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Tuesday, March 9
"CHINESE VANCOUVER THEN AND NOW: 1972-2010" - Vancouver Opera Speaks
by
Todd
on Tue 09 Mar 2010 01:58 AM PST
"CHINESE VANCOUVER THEN AND NOW: 1972-2010"
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
7-9 pm
Alice MacKay Room, Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch
OPERA SPEAKS @ VPL -
Admission is free.
An eminent panel explores the history of Chinese in Vancouver, with
emphasis on the Chinese communities' emergence and development since
1972, the year of Nixon's momentous trip to China. Discover how our
city has been shaped and transformed by Chinese culture over the past
38 years. This will be a fascinating evening. Speakers include eminent
architect Bing Thom, UBC historian Henry Yu, and filmmaker and writer Colleen Leung.
Presented in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library.
Opera Speaks @ VPL is sponsored by Omni BC Diversity Television.
http://www.vancouveropera.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=255&Itemid=15
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/
Saturday, January 2
Toddish McWong goes to Vernon BC and meets Betty McChan and Dan McHuang.
by
Todd
on Sat 02 Jan 2010 11:54 PM PST
Todd goes to Vernon and meets Betty Chan, former Highland Dance champion of Canada, and Dan Huang drum sgt of Kelowna pipe band. more »
Tuesday, November 17
Todd Wong writes "Chinatown" section in new "Vancouver, Victoria & Whistler Colourguide"
by
Todd
on Tue 17 Nov 2009 01:41 AM PST
I wrote the section on Vancouver Chinatown. The book is edited by Gail Buente, my coworker friend at the Vancouver Library. Back in May I sent her my final draft which she edited. The book has just been released now in November in time for the anticipated visitors for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Maybe some of them will find their way into Vancouver Chinatown. more »
Wednesday, November 11
Chinese Canadian veterans lead Remembrance Day ceremony in Vancouver Chinatown
by
Todd
on Wed 11 Nov 2009 11:58 PM PST
Uncle Daniel Lee is colour guard for Pacific Unit 280 at the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Chinese Canadian Pioneer Monument in Vancouver Chinatown more »
Wednesday, September 9
Foo's Ho Ho is open again... and only Chinese restaurant serving old-style Cantonese food
by
Todd
on Wed 09 Sep 2009 11:25 PM PDT
Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant is a landmark in Vancouver Chinatown... and open again!
Where can you get good old-style Cantonese food in
Vancouver? Today, there are many styles of Chinese food from Hong
Kong, Beijing, Hunan, Shanghai, even Vietnamese, Cambodian, Korean and
Japanese. The new immigrants that speak mandarin now out-number the
Cantonese speaking pioneer immigrants and their descendants.
Many many years ago, all the best restaurants in
Chintown all had neon lights. The Ho Ho Restaurant at the corner of
Pender and Columbia St. had a long tall vertical neon sign that
featured a hot steaming bowl of rice
. Keith McKellar's book "Neon Eulogy: Vancouver Cafe and Street" writes and interesting description of the Ho Ho Restaurant.
Back in the 1950's, 60's and 70's... Vancouver Chinatown was the place
to go for late night eats, Chinese banquets, and you could see the 5th
Dimension, The Platters and many other great performers at the Marco
Polo Restaurant and Night Club - which was across the street from the
former Ho Ho Restaurant.
I grew up during the late 60's and 70's. Our family used to sit in the
upstairs window booth seat, where we could look outside at all the
pedestrians. I remember buying Bruce Lee posters from the many stores
on Pender St. Sadly, this era of Chinatown is now long gone. Ethnic
Chinese have moved out to the suburbs and the restaurants and stores
followed them. New immigrants no longer came to Strathcona or
Chinatown as the first stop, many move straight to Richmond, Coquitlam,
Shaughnessey and even North Vancouver. Times
changed, and restaurants closed. The Ho Inn had a fire. Foo's
Restaurant closed. The Ho Ho closed. I remember sitting in the The
Marco Polo when owner Victor Louie was closing down and offering my dad
some of pictures on the wall. My father was a sign writer, and he used
to do all the show cards and other signwork for The Marco Polo. Awhile
back James Sam, known as "Sam" re-opened the Ho Ho Restaurant site,
renaming it Foo's Ho Ho in recognition of these by-gone restaurants.
Sam had formerly worked at WK Gardens, Marco Polo
and Best Wun Tun House. Foo's Ho Ho became the place to go when you
wanted old-style Cantonese cuisine, or to reminesce about the good old
days of Vancouver Chinatown. I have had many memorable visits to Foo's Ho Ho:
But in July 2009, it was announced that chef Sam was
in the hospital with cancer, and that Foo's Ho Ho would soon close. My
friend Jim Wong-Chu organized a dinner for a "last night dinner" at
Foo's Ho Ho, and invited lots of our friends who enjoy Chinese Canadian
history, and its food.  see my July 12th blog story:
Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant to close in Vancouver Chinatown: It's the end of an era for Cantonese restaurants
It
was a great dinner, and good to see old friends and talk about the
foods and dishes that we love to eat. Sam's wife Joanne was in the
kitchen cooking up many of Sam's signature dishes for us.
A week later, Chef Sam, of Foo's Ho Ho, passes on the the Great Kitchen in the Heavens. A memorial was held for Sam on July 30. After a grieving period, Joanne decided to re-open.
On
August 20th, we were back at Foo's Ho Ho
Restaurant. Jim Wong-Chu invited some friends to again talk about
food, and how we can highlight it's connections to Vancouver Chinese
history. The dinner was attended by: Col. Howe Lee and Judy Maxwell of
the Chinese Canadian Military Museum; my mother's cousin Gary Lee -
who's interview for the CBC documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy
had been filmed at Foo's Ho Ho; media artist Ray Mah - who had designed
the Saltwater City logos for the 1986 exhibition; and Dr. Jan Walls. We hope to have more dinners to highlight the food and Vancouver Chinatown history. Stay tuned... Oh... but what did we eat? Feast your eyes on these pictures!
Free soup that comes with our meal: meat and melon with vegetables
Special order: Garlic Chicken!
My favorite: Chicken stuffed with sticky rice
Egg Foo Yung, a trade
Bitter Melon with Beef and black bean sauce
Another favorite! Curried potato slices with beef.
Taro with pork
Tofu and Fish!
Dr. Jan Walls, our chef Joanne, and Jim Wong-Chu
See my pictures:
Sunday, July 12
Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant to close in Vancouver Chinatown: It's the end of an era for Cantonese restaurants
by
Todd
on Sun 12 Jul 2009 11:21 PM PDT
Friends, Todd Wong and Jim Wong Chu, standing outside Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant after eating there for the last time.
Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant to close in Vancouver Chinatown: It's the end of an era for Cantonese restaurants(please note that due to popular demand - Foo's Ho Ho did re-open. Open Wednesday to Sunday, Closed Monday and Tuesday - 102 East Pender Street Vancouver, BC V6A 1T3 - (604) 609-2889 - editor Todd Wong January 2010)
On Friday, I received notice that Foo's Ho Ho restaurant was going to close on Saturday July 11th.
On July 9th Friday, several friends sent out emails to me about Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant, including Wesley Lowe, Larry Wong, Bob Sung and Jim Wong Chu. Larry wrote:
"Sam, the cook and proprietor of Foo’s Ho Ho has liver cancer and is
currently in VGH pallative care. At most he has 2 months left to live.
His partner, Joanne has been keeping the landmark restaurant open and
continuing cooking the delicious dishes you’ve enjoyed and remembered
throughout the years.
Going back and forth between the hospital and the restaurant has
taken a toil on her and she has reluctantly decided to close Foo’s Ho
Ho indefinitely after this coming Saturday. The famous neon sign will
dim one last time. So it’s last call for those who wish to have one
more lunch or dinner for old times sake and it’s also a way to support
Joanne and Sam financially. An opportunity to re-live a part of
old-time Chinatown, round up some friends and book your table.
604.609.2889"
The first Chinese pioneers to Canada were Cantonese speakers, and they brought Cantonese styled Chinese food with them. As the pioneers spread across North America, so did Chinese restaurants.
During the 1960's and 1970's, my father would often stop at the Ho Ho Restaurant in Vancouver Chinatown and bring back chow mein or deep-fried won ton, as a late night snack. I can remember many friday nights, when we would meet our family friends at the Ho Ho restaurant, then either go swimming at Father & Son nights at the YMCA, or shopping at Army & Navy and Woodwards along Hastings St. 
During the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's, Chinatown's neon was the place to be, and the place to eat!
Larry also is a local Chinatown historian and he wrote: "Foo’s Ho Ho is the last of the “village-style” Cantonese restaurants
from the late 1940s. establishments in Vancouver’s Chinatown that does
the original home-style cooking. Many of the older generation remembers
it well. Sam who first gain his cooking chops at the WK Restaurant and
later at the Famous Marco Polo and others before he resurrected the Ho
Ho which had been left vacant for a number of years and renamed it
Foo’s Ho Ho." In recent years, I have attended many dinners at Foo's Ho Ho with the Chinese Canadian Miltary Museum, Pacific Unit 280, and also with Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC, as well as with our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team after Tuesday night practices.
My friend David Wong wrote on his blog: At one time, the Ho Ho graced one of the city’s most familiar neon
landmarks - a stylized bowl of rice with steam rising up 3 1/2 stories.
Within this neon rise, alternated the Chinese characters for “Ho
Ho”…and her English words – both in flashing neon glory.
The restaurant once hosted many of Chinatown establishment’s major
events – weddings, Clan society dinners, cultural and festival dinners,
etc. The enterprise occupied the lower two floors of an old 8 storey
brick building that contained a once thriving rooming house / hotel,
the “Sun Ah”.
At one time, another old favourite restaurant existed a block away. Foo’s restaurant. When old Foo’s restaurant closed shop, the Ho
Ho became “Foo’s Ho Ho” From serving tourists to locals, there are regular groups of
customers who return to enjoy the authentic ciusine that faithfully
maintained Chinatown’s history. Each year, the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of British Columbia hosts its Annual General Meeting dinner at Foo’s Ho Ho in honour of the tradition and history that it represents. What did we eat for our "Last Night at Foo's Ho Ho"?
 Sticky Rice w/chicken - one of my Favorites!
 Ox Tail with Black Bean sauce
 Curried potato with beef slices - Another Favorite!
 Egg Foo Yung - Sam's signature dish.
Who was eating at Foo's Ho Ho on the last night?
 Peter Wong, Kwoi Gee, Annie, and Opal. Peter is the brother of Steven Wong, one of our paddlers on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team. Steven tells us that their family often goes to Foo's Ho Ho restaurant. Their father Bill Wong runs Modernize Tailors, another landmark institution in Vancouver Chinatown.
 Our table with (standing) Jim Wong Chu, Marlene, Bev and Ken (visiting from the next table), sitting: Todd, Deb, Dan, Sandy, Al and Stuart Mackinnon. Deb, Dan, Stuart and myself have shared many dinners at Foo's Ho Ho, following dragon boat practices. Jim and Bev are Chinatown institutions themselves, having grown up in the area, then working hard as board members to develop Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society into a major Vancouver festival.
 My mom's cousin Gary Lee, a friend, Tina, Gary's wife Josie, Bev and Ken. Gary filmed his interview for the CBC documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy, upstairs at the Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant. Gary's a real Chinatown veteran. His father Gordie Lee helpd develop Lee's Taxi - Vancouver's first Chinese-Canadian owned taxi service. Gary also used to sing in local night clubs - he was called "the Chinese Sinatra."
 Ron, George, Sid, Fanna, Elwin and Mary, were all active compatriots during the Chinese Head Tax Redress campaign of 05-06. We are all pioneer Chinese head tax descendents. Sid has carried the torch for many years, and promises to keep carrying it until all the head tax certificates are recognized - not just the less than 1% of surviving head tax payers and spouses.
 Bob Lee and Family had the largest gathering at Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant. Bob was the first Chinese-Canadian chancellor of UBC, and his daughter Carole recently organized the Chinatown and Beyond conference.
At the end of the meal, Todd and Jim went to say thank you to the chef, Joanne. By the end of the evening, there was a rumour going around that Joanne was so touched by the turnout for "Last Night at Foo's Ho Ho" that she might keep the restaurant going... or re-open in a month...
In any case, we wish the best for Sam and Joanne. They've earned a place in Vancouver's culinary and cultural history.
Behind the cashier desk at Foo's Ho Ho, is this picture taken last November following the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Canadian Chinese Pioneer Monument in Keefer Square. The Hon. Lt. Gov. Steven Point spontaneously decided to attend the ceremonies and gave a very heartfelt speech. The veterans of Pacific Unit 280 always go to Foo's Ho Ho for lunch afterwards. After the lunch, Lt. Gov. Steven Point asked to meet the cook, and honoured Joanne with a "Thank You Song" which he and his wife Gwen sang in their First Nations Sto:lo language. Itw as a wonderful and proud moment for all who attended.
Wednesday, July 1
Canada Day rally for Chinese Head Tax families: 10:30am Chinatown Monument
by
Todd
on Wed 01 Jul 2009 07:51 AM PDT
Canada Day rally for Chinese Head Tax families: 10:30am Chinatown MonumentThis will be the 4th annual Chinatown Redress Rally, since Prime Minister Harper apologized for the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act - but limited redress packages to only surviving head tax payers and their spouses. This action effectively limited full redress to less than 1% of head tax paying families, as almost all head tax payers had already died. Many head tax payers passed on their certificates to their children, because they believed the government would make a fair and equal redress someday, and because they believed that Canada was a fair and equal country. Chinese Canadians have lobbied against head tax since it was legislated in 1885. After WW2, Chinese Canadian WW2 veterans successfully lobbied for the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1947. In 1988, a Japanese Canadian Redress package was finally achieved after 4 years of negotiations. The Chinese Head Tax Redress package was never openly negotiated with community groups.
Media Advisory – June 30, 2009
Head Tax Families Celebrate Canada Day With Hot Dogs:
Rally at Monument to Chinese Railway Workers and War Veteran
Vancouver, BC – Members of Head Tax Families Society of Canada (HTFSC)
and its supporters will celebrate Canada Day with hot dogs in Chinatown.
The Fourth Annual Chinatown Redress Rally maybe remembered as the one
when the hotdogs appeared and the start of a tradition. Head tax families are
proud Canadians exercising their rights of public assembly and speech. They
will call on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to start good-faith
negotiations with representatives of head tax families for an inclusive just and
honourable redress
Time: 10:30am members call time – program to begin shortly after
Date: Wednesday July 1, 2009 – Canada Day
Place: Memorial to Chinese Railway Workers and War Veterans
Keefer and Columbia (NE corner), Vancouver
The Conservative government's June 22, 2006 Parliamentary apology and
unilaterally imposed redress package excluded most head tax families seeking
direct meaningful symbolic redress. Less than 900 families were eligible for the
ex gratia payments to surviving head tax payers and spouses of deceased head
tax payers. Some 3,000 families have registered with HTFSC and inclusive
redress-seeking groups across Canada calling for justice and honour for
affected elderly sons and daughters whose parents are deceased. Over 82,000
Chinese immigrants paid the head tax from 1885 to 1923, when exclusion
legislation was enacted. Repealed in 1947, the Chinese exclusion laws impoverished and
separated many head tax families for decades.
Members and supporters of Head Tax Families Society of Canada are today's
Canadians on a twenty-six year struggle for an inclusive just and
honourable redress
for affected head tax families.
Go to www.headtaxfamilies.ca for more information.
- 30 -
Contact: Sid Tan – 604-783-1853
Wednesday, June 17
Paddles Up! New book on dragon boating by Torontonians Arlene Chan and Susan Humphries
by
Todd
on Wed 17 Jun 2009 11:56 PM PDT
 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:
I found your name
on your amazing Gung Haggis Fat Choy website. What interests me is your
personal passion for dragon boating. The book project that I am
co-editing with Susan Humphries, past President, Dragon Boat Canada, . I'm assembling photos as well as
testimonials.
If
you're interested, I'd love to get a testimonial from you about what
the sport means to you. The idea is to have about 20 testimonials that
will be interspersed throughout the book. It's not to promote your
team, rather, to let others know how and why dragon boating has been a
passion for paddlers and coaches, like you.
This is what I originally sent to Arlene, most of it is printed on page 27: Dragon boating is about team tribalism. You can join a tribe that you
can belong to. It might be a competitive team, a corporate team, a
recreational team, a breast cancer team... or a team that promotes
multiculturalism. That's our team. We wear kilts, have lucky Chinese
coins on our team jersey. We eat Asian foods and Scottish haggis -
sometimes combined. It's become more than just being social... It's
become a family.
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 VFKI 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/1554883954or contact Kamini Jain in Vancouver http://www.rightangleperformance.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=74
Saturday, June 13
Vancouver Storytelling at Main St. Car Free Days - with Toddish McWong
by
Todd
on Sat 13 Jun 2009 11:25 PM PDT
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.
Thursday, June 11
3 Asian Canadians appointed to new BC Liberal Cabinet: Ida Chong, John Yap and Naomi Yamamoto
by
Todd
on Thu 11 Jun 2009 11:57 PM PDT
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 GeneralHeed 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:
Georgia Straight: Vancouver tops the charts in Premier Gordon Campbell's cabinet
Standing Up for Community: Readings and presentations by Shirley Chan, Hayne Wai and Larry Wong for Eastside Stories
by
Todd
on Thu 11 Jun 2009 11:30 PM PDT
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 ChoyLarry
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.
Tuesday, May 26
Tailor Made documentary about Wong family tailor shop is re-broadcast on Knowledge Network
by
Todd
on Tue 26 May 2009 09:34 PM PDT
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.asxMy
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/
Tuesday February 12, 2008 at 10pm ET/PT on CBC Newsworld
TAILOR MADE A naïve apprentice and a hot, young master tailor are both interested in taking over a legendary tailor shop in Vancouver's Chinatown, but they'll have a hard time convincing the hard-working Wong brothers to retire.
Modernize Tailors opened in 1913, and in the 1950s Bill and Jack Wong
took over from their father. Over the years, they've created suits for
all occasions and for customers from all walks of life-from lumberjacks
and new immigrants to movie stars like Sean Connery and politicians
like Sam Sullivan, then Mayor of Vancouver. Now, a newer
generation is looking to make their mark and take over the Modernize
Tailors legacy. But will the 85-year-old Wong Brothers ever stop
working? Tailor Made was directed by Len Lee and Marsha
Newbery, and produced by Marsha Newbery of Realize Entertainment Inc.
It was commissioned by CBC Newsworld. 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
Monday, February 9
Jen Sookfong Lee reads Feb 12 for The On Edge reading series at Emily Carr University of Art + Design
by
Todd
on Mon 09 Feb 2009 04:27 PM PST
Jen Sookfong Lee will give a reading on Granville Island at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
I really enjoyed reading Jen Sookfong Lee's debut novel, The End of East. It updates "the Chinatown story" from past incarnations by Wayson Choy in "The Jade Peony" or "Disappearing Moon Cafe" by SKY Lee.
Jen brings a grittier edgier approach to dealing with family and Chinese-Canadian identity issues. In fact, the protaganist tries to escape her family and its issues by disappearing into Montreal, until she is dragged back to face then in Vancouver.
Lee's writing is thoughtful, and her in-person readings and talks are very delightful. She will sometimes address that it was her grandfather's head tax certificate that inspired her to write some of the aspects of this story. Sometimes it's the third generation that often tries to rediscover what the 2nd generation was trying to cover up, or deemphasize in their own ambitions to blend in and assimilate into Canadian society.
Check out my May 2007 article about meeting Jen Sookfong Lee at the CBC Book Club
The following information is courtesy of Rita Wong, our featured poet at the 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner.
The On Edge readings series presents:
Jen Sookfong Lee
Thurs, Feb 12 - 7 pmin South Building Room 406Emily Carr University of Art + DesignGranville IslandThis reading is free and open to the public. All are welcome.Jen
Sookfong Lee’s novel, The End of East (Knopf Canada, New Face of
Fiction 2007), delves into the underside of Chinese Canadian history
through the eyes of the Chan family. The National Post calls The End of
East “impressive, both in terms of its accomplished prose and its
ambitious three-generational scope.” The Calgary Herald notes that "Jen
Sookfong Lee is aware, it would seem, of the dark side of mythmaking,
its distorting and even parasitic price. It's one of many things that
make her a novelist to watch." Jen, who edits two online magazines,
Schema and Wet Ink, is a member of the noted writing group SPiN. To
find out more, visit www.sookfong.com.*****Here is the spring schedule:Feb 26 - Taien Ng-ChanMarch 12 - Weyman ChanApril 2 - Shirley BearAll
readings are at 7 pm on Thursday evenings in SB 406 at Emily Carr
University, Granville Island, Vancouver. Please come, and bring
friends, students, colleagues...The On Edge series gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council and Emily Carr University.Note: There is free parking in the parkade under the ECU South Building after 7 pm.**********Bios of writers:Taien
Ng-Chan is the author of Maps of Our Bodies and the Borders We Have
Agreed Upon, anthology editor of Ribsauce, and co-editor with Dana Bath
of Navigating Customs. She has written drama for stage, screen, and
radio, and her short films have played at festivals in Canada and the
US. Based in Montreal, she currently writes a regular movie column in
Matrix Magazine, and is in post-production on a trilogy of videopoems
called Sum-tung (heartache). As well, she is trying to finish her
first collection of stories, Blueprints for a Red Paper House.Weyman
Chan is the author of Before A Blue Sky Moon, the 2002 recipient of the
Alberta Book Award for best book of poetry. Noise From the Laundry,
his latest book of poems, was published by Talonbooks in 2008 and
shortlisted for the Governor General's Prize in Poetry. hypo-derm,
more poetry,will be released in 2010 by Frontenac. Weyman Chan lives
and works in Calgary.The author of a book of poems entitled
Virgin Bones (McGilligan Press, 2007), Shirley Bear is a multi-media
artist, writer, activist, and native traditional herbalist. Born on
the Tobique First Nation, she is an original member of the Wabnaki
language group of New Brunswick, Canada. Shirley Bear was the 2002
recipient of the Excellence in the Arts Award from the New Brunswick
Arts Board.
Tuesday, January 27
Photos from 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner
by
Todd
on Tue 27 Jan 2009 06:22 PM PST
Gung Haggis Fat Choy is always a wonderful event for photographs. Special thanks to our incredible photographers Patrick Tam, Lydia Nagai and VFK.
If you like their photos, please contact them and purchase them. We have asked them to put "water marks" on their photos, so that we will advertise and promote them.
They help us with our event, because they believe in the community work and social consciousness raising that we do. + PICTURES more »
Wednesday, January 21
Georgia Straight: Why Canada will never have an Obama, except maybe Todd Wong
by
Todd
on Wed 21 Jan 2009 06:26 PM PST
I didn't expect to be in the same Georgia Straight Headline as Obama... but maybe because it's because I am a person of colour?
http://www.straight.com/article-197382/why-canada-will-never-have-obama-except-maybe-todd-wongI told the Georgia Straight's Pieta Woolley -
that it was author Terry Glavin who first told me about bi-racial Gov. James
Douglas's vision for a British Columbia that could welcome people from
every corner of the world... that it was Douglas who invited Black
Americans from San Francisco when he heard that were being
discriminated against...BC's history is not the two solitudes
of English and French - but it is the 3 pioneer cultures of First
Nations, Scottish, and Chinese. But we have had to go through the
Potlatch Law, the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act, the Komagata
Maru, the Internment of Japanese Canadians - before we could understand
ourselves and our future.
It
has taken 150 years for us to finally understand the multicultural/
intercultural vision that Douglas wanted for BC, instead of BC as a
"White Man's Province" in the years that followed Douglas.The Obama presidency in the United States is historic. He has a vision to bring people together, to move beyond racial divides, perceived stereotypes and the cultures of blame and "otherness." My own life views have been shaped by growing up as a multi-generational racial minority in Canada. I have learned about the discrimination and hatred faced and overcome by my ancestors, since the time my maternal great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan arrived in 1896, as a Methodist lay preacher for the Chinese Methodist Church of Canada. Similarly, my paternal grandfather also faced many challenges arriving in Canada in 1882 at the young age of 16. But I have also learned about the importance of communities working together. My life path has involved me with many community organizations such as Canadian University Press, Hope Cancer Health Centre, Terry Fox Run Organization, Canadian Mental Health Association, Chinese Cultural Centre, Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens, Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop, Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society, and many many more. In the past few years, I have learned much about Robert Burns' views on social justice, equality, political change, speaking up for others, love of life. These are as important today as there were 250 years ago in Burns' time, or 150 years ago in Douglas' time. Maybe it's actually more important today, because we have the choice to embrace our responsibilities or to take them for granted. We have the choice today, to choose to be selfish or community minded. We have the choice today - not tomorrow - not yesterday, but the choice is today - to make a difference or not. Why Canada will never have an Obama, except maybe Todd Wong
Yesterday (January 20), the world’s most powerful man placed his hand on Lincoln’s Bible and became the 44th president of the U.S. Next week, on a dark day in Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government will present a budget, and a coalition led by Michael Ignatieff, Jack Layton, and Gilles Duceppe might take the opportunity to bring it down.
While the U.S. has its super-leader, Canada has the old, clichéd
“crisis in leadership”. Looking south, it’s easy to feel, well, a
little jealous.
So, who is Canada’s Barack Obama? Who can lead us out of years of deadlocked minorities?
I argue that not only is an Obama figure not waiting in the wings; he or she simply can’t exist here.
Here’s why: Obama represents the high-minded ideals of the 1791 U.S.
Bill of Rights, while Canada treats our history like yesterday’s soup
cans.
Americans love their history. In his inaugural speech—really, in every
speech—Obama took every opportunity to join his personal story to the
greater story of the United States. It’s an easy connection to make.
For Canada to breed an Obama, we have to have a better picture of what
Canada means, and promote someone who’s comfortable tying his or her
own story to Canada’s not-always-glorious history.
As a kid, Obama grew up without a dad around, in relative obscurity. He
is the biracial son of an African immigrant and a white-bread Kansas
hippie, and was raised by his grandmother in Hawaii. Now he’s
president. That speaks to opportunity.
Think quick: what document was Canada built on? If you guessed the British North America Act of 1867, you’re right. It’s not exactly stirring stuff.
Frankly, it would be difficult to know if someone came along who
represented the early ideals of Canada. He or she must speak English
and French and respect the authority of the Queen’s representative, but
apart from that, it’s pretty fuzzy.
So who is Canada’s Obama? Justin Trudeau’s name
has been floated, but there’s a couple of problems. First, he’s
Canadian royalty—the son of a prime minister, he has been immersed in
privilege forever. Second, he’s a white guy. Third, he hasn’t
established a career for himself yet, beyond teaching high school
French. Sure, he’s a young dad, charismatic, attractive, and extremely
well-spoken, but he’s already entrenched in party politics. And that is
Obama’s magic. He seemingly came out of nowhere.
Here’s my nominee for an Obama in Canada: Todd Wong, the founder of Gung Haggis Fat Choy.
The wildly charismatic Vancouverite is a leader in bridging cultures
in an unpretentious, original way. His Gung Haggis Fat Choy event has
been replicated all over the world. A fifth-generation Chinese
Canadian, Wong also lobbied to save Joy Kogawa’s childhood home and for head-tax redress. He organizes dragon-boat teams.
But what’s sold me on Wong as Canada’s Obama is that he’s a Vancouver
library assistant. It’s a humble job, but it’s a little like Obama’s
background as a community organizer. At least the way Wong does it.
On the picket line in 2007, he played his accordion and organized a strike reading series with Hiromi Goto, Stan Persky,
and others. At Gung Haggis Fat Choy, politicians from every party come
out for deep fried haggis wontons. He describes the event, to be celebrated this year on January 25 at Floata Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown, as something that “represents Canada in the 21st century”.
“Anyone in that room could be part of your family,” he told the Straight.
Here’s where it falls apart. Wong has no interest in politics.
“If I get into politics, I wouldn’t be able to do the kind of community service work I do now,” he told the Straight.
That may be true, Todd. But I, for one, think that as prime minister
you could be one wicked Obama-esque orator, reinvigorate our connection
to history, and offer a fresh face to represent the new Canada.
So, how about it?
Tuesday, November 25
Vote for "Broken Family" in CBC Radio contest
by
Todd
on Tue 25 Nov 2008 11:58 PM PST
Donna Lee's short documentary film, Broken Family, on the head tax redress movement and my family, is in a CBC Radio Canada contest called Migrations. It's made it to the semi-final rounds of a people's choice online voting competition.
more »
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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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