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Monday, August 30
New Chinese-Canadian History website launched in Toronto
by
Todd
on Mon 30 Aug 2010 01:18 PM PDT
Saturday, August 21
Chinatown Canada tv documentary on OMNI tonight at 8pm
by
Todd
on Sat 21 Aug 2010 01:29 PM PDT
Watch the Chinatown Canada documentary on OMNI TV tonight
Saturday, Aug 21 at 8pm PST on Omni News (BC)
Todd Wong is interviewed about Vancouver Chinatown and see the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team in action at '09 Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival.
The footage was shot last June, when Kerry Beattie contacted me. I recommended a number of people for them to talk to including Andrew Wong of Wild Rice Restaurant (Andrew's grandfather used to own the Lotus Hotel, where my grandfather Sonny Wong ran the Lotus Cafe Restaurant), and Shirley Chan and many others.
check link for other provinces http://bit.ly/bNu4rv
Monday, August 9
National Post: Museum probes link between Chinese Restaurants and small-town Canada
by
Todd
on Mon 09 Aug 2010 11:26 PM PDT
Chinese Restaurants and small-town Canada exhibit at Royal Alberta Museum
My friend Linda Tzang, cultural curator at the Royal Alberta Museum is responsible for this: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/Museum+probes+link+between+Chinese+restaurants+small+town+Canada/3360480/story.html
Way back in 2002, Linda had initiated a project proposal on the Three Canadian Chinese Pioneer Families at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and Archives - but had moved to Alberta, before the project really started. Linda was also a guest speaker at our 2nd Rev. Chan Legacy Family Reunion dinner in 2000. In 2002, she was also part of our board for Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop that created the 1st ACWW Community Builders Dinner that honoured Roy Mah, Paul Yee and Wayson Choy.
Back on April 6th, Linda wrote to me:
Hello Toddish,
I guess the guy who came up with the idea of ‘six degrees of
separation’ was right – the world is much smaller than we think.
Now that you’ve written, I’m going to hit you up for some
help. I have almost accomplished the impossible - the museum is on the
brink of giving me permission to do my Chinese Restaurant project. It
doesn’t look anything like the project I was working on at the CCCMA – I
think it’s a better version. I was wondering though if you knew anyone
with memorabilia related to Chinese restaurants – ideally someone with a menu
collection. I don’t need
a huge number of them but a few would be nice.
If you had any leads it would be appreciated. Maybe one day
I’ll be able to attend another Gunghaggis banquet but I always just seem to
miss the date.
Linda
 www.nationalpost.comThere’s one in nearly every Canadian city and town. And yet some argue the Chinese landmarks,
Tuesday, August 3
Larry Kwong, NHL's first Asian hockey player finally getting recognition
by
Todd
on Tue 03 Aug 2010 11:54 PM PDT
A hockey trailblazer emerges from obscurity
Larry Kwong
(left), who broke the colour barrier in the NHL in 1948, is joined by
former Vancouver Canucks captain Trevor Linden after receiving an award
in Penticton, B.C. Zoe Soon/ The Globe and Mail
The first Asian to play in the NHL, Larry Kwong is at last receiving the recognition he deserves - photo Chad Soon
Tom Hawthorn writes a great story for the Globe & Mail about Larry Kwong, the first Asian player in the NHLhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/tom-hawthorn/a-hockey-trailblazer-emerges-from-obscurity/article1660927/The news media is catching onto one of the greatest hockey stories never told: The story of how Larry Kwong only played one minute in the NHL, went on to become MVP in the Quebec Senior League, but never called up to the NHL again. I attended the BC Hockey Hall of Fame induction dinner when Trevor Linden was the main event, on July 23, in Penticton BC. But it was Trevor who took the time to come congratulate the inaugural Pioneer Award winner Larry Kwong. Three days after the event, the CBC Radio asked me for contact info on Chad Soon, the Vernon teacher who is spearheading the drive to nominate Larry Kwong into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame. And now eleven days later, a story appears in the Globe & Mail. Check out the CBC Radio podcasthttp://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/bcallpointswest_20100727_35982.mp3Watch the video that was shown at the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Dinner that preceded Larry Kwong receiving a standing ovation for the the inaugural Pioneer Award. See moreJuly
23, 2010 - BC Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Dinner (Penticton, BC)
Who was the first player from the Okanagan to make the NHL? The answer
is our next honouree. Not only did Larry Kwong put the Okanagan on the
hockey map, he made international headlines for breaking the NHL's
colour barrier...
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=649210474&v=wall&story_fbid=121010117946615#!/group.php?gid=50177632975&ref=ts
Saturday, July 24
Vernon student creates history project on Larry Kwong, and wins prize trip to Barkerville!
by
Todd
on Sat 24 Jul 2010 01:09 PM PDT
Larry Kwong: A Hero to Me
 Here is Gavin Donald's winning display on Larry Kwong - photo Todd Wong
Vernon student Gavin Donald creates a prize winning history display about the first NHL hockey player of Asian ancestry
Silver Star school student Gavin Donald, with his
project, Larry Kwong: A Hero to Me, one of the winners in the recent
Vernon and District Heritage Fair.
Gavin Donald, 11, is a Grade 6 Silver Star student, that I sat beside at
last night's BC Hockey Hall of Fame induction dinner. I was surprised at how much compassion and information that Gavin conveyed when he talked about Larry Kwong. Gavin is passionate about his hometown of Vernon, and really wanted to choose a person from Vernon for his project. The young man beside me wore a tie, and was thrilled to meet Larry Kwong at the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Dinner last night in Penticton. Even though the induction of Trevor Linden, one of the greatest hockey players to wear the "C" for the Vancouver Canucks, was undoubtedly the evening's highlight - Gavin was only there to meet his hero - Larry Kwong. When MP Stockwell Day came over to meet Larry Kwong, it was Gavin who quickly had a pen in Day's hand to sign a petition to nominate Larry Kwong for the BC Hockey Hall of Fame. By the end of the evening, Gavin was proudly carrying a newly won silent auction prize of a goalie stick signed by Mikka Kipprusoff, and asking other of the inducted hockey players Trevor Linden, Dallas Drake to sign the stick. An evening highlight for Gavin was having Larry Kwong add his signature that same goalie stick.
Gavin did his history project
on Larry Kwong, a Vernon native who was the first person of Asian
descent to play in the NHL. Gavin is 1 of 4 Vernon students who went
on to the Okanagan Regional Heritage Fair in
Kelowna and four projects from Vernon students were selected for the
prize of a trip to the Provincial Heritage Fair in Barkerville June 30
to July 4. Here is a quote from the article:
Kwong, who was born in Vernon in 1923,
played for the Vernon Hydrophones 1939-41. He played for the New York
Rangers 1946-48 but due to alleged prejudice played only one minute in a
game in 1948.
“Many people in Canada were racist then but he never gave up
on his dream. He was a good player. We have to learn from history. It’s
sickening that someone would not have a chance because of their race.
That should not happen anymore,” said Gavin, whose great-uncle, John
Baumborough, played hockey with Kwong in Vernon Read the original article:http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/vernonmorningstar/lifestyles/98887244.html
Thursday, July 15
Larry Kwong, 1st Asian-Canadian hockey player in the NHL, will recieve the first annual Pioneer Award from Okanagan Hockey School
by
Todd
on Thu 15 Jul 2010 11:53 PM PDT
LARRY KWONG - the first Chinese-Canadian NHL player, will receive the first annual PIONEER AWARD from the Okanagan Hockey School.
The award is being presented at the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Penticton on July 23, 2010. For more details, including ticket info, click www.bchhf.com
Larry Kwong is one of Hockey's great trivia questions. Who was the first non-white hockey player in the NHL? He played one shift in the 3rd period against the Montreal Canadiens, in Montreal in 1948. - photo courtesy of Chad Soon.
During the 1947-48 season, Larry ('King') Kwong is the first Chinese Canadian to play in the NHL as a member of the New York Rangers Hockey Club. Also known as the 'China Clipper' during an illustrious juniors and seniors hockey career in B.C., Kwong went on to become Assistant Captain of the Valleyfield Braves in the Quebec Senior Hockey League where he led the team to a Canadian Senior Championship and received the Byng of Vimy award for sportsmanship. Kwong later accepted an offer to play hockey in England and coach in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Larry Wong Appreciation Society Face Book Page writes:
"In 1948, LARRY KWONG broke the NHL's colour barrier, becoming the first
person of Asian descent to play in the big league.
"Our goal is to see hockey hero Larry Kwong recognized for his pioneering achievements -- his contributions to the game and to our society.
"We hope his incredible story of perseverance will reach and inspire new generations of fans."
Tom Hawthorn wrote a story in the Globe & Mail: Larry Kwong Beat Long Odds
"The sportswriters called him King Kwong, a cheap pun and a subtle dig at
a diminutive scorer who could stretch along the red goal line and still
leave plenty of room for a puck to squirt in at either end.
"Sixty year ago, on March 13, 1948, in the cramped visitors dressing room
at the old Montreal Forum, he slipped a blue sweater over his thin
frame, the number 11 on its back, the letters RANGERS spilling across
the chest.
"Little Larry Kwong, who had been born in Vernon, B.C.,
one of 15 children, who fell in love with hockey by listening to the
radio in the apartment above the family's grocery store, who, in fact,
carried the name of the store – Kwong Hing Lung (Abundant Prosperity) –
rather than the venerable family name of Eng, was about to make his
National Hockey League debut....
"The first player of Asian ancestry to
skate in the National Hockey League had launched – and, though he did
not yet know it, ended – his major league career."
Larry Kwong at the Homecoming Tribute Night in Vernon, BC, March 27, 2010. He was honoured by the
Vernon Vipers before their BCHL (Junior A) playoff game. - photo courtesy of Chad Soon.
Here's some more information from the Larry Kwong Appreciation Society Facebook Group
May 26, 2010 - Hockey legend Jean Beliveau, who competed for two years
against Larry Kwong in the Quebec Senior Hockey League, is backing
Larry's nomination for induction into the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
In a phone interview, Beliveau shared:
"I remember Larry Kwong very well....It brings back great memories. He was a very good player. You could see he enjoyed playing the game. He was a very smooth player -- very skilled, with a beautiful style. I support his nomination for the Pioneer Award. He deserves it."
On March 31, the Society of North American Hockey Historians and Researchers (SONAHHR) made Larry its first ever "Lifetime Honorary Member."
On March 27, Larry made a triumphant homecoming to Vernon, BC. He was honoured by the Vernon Vipers before their BCHL (Junior A) playoff game, and received a rousing three-minute standing ovation. The Vernon Vipers also issued a "hero" card of Larry.
Barry Marsman of SONAHHR presented Larry with a special Heritage Award in honour of the 60th anniversary of his breaking the NHL's race barrier.
click here to join the Larry Wong Appreciation Society Facebook Group:
Monday, July 12
Toddish McWong goes to Squamish Nation Pow Wow
by
Todd
on Mon 12 Jul 2010 10:06 PM PDT
Toddish McWong takes his kilt to
Squamish Nation Pow Wow
 Here I am trying to learn a simple First Nations dance step from my 2nd cousin Shelley on my right, as we dance in the closing event at the 23rd Annual Squamish Nation Pow Wow.I had never been to a First Nations Pow Wow before, so when my 2nd cousin Shelley sent me a Facebook message about the 23rd Annual Squamish Nation Pow Wow, and that she was going to watch her nieces compete in dance competition, I knew I had to be there. The event was held at X̱wemelch'stn Park, also known as the Capilano Indian Reserve near the South end of Capilano Road in North Vancouver. I had grown up in North Vancouver since I was 14 years old, and have driven through the reserve many times going to Park Royal. I had only once before attended and event at the Capilano Longhouse once before in 1990, when the Squamish Nation presented David Suzuki with an eagle feather. Soon after, I visited Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) where I met carver Claude Davidson, father of renowned artist Robert Davidson, and also traveled to the ancient village site of Skedans. When I was about 7 years old, my favorite book was titled "Indian Lore and Craft", I became enamored of creating buckskin clothes, moccasins, face paint, bows and arrows and other accessories. But I never followed up.
Here I am with my cousin Shelley Ferguson.
Shelley's mother is Rhonda Larrabee is Chief of Qayqayt First Nations, and the subject of the NFB documentary Tribe of One. I have often written about Rhonda and her courage to re-establish the Qayqayt First Nations in New Westminster.
Shelley's nieces danced in the "jingle dance" competition. Latisha is on the left in blue and Alyssa is
in the middle in red. They both have been the Squamish Nation
Princesses. :)
I found lots of aspects of interculturalism happening at the Pow Wow: Click on each of the pictures for an enlargement on my Flickr account.
Here is a Japanese parasol being carried by one of the child dancers to keep the sun off.
The dancer on the left wears an RCMP serge tunic combined with leggings from an old Hudson's Bay Company blanket - very vintage. The dancer on the right has combined a red/green tartan cloth in both his hat and rustle.
 These dancers' costumes are made from very colourful designs that resembled Tibetan designs.
Here are some of my favorite photos from the event:
This is the "Potato Dance Special" - you have to hold a potato between your forehead and your partner's. Then you are asked to keep doing dance movements, or lift your hands or feet into the air, or even jump! Last couple with a potato between their heads wins!
This young dancer is waiting for the Fancy Shawl dancer to begin
Male traditional dance
I love the expressions on these dancers with their painted faces. They are plains Indians.
 Detail of a Rustle with eagle feathers.
Salmon dinner with traditional baked salmon, bannock and
macaroni.
Here is a video of two of my favorite male dancers at the event. The dancer with the Purple top, has a green & crimson red tartan as a loin cloth and also on his hat. The dancer with the eagle head mask is wearing a vintage RCMP red serge tunic with HBC blanket leggings. Watch the background for a female dancer in a red & black jingle dance costume - that's the niece of my cousin Shelley. At the end of the video, watch for a young boy in a white tunic with a yellow porcupine headdress with 2 eagle feathers - pretty intense performance, eh?
This video is a very intense... This is the two finalists for senior male fancy dance. It was a great way for the dance competitions to end!
Thursday, July 1
Happy Canada Day! Joceylyn Petit... Scottish-Chinese-Canadian fiddle player!
by
Todd
on Thu 01 Jul 2010 02:15 PM PDT
Happy Canada Day!
I
am listening to the cd music of 15 year old
half-Chinese/half-Scottish 100% Canadian fiddle player Jocelyn
Pettit. Perfect for the recognition of Pioneer Chinese
and Scots who helped to build British Columbia.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jocelyn and her mother Siew, at the BC Highland Games last Saturday. I had written: Hello Jocelyn
and Siew. I am really enjoying listening to Jocelyn's cd. I can
remembering
hearing some good fiddle music at the games, looked over at the stage,
but
didn't see my Blackthorn friends... but a small trio or so. I love
the
sound on the cd. I cranked it up in the car.
Great that you have been on CBC Early Edition with Rick Cluff.
But I
think Sheryl McKay's North By Northwest - would be perfect for you.
I have
played my accordion with Blackthorn, and the Chinese-fusion group Silk
Road
Music Ensemble. Hopefully one day, we can have you perform at my Gung
Haggis
Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
We have spun off a CBC
Television performance special back in 2004, and I hope that it can be
expanded for the future. I can be seen playing my accordion in the CBC
TV
documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy - about my
great-great-grandfather
and the contributions that his subsequent descendants have made to
society. I
would like to purchase additional cd's to give out as gifts. I
will write
up a review of the cd within the week. Please let me know when you are
playing
in the Vancouver area, and I will blog the events.
Cheers, Todd Wong
Her father replied: Hello Todd,
Thank you very much for your very nice
message. We really appreciate your kind words! I wish I had the
chance to meet you at the recent BC Highland Games and Scottish
Festival, as my
daughter, Jocelyn, and wife, Siew, were delighted to talk with you. You
have accomplished great achievements with your music performances, work
with
CBC, and special events production! Bravo for such fascinating and
remarkable work! We are keen to know more and participate!
Thank you for enjoying our music at the
BC Highland
Games & Scottish Festival, as well as on our recent debut CD. At
the
Games, we performed a short set and came ready for much more, in case
time
allowed. We were excited to perform with our newly-joined pipes player
(small/bellow pipes), and we had our guitar player as well (but no cello
player
for this show). The CD shows the diversity and versatility of Jocelyn's
music. Her original compositions are complex and beautifully layered in
sound texture, her arrangements of contemporary and traditional tunes
are fresh
and delightful, and her choice of tunes and melodies is interesting and
engaging. Of course, I am a very proud dad, but far beyond my word, she
is
widely receiving praise for her ideas, innovation, and skills
(especially for
her young age).
Thank you for the ideas you have
mentioned -
preceding our (sold-out) North Vancouver CD Release Concert (Shaw
Theatre),
Sheryl McKay was kind enough to play Jocelyn's "Morning Glory" on her
show. It was very much appreciated - Jocelyn is committed to making
music
her career, and along the way we learn of the many career-path
challenges (such as gaining recognition and opportunities, with
predominantly instrumental world/folk music). Definitely, thank you for
your ideas!
Thank you for writing up a review of
our
CD! That is really excellent! We are very appreciative of the word
getting out there, of Jocelyn's music and her music gift of exceptional
talent.
We hope to see you soon!
Cheers,
Thursday, April 22
Ali & Ali 7: RCMP, Immigration and tasers - Oh My!
by
Todd
on Thu 22 Apr 2010 11:45 PM PDT
Ali & Ali 7 Return to the stage for another outrageous skewering of Canadian MulticulturalismWORLD PREMIERE of Ali & Ali
Created and performed by Camyar Chai, Guillermo Verdecchia and Marcus Youssef
Co-starring Laara Sadiq and Raugi Yu
Directed by Guillermo Verdecchia
at the Cultch’s Historic Theatre
Apr 14–24
Tickets for Cultch Performances available at 604-251-1363 or https://tickets.thecultch.com/
at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts’ Studio Theatre
April 28 - May 1
Tickets for Shadbolt performances at 604-205-3000 or boxoffice@burnaby.ca Ali & Ali are to Canadian multiculturalism what Wayne & Shuster
are to Canadian culture. They poke fun at ourselves, to help us laugh
at the absurdity of our history and culture. But in today's world, Wayne & Shuster, comedy kings of the 1960's and 1970's, have given way to Kids from the Hall, and Russell Peters. Canadian culture is no longer white and red, our cultural diversity includes black and yellow and pink and especially brown. Canadians also come from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Azerbaijian. Wayne & Shuster used to make fun of foreign accents. Camyar Chai and Marcus Youssef as brown immigrant refugees from the fictional country of Agraba, take ethnic jokes to a whole different level - but with some very serious political commentary. This
was my first time at Ali & Ali. I really enjoyed reading the
published play Ali & Ali and the Axes of Evil. I couldn't stop laughing at some of the bits about Asian Heritage Month, and the Scottish stage manager. For the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, I had invited Marcus Youssef to read/perform an excerpt with comedian Charles Demers. So I wasn't going to miss them. The show opens with a montage of current world leaders from Libya, USA, and Canada. It's a tribute rap to Moammar Gadhafi. Wow... we are definitely in a different cultural perspective here. The play is interactive with the audience, asking questions, getting responses. Surprise! They are spoofing and utilizing experimental theatre audience participation as well as Bertolt Brecht's agitprop theatre. Ali & Ali are presenting a show to the audience. They introduce their assistant as Yogi Ru, in actuality Vancouver actor Raugi Yu. Raugi is the straight man to this zany duo, even dressing up as Obama's Portuguese Water Dog. Along the way, an ethnic South Asian RCMP officer (Laara Sadiq) appears, to charge
Ali & Ali with illegal immigration to Canada. A kangaroo court (or
would it be a "moose court" in Canada?) ensues and Ali & Ali must
defend and explain themselves. This is where the character of Raugi steps up as an interpreter to
explain the actions of Ali & Ali to the RCMP officer. But true to
Ali & Ali interpretation and misinterpretion, as Canadian
sacred institutions
such as the RCMP are poked with scenarios including tasers and cultural sensitivity
training. Broad outrageous humour got loud laffs from the audience -
especially the puppet show! Ali & Ali poke some fun at Barak Obama's New
World Order. The puppet show took on a weird outrageous vibe, as talking heads of Afro-American movement cultural icons, criticize Obama policies in the White House. It would have been nice if they had been able to identify who their "Jiminy Cricket" conscience guides were, as many audience members are probably not versed in Afro-American revolutionaries such as Malcolm X and Angela Davis. Some serious topics are addressed such as
prison detention & torture, illegal immigration and deportation. This show uses the slap stick humour to set up and explain the underlying social commentary. How does a normal human being cope with being detained in prison on unspecific charges? The balance between the serious and absurdist swings back and forth, eliciting emotional reactions from the audience. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. There are many in-jokes, dependent upon the audience's knowledge of many things. It is like a television channel-flipping barrage of issues. But the play succeeds in informing the audience about our country's detention of prisoners, and it creating new cultural perspectives of multiculturalism. Sometimes, how you see the world really does depend on what colour your eyes are.
Definitely not for everybody - but neither was Monty Python or Wayne & Shuster.
Check out the Neworld website:
http://www.neworldtheatre.com/productions-ali-and-ali-7.html
Wednesday, March 3
Vancouver Olympic Ceremonies: Where was the cultural diversity?
by
Todd
on Wed 03 Mar 2010 04:31 PM PST
Winter Olympics invited countries from around to the world to multicultural Vancouver, but cultural diversity was missing in the Opening and Closing ceremonies.
Apparently the opening ceremonies did feature performers of cultural diversity. But we missed it.
Only
before the televised official opening... ("Miss Jully Black to the back
of the bus please")... not "Canadian" enough to be televised.... and
February is Black History month in Canada!Read Vancouver Sun Pete McMartin's review of the opening ceremonieshttp
http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=195883fa-d774-4385-9365-2cda2e55e631
The Closing Ceremonies were promised to include more French content,
and to feature Canadian humour and myth-busting of Canadian stereotypes.
Vancouver's cultural diversity was represented in the hundreds of
jumping Grade 9ers holding snowboards in the opening sequence. My
First Nations 2nd cousin was there - his mother was very proud. But
all the featured performers were White - with the exception of K-OS.
And most of the volunteer performers of colour were dressed as hip-hop
dancers, instead mounties, lumberjacks and hockey players. Because
there are no Asian hockey players in the NHL - but that's another
Canadian Myth that's been busted since Larry Kwong played one game in
the NHL in 1948, 10 years before Willie O'Ree became the first black
hockey player in 1958.
A Few days later the same Pete McMartin quoted Tung Chan in an opinion piece -
Opinion - An Olympic Games as white as snow
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Opinion+Olympic+Games+white+snow/2620782/story.html
But read the comments to the above piece, or to Craig Takeuchi's pieces in the Georgia Straight.
2010 Olympic closing ceremony: Why wasn't there any aboriginal content?
or
Vancouver 2010 Olympics: The Great White, er, Multicultural North?
Despite all the crowd cheering, street filling patriotism, when Canada
wins a gold medal hockey game, there is still a dark anonymous racism
that haunts all the internet comments, and rears its head at any hint
of "affirmative action" or ethnic inclusion.
This is the next story. This is the next stage of insight.
The aim of the Closing ceremonies was to have some fun, poking fun at
Canadian stereotypes, and doing some "myth busting." But one of the
myths that got reinforced is that Canada is White. Despite generations
of immigration from all around the world, Canada cannot find a
performer of colour good enough to speak at or perform at and during
the Closing ceremonies.
Would it have hurt Canadians if one of the chorus line lumberjacks,
mounties, or hockey players had been a shade of colour other than
white? Would we have heard a chorus of boos, if one of the mounties
had worn a turban?
We know that racial discrimination in sports can be cruel to kids growing up, so it can't be
a wonder why our top athletes are mostly White. But we have succeeded in
the Arts.
Where was Indo-Canadian comedian Russell Peters?
Canadians of multi-ethnicity are cool and sexy. What better examples
do we have than actors Kristin Kreuk of Smallville? or Lisa Ray of
Bollywood? Even Keanu Reeves primarily grew up in Toronto, despite
being born in Lebanon - but we didn't hold Steve Nash's birthplace of
South Africa against him.
First Nations actors Graham Green and Tantoo Cardinal were good enough
for "Dances with Wolves" but not for the Closing Ceremonies? And
Tantoo just received her Order of Canada too...
Our authors Joy Kogawa, Thomas King are amongst the most studied
authors in our Canadian high schools, colleges and universities. Wayson Choy and 7th generation descendant of Black Loyalists
George Elliot Clarke are also amongst our most loved - these four authors also are Order of Canada recipients.
We are not saying that Canada should enforce racial inclusivity
guidelines for its sports teams. But we are saying that the closing
ceremonies lacked the representation of Canada's population, and it
reinforced every sad stereotype of Canada. Alongside the Mounties,
lumberjacks, beavers and moose was the sad realization that Canada is
only populated by White people, despite multi-generations of accepting
people from all over the world.
And where are the bagpipes?
Canada's first Prime Minister, BC's first Premier, and Vancouver's
first mayor were all born in Scotland. Has the former largest ethnic
group of Vancouver so much assimilated into mainstream culture, that
they have forgotten their ethnic roots?
The SFU Pipes and Drums is the six time and current World Champion pipe
band. There are more bagpipers in Canada then there are in Scotland -
or is this a Canadian myth that we are not proud of?
Bagpipers have performed with Uzume Taiko, and Delhi 2 Dublin, - two
internationally recognized examples of cultural fusion music happening
in Vancouver. To me, these are the examples of performers that should
have been featured at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, demonstrating
how Canadians have come from all over the world, put aside our racial
differences, and blend our cultures, and our shared our histories
together.
This is the Canada that I am proud of - not the beer swigging garage
band party music that was featured - without any relevance to the
historic Olympic successes that we witnessed over the past 17 days
Saturday, February 20
More media stories about "lack of colour (and bagpipes)" in Vancouver 2010 Opening ceremonies
by
Todd
on Sat 20 Feb 2010 01:30 PM PST
Stories critical of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies are in Vancouver Courier and Georgia Straight blogs.Vancouver Courier: Allen Garr's Much is continuing to be written about the Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremonies that took place with great hoop-lah on Friday February 12th, in BC Place Stadium. Yes, there were the Four Host Nations welcoming the world to their ancestral (and unceded) lands. Yes, there were Canadian Aboriginal peoples from all across the nation, dancing and drumming, while Bryan Adams and and Nelly Furtado took the spotlight and sang a new Adams' song "Beat the Drum." And then.... a show that has brought complaints from across the country, as Federal Minister James Moore has said "there wasn't enough French-Canadian content." Even Quebec Permier Jean Charest, as he sat next to
VANOC CEO John Furlong at a news conference Monday said, “Not at the level we were expecting,” said “It wasn’t
sufficient.”I admit that enjoyed watching the show. And my girlfriend and I watched
it twice... but we were also playing video and computer games during
the second time. But we cannot ignore that so many people are
speaking out, and to so is to risk great peril. Clearly there is a
schism in the understanding of what make's us Canadian... as understood
by new immigrants of both Asian and Celtic origins, as well as
multi-generational Canadians of First Nations, Asian, Celtic, Gaelic,
British, French and European heritage. Maybe like at Expo 67, we are discovering the point of how we see ourselves in the world, and in our own country. I
especially liked Shane Koyczan's poem. He is indeed addressing the
values that push us to do better, to be more inclusive, and to always
try harder - just like my personal hero Terry Fox, who is very dear to
me, as I hold the SFU Terry Fox gold medal, as a recipient "for courage
in adversity and dedication to society." Remember what happened after the Closing Ceremonies in Turin? Even
Premier Gordon Campbell criticized Turin closing ceremony display by
saying, “I thought there were lots of stereotypes that are not what the
new Canada is.” http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=8a6a6c72-05f7-4a8d-91a1-60f2ebe27219&k=96687Yes,
I too understand that we cannot please everybody all the time, and that
some cultural groups will cry foul. But my experiences are also tainted
by growing up in a deliberate exclusion of systemic racism, where my
born-in-Canada grandmother could not vote in this country until after
her brothers and cousin had been reluctantly accepted into the Canadian
Forces due to pressure from Great Britain, and then sent on "Suicide
Missions" to be behind enemy lines in Burma. For these reasons
I knew it was important to help save Joy Kogawa's childhood home from
demolition, where she was forced to leave at age 6 due to internment of
Japanese-Canadians. For these reasons, I know it is important
to support my cousin Chief Rhonda Larrabee whose mother's people had
their ancestral lands taken away from them, to create BC's first
capital city of New Westminster. And then to add insult, had their
reservation taken away, and their band name of Qayqayt was said to not
exist, because the people didn't live there anymore. If we don't
speak out on these issues, now - then it is like the silence that
watches the Japanese Canadians put on trains and sent away, or like
knowing that First Nations children are in Residential schools. We know
something is wrong, but dare not speak. I have tried to embrace
this country and it's foibles, despite hating the bagpipes when I was
little because it represented Colonialism. I speak better french, then
I do Chinese. I understand the the Ceremonies wanted to emphasize "The Land" rather than the cultural diversity. Even Margaret Atwood's great book "Survival" argues that there is indeed a distinct Canadian literature, with its own preoccupations, themes, and ideas specific to its history, geopolitics, and landscape. But that was so 20th Century... Now in the 21st Century, it is about the geopolitics, our cultural diversity, and our place in the global world. Yes John Furlong has done and amazing job with
VANOC. It is a very challenging, almost impossible task - But John
Furlong's terrible french pronounciation seems to be an apt metaphor
for VANOC's ceremonies team of understanding and including Canada's
multicultural history and culture. But come on VANOC.... We Are More!!!!
Wednesday, January 27
Daniel Lee Rest in Peace, 1920 - January 26, 2010
by
Todd
on Wed 27 Jan 2010 11:42 PM PST
Daniel Lee 1920 - January 26, 2010  Daniel Lee saluting at
the November 11, 2009 Remembrance Day ceremony in Vancouver Chinatown.
The Chinese Canadian veterans always attended the Victory Square
Cenotaph ceremonies, which Dan Lee also helped to organize, then they
would go to Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant to stay warm, before organizing the
Chinatown ceremonies at 12:30pm - photo Todd Wong
"To
be a good citizen you got to start at home. Otherwise, a nation is just
like a family.
Everybody got to be happy at home otherwise the nation
would be in trouble."
- Daniel Lee With sorrow... we share the news that Grand-Uncle Daniel Lee passed away this morning of January 26th, 2010. He had been in the Burnaby Hospital since Wednesday. His daughter Grace, she said it was quite sudden - his going into the hospital. I had been receiving reports from my mother Betty, as her mother Mabel (Dan's oldest sister at 99 years old) was visiting the hospital each day.Uncle Dan was born the 11th child of 14, the 5th son of seven to jeweler Ernest Lee, and Kate Chan Lee - the 2nd child, and 1st daughter of Rev. Chan Yu Tan. As a young child he spent some time living in Nanaimo with his grandparents Rev. and Mrs. Chan Yu Tan, after the early death of his father.
When Dan was 20 years old he tried to enlist in the Canadian Army, but was turned away because at that time they did not allow any Chinese Canadians. Instead, he went to aircraft mechanics school in Toronto and graduated two years later. By 1942, Chinese were allowed into the Army due to pressure from Great Britain. Dan Lee was one of the the first Chinese-Canadians accepted into the Canadian Air Force. Soon, he was joined in England, by his brothers Howard and Leonard, plus cousin Victor Wong, who were enroute to the Pacific Theatre to serve with the Army special forces.In the years after WW2, Dan Lee and his fellow Canadian born veterans would continue to face racial discrimination and prejudice. The were not allowed to join any of the existing Canadian Legions for veteran soldiers. They turned to the oldest veteran organization, the Army, Navy, Air Force Vets of Canada and were accepted to form their own unit - Pacific Unit 280. After
WW2, he and his fellow veterans and good friend Roy Mah, petitioned the
Canadian Government to gain voting rights for Chinese Canadians, and
also to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act. This was accomplished in
1947.
 But the challenges weren't over yet. Every year Uncle Dan
would write a letter to Ottawa asking for an apology for the Chinese
head tax and exclusion act. The Chinese head tax redress movement took on a larger significance after MP Margaret Mitchell brought the issue up in Parliament in 1984, and also when Prime Minister Mulroney apologized to Japanese Canadians in 1988 for the the government's interning of them during WW2.In the 1980's, Dan Lee would continue to work head tax apology issue. With Douglas Jung, a former veteran, lawyer, Member of
Parliament, and the Chinese Benevolent Association, they proposed that a
national organization be formed to deal with the Head Tax issue. Dan Lee became one of the founders of the National
Congress of Chinese Canadians(NCCC) and a national conference was held. After many years, an apology was finally made in Canadian Parliament by Prime Minister Harper in 2006.
In 1998, the Chinese Canadian Military Museum was founded. Dan Lee's air force uniform was one of the first displays.
 Chinese Canadian Military Museum Dinner November 7, 2009
top row: Bryan Larrabee, grand-nephew Todd Wong, Padre Wesley Lowe
bottom row: niece Rhonda Larrabee, Daniel Lee, sister Mabel Mar In 1999, we held the first Rev. Chan Legacy Family Reunion. Uncle Dan was a consultant for the committee. At the reunion, it was Dan Lee who gave the Elder Address, as he talked about his grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan.
In 2002, the Rev. Chan Yu Tan family was featured in the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum exhibit "Three Canadian Chinese Pioneer Families" - pictures of Uncle Dan and the contributions of himself and his brothers and cousin were included.
In 2007, Dan Lee is one of the lead stories in the film documentary Heroes Remember, produced by the Chinese Canadian Military Museum.Dan Lee's dedication to community service is exemplary. In 2004, Dan Lee received the Award of Merit from Dominion Command. It is one of the highest honours a veteran can receive. Uncle Dan told me that to receive an Award of Merit, you must first receive the Medal for
Appreciation, which he received in 1987. In 1999 he next
received the Award for Service.
And through all these years, Uncle Dan would sell poppies in downtown Vancouver for Remembrance Day, and help organize the Poppy Drive every November. He was one of the best sellers. He was also one of the organizers of the Victory Square Cenotaph Remembrance Day ceremonies. In 2004, Remembrance Day ceremonies began at the Canadian Chinese Pioneer Monument in Chinatown. The veterans of Unit 280 would attend both Victory Square and Chinatown ceremonies, even if it was raining and cold.
The contributions that Dan Lee made, will last and be remembered, while he will be missed.
We offer support and love to Uncle Dan, his wife Irene, and their children Vincent and Grace.
Peace & Blessings to all, Todd Wong - Vancouver
As part of his commitment to community, Dan annually organized the poppy campaign in Vancouver. It's not surprising
he was a top-seller. For his community efforts Dan has received many
veteran honours, such as the Award of Appreciation, and Award for
Service - but none higher than the Award of Merit from Dominion Command
in 2004. It's a fitting tribute to the grandson who evidently learned
his values and strong faith in community from his Methodist Church
pioneer, Grandfather Chan Yu Tan.See VIDEO of Daniel Lee from the Chinese Canadian Military Museum
www.vac-acc.gc.ca Daniel
Lee, one of three brothers to join the war effort, worked as an
aircraft mechanic and went on to a career of dedicated community
service in Canada.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53803790@N00/sets/72157623292987932/
Monday, December 7
Toddish McWong returns to Canada after 7 days in Scotland
by
Todd
on Mon 07 Dec 2009 01:37 PM PST
I am now back in Canada. It was an incredible learning experience for my first trip across the Atlantic to one of the most important cultural and historical ancestral homes for this country called Canada. Canada is probably the most Scottish nations outside of Scotland. Our first prime minister, many of our explorers, BC's first premier, Vancouver's first mayor - were all born in Scotland.
And yet... Scotland is a country that is learning from Canada.
My trip was initiated because a life-size picture and video-interview of me were used in the photo exhibit This is Who We Are: Scots in Canada. I have written about the exhibit here: Toddish McWong arrives in Scotland for inaugural visit and reception at Scottish Parliament for "This is Who We Are". Here are my pictures from the exhibit and the reception at the closing of the event on St. Andrew's Day more »
Tuesday, December 1
Toddish McWong arrives in Scotland for inaugural visit and reception at Scottish Parliament for "This is Who We Are"
by
Todd
on Tue 01 Dec 2009 10:53 AM PST
This is my first ever trip to Scotland... and I almost didn't make it.
It's the year of Scotland Homecoming, celebrating the 250th Anniversary of poet Robert Burns, and the 2009 version of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner was one of the listed events of Burns Suppers around the world.
Earlier this year, my photo was included in a web photo exhibit THIS IS WHO WE ARE, for Cultural Connect Scotland created by Harry McGrath - former director of the Centre for Scottish Studies at Simon Fraser University.
+ PICTURES more »
Saturday, October 17
Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Art Exhibition features artists from across Canada
by
Todd
on Sat 17 Oct 2009 10:32 PM PDT
Over 50 artists were featured at the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Art Exhibition at Canada Place in Vancouver BC, Oct 17/18. It's a two day free exhibition with sales to the public. On Friday evening, a live auction of highlighted artworks was held with proceeds going towards the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Youth Legacy Fund. more »
Sunday, August 2
Blackthorn celtic music band at Fort Langley for BC Day!
by
Todd
on Sun 02 Aug 2009 02:51 PM PDT
Blackthorn is playing at Historic Fort Langley.
Blackthorn is comprised of some of my favorite musicians: Michael on guitar/vocals, Michelle on flute/pennywhistle/vocals, Tim on bass/bodrana and Rosie on fiddle/vocals. Blackthorn was our featured band at the 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner.
Historic Fort Langley is the birthplace of BC, where Gov. James Douglas signed the proclamation almost 150 years and 9 months ago.
Monday,
Aug 03 | 6:30pm | Brigade Days
Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada, BCBrigade
Days is held every year over the BC Day long weekend in August.
Historically, Brigade was when the fur trappers came down from their
trap lines to the fort, to trade, some took their annual baths and
looked for a new spouse, and in general caught up with friends they
hadn't seen since the year before. Blackthorn will be bathed and on stage Monday evening. |
AND NOW WE HAVE OUR OWN CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE...
|
2010 GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY Dinner
January 31, 2010
Contact Firehall Arts Centre:
phone 604.689.0926
2010 prices
SINGLE TICKET
$60 + $5 service charge = $65
Student price is $50 + $4.50 = $54.50 (must show student high school or university ID)
Children's price is $40 + $4.00 = $44 (ages 13 and under).
Reservations for tables of 10
$600 + lower service charge
WHAT: GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner - 12th Annversary Dinner, celebrating 251st Anniversary of Robert Burns' birth + incoming Chinese New Year of the Tiger.
WHEN:
6PM January 31 2010, SUNDAY
doors open 5pm, Dinner 6pm
WHERE: Floata Chinese Restaurant,
#400-180 Keefer St.
Media Inquiries
Call Gung Haggis Productions / Todd Wong
direct: 778-846-7090
email: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
CULTURE:
Our Performers
create something special for us every year with traditional and contemporary performances featuring everything in-between and beyond!
FOOD: A quirky fusion/mix/buffet of
Scottish Canadian and Chinese Canadian culture 10 course Chinese banguet dinner
2004 - The debut of Gung Haggis Won-Ton
2005 - Haggis lettuce wrap!
2007 - Haggis dim sum appetizer buffet
2008 - Scotch tastings! + debut of Gung Haggis parade dragon!
2009 - debut of Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipes & Drums band + auction of 37 year old special edition Famous Grouse whisky + scotch tastings of Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park.
Watch for more surprises in 2010!
Description of 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC News anchor Gloria Macarenko and Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: bagpiper Joe McDonald and Mad Celts, Silk Road Music's Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault, Opera Soprano Heather Pawsey and DJ Timothy Wisdom, BC Book Prize winner Vancouver poet Rita Wong + poet traslator Tommy Tao, Playwright Adrienne Wong and a scene from "Mixie and The Half-Breeds"
Description of 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: , celtic band Blackthorn, bagpiper Joe McDonald and Brave Waves, Ji-Rong Huang on erhu, Film maker Ann-Marie Fleming, Vancouver poet laureate George McWhirter, Playwright Grace Chin and a scene from "The Quickie"
Description of 2007 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC Radio's Priya Ramu,
featuring performers:
Silk Road Music,
Heather Pawsey,
Brave Waves,
Leora Cashe,
No Luck Club,
Dr. Ian Mason (Burns Club of Vancouver)
Lensey Namioka - Author "Half and Half"
Margaret Gallagher,
"Twisting Fortunes" (sneak preview of play)
Description of 2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
with co-host with CityTV's Prem Gill
featuring performers:
Rick Scott & Harry Wong, The Shirleys, Joe McDonald & Brave Waves, Sean Gunn, author Joy Kogawa,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team
for lots of summer fun, fitness and friendship. We are a social team full of cultural vigor, that likes to eat.
We have been featured on television, local, national and international. We have a unique and internationally famous fundraiser dinner event.
We practice starting March
Sunday 1:30 pm -3:30 pm
Tuesday 6pm-7:45pm
We meet at Dragon Zone clubhouse - just south of Science World in Creekside Park above the Aquabus and dragon boat docks.
Our coach Todd Wong has 15+ years of experience including novice, recreational and competitive levels, and both community and corporate teams.
Our 2008 season took us to races in Burnaby, Vancouver, Vernon, Vancouver Taiwanese race, UBC, Ft. Langley.
It was our strongest team ever and we are proud of our race performances.
For more information:
Click on
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team information
phone: 778-846-7090
e-mail: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
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http://www.myspace.com/joc
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