lodge, the newly renovated "Brickworks Restaurant on the Bay" at the Mayne Inn Resorts, and I even had breakfast at the Sunny Mayne Bakery Café.  So I did indeed visit all four restaurants listed in the Mayne Island brochure found on the BC Ferry, and also listed on the Mayne Island Chamber website:
http://www.mayneislandchamber.ca/restaurants.htm

We had caught the 7:20 ferry from Tsawwassen, so I ate dinner in the BC Ferry Restaurant, which is basically a  mini White Spot.  I had the bacon & cheese burger with fries... but substituted a soft drink for the frozen coffee drink that had a lot of mocha in it!  Definitely better than Tim Hortons!

At 7am, Friday, I woke up early and wanted to find a place for coffee and breakfast.  Where do the locals go?  It's the Sunny Mayne Bakery Café where I found delicious fried potatoes and scrambled eggs, which I ate with ketchup and HP Sauce.  Perfect!  They even make cappucinos and mochas too.  I opted for plain coffee to which I added some chocolate, honey, and cream.  Located in the town centre on 472 Village Bay Road, beside Tru Value Foods.

View of Bennett Bay from Bricksworks restaurant at Mayne Inn Resorts - photo Todd Wong

We went kayaking on Friday, and was very tempted to try to buy fresh crabs from the boat hauling up their crab traps in Bennett Bay - but I didn't bring my wallet on our 2 1/2 hour kayak excursion.  :-(

Oh well, after burning up an appetite kayaking and hiking to Campbell Point, we headed to "Brickworks Restaurant on the Bay" at the Mayne Inn Resorts.  The Resort is undergoing some rennovations, so it looks like it is closed from the street.  But we drove in and found a lovely upscale setting.  With a stunning view of Bennett Bay, we sat down and quickly ordered the special of the day, "Seafood Wellington" - salmon, haddock and prawns baked in puff pastry.  At $18, it was large and reasonably priced.  We cut it in two and shared it, along with the vegetables and rice pilaf.  We sat on the remaining sun on the patio and enjoyed our dinner along with Strongbow and cider.  If we hadn't already planned to spend the sunset hours on the other side of the island, we might have stayed longer.  I was tempted by the $3.99 pub special of a chocolate shooter cup, filled with "your choice" of liquer....

Haddock, Salmon and Prawns stuffed into something called Seafood Wellington.  It's a good thing I like to eat my rice and brocolli.-  photo Todd Wong

We next drove to the other side of the island, back to the town centre at Miner's Bay.  At 6pm, there was still a lot of time to fill before darkness fell, and on a small island there isn't a lot to do.  Best thing is go to the pub!  The good ol' hockey game was on the tv set, next to the pool tables.  Detroit 3, Chicago 1.  We went and sat on the patio, enjoying the wonderful view of Active Pass where we had seen orcas from the ferry only 24 hours earlier.  The 3 people at the table beside us all ordered the $18 chipotle prawn special, and said it was very good.  The other table had ordered 2 piece Fish & Chips and that looked good and was much cheaper at $11.99  We ordered the 3 piece for about $1.50 more and shared.  We also ordered the Mission Hill white and red wines.  What a wonderful way to spend a summer evening... restaurant hopping and having wonderful food.  No Killer Whales were spotted, but the BC Ferries tooted their horns and passed each other in Active Pass.

The Historic Springwater Lodge was originally built in 1892, and is the oldest continuously operated hotel in BC.  It was stopping point for miners headed to the Fraser River and Caribou Gold Rush. 

View from Springwater Lodge patio.  BC Ferries in the distance - photo Todd Wong

Peter smiles after telling us that he is the one (of the partners) that is responsible for the art work. - photo Todd Wong

After driving past the Wild Fennell 4 times on Friday, we went back on Saturday specifically for lunch.  It was the restaurant recommended by our kayaking guide, and we also remembered it the book "Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest - a romantic travel guide."  It's a cosy little place filled with art created by one of the owners - Peter.  The food was very good, and not out of line with any of the "west coast bistros" throughout Metro Vancouver - but it had that special Gulf Island charm, and the prices are quite reasonable. The shrimp soup with wild mushrooms was very nice, and our sandwiches were delicious.  I had the smoked tuna clubhouse with shrimp and avocado aoeli.  Deb had the vegetarian hoagy with ceasar salad.  I think they were about $12 or $14 each. The restaurant is located at the Fernhill Plaza next to the Tree Frog Gallery, the Mackenzie Gallery of Fine Art and the nice store with all the glass work and pottery.

Smoked tuna Clubhouse sandwich with shrimp and avocado aoeli, and with the Shrimp and Wild Mushroom soup of the day.  Yum!

Watch "Tailor Made - the last Chinese tailor shop in Vancouver Chinatown"

'Tailor Made' is being broadcast again in BC on Knowledge Network on the following dates:

• May 26/2009  10:00PM
• May 27/2009   2:00AM
• May 27/2009    7:00PM
  

  http://tvschedule.knowledgenetwork.ca/knsch/KNSeriesPage.jsp?seriesID=101539&seriesTitle=tailormade

"Tailor Made"is a wonderful documentary about the last tailor shop in Vancouver Chinatown.  It opened in 1913.   It made most of the zoot suits in Vancouver during the 1940's.  Sean Connery's picture is there with the tailors Bill and Jack Wong.  It's a Chinatown success story, that mirrors the history of Vancouver Chinatown, as the original tailor had to pay a head tax to come to Vancouver, as his two sons fought for Canada during WW2 when Chinese weren't allowed to vote, as his sons were unabled to get hired as UBC graduated engineers due to still prevailing racist sentiments, and how the youngest son became one of Vancouver's leading philanthropists and cultural leaders.

Bill Wong the tailor loves to attended the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner.  His son Steven paddles on our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.  This is a wonderful documentary that received a standing ovation at the Whistler Film Festival.

Bill and Jack's younger brother Milton Wong is one of Vancouver's important figures, and former chancellor of SFU, and known as the "grandfather of dragon boat racing" in Vancouver.  Both Milton and Steven were interviewed for a German public television documentary addressing multiculturalism in Vancouver.  The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team was featured too!
Check out: http://wstreaming.zdf.de/zdf/veryhigh/071219_toronto_vancouver.asx

My own family has known the Wongs for many year, my aunts and uncles went to school with many of the Wong family members.  My uncle Laddie works as a tailor at Modernize Tailors.

In 2004, both the "Wong Way" dragon boat team and the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team participated in a workshop to carve dragon boat heads at the Round House Community Centre.


Check the Modernize Tailors Website:
http://www.modernizetailors.blogspot.com/





Knowledge Network: Tailor Made http://tvschedule.knowledgenetwork.ca/knsch/KNSeriesPage.jsp?seriesID=101539&seriesTitle=tailormade

'Tailor Made' is being broadcast again in BC on Knowledge Network on the following dates:

• May 26/2009  10:00PM
• May 27/2009   2:00AM
• May 27/2009    7:00PM
  

Mayne Island is well known for its' sandstone formations which delight kayakers!


Deb paddles past some of the fantastic sandstone carved by the wave action of the Georgia Strait.

We paddled with Mayne Island Kayaking, located at Blue Vista Resorts.  Owner Doug Peers was our guide, and he led us through the currents so we could see lots of harbour seals, a sea lion, oyster catchers, guillemots, and eagles.

See Gulf Islands National Park
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/gulf/carte-map-fl_e.asp

See more pictures at: