I am Canadian:  I take the oath at Canadian Citizenship court.

"O Canada, I stand on guard for thee...."

It was my first time at Canadian citizenship court.  As a 5th Generation Canadian, I really never had a reason to go.  My parents were born in Canada, my grandmother was born in Canada.  My great-grandmother came to Canada as a baby in 1899. My great-great-grandfather came to Canada in 1896.

Eighty people stood in the room, some holding Canadian flags, some wearing Canadian lapel pins.  Citizen court judge Sandra Wilking presided, and give an inspirational speech about what it means to be a Canadian.  She talked about the responsibilities about becoming a Canadian, and giving back to this new country.  She acknowledged that some people came from countries that were ravaged by war, while others came from countries at peace - but all have come to Canada for a better life.

At the end of her address, each row stood up in turn stating their name and raising their right arm.  Then we all stood up together and took an oath to serve Canada.  We next sang O Canada.

Then, Judge Wilking introduced me to the people about to be sworn in as citizens, as a member from the Canadian Club.  She also introduced me as a 5th Generation Canadian who works tirelessly in community service, and as an arts advocate.  Then she did something she almost never ever does.  She gave me a plug for Gung Haggis Fat Choy!  Judge Wilking just thinks my multicultural Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner is a most Canadian event, and that every Canadian should attend.  You could see the smiles on people's faces, and the stifled laughters at her description of haggis won-ton, and the blending of Scottish and Chinese cultures into something uniquely Canadian.

I introduced myself as a director of the Canadian Club founded in 1906 to emphasize Canadian culture and identity when Canada was still very "British" in nature and manners.  But through the years, the Canadian Club has honoured Canada's best and brightest, it has nurtured its cultural evolution, as new waves of immigration have added to our cultural mosaic.  We have addressed the hurts of Quebec separatism, American imperialism, and First Nations issues.

I invited everybody to become active participants as Canadians.  Next, I thanked Judge Wilking for her inspirational address and shared with everybody in the room, that Judge Wilking had been an immigrant from South Africa, and she spoke true about committment to our communities, because she had been the first Chinese-Canadian woman to serve as a Vancouver City Councillor.  I hoped that everybody could be as inspired by Judge Wilking as I have been.

It was a wonderful day.  It was great to be part of helping people become Canadian citizens.

I AM CANADIAN!

"This is almost exactly what happened with Japanese Canadian redress. My new/old novel, "Emily Kato" (a re-write of Itsuka and just published) describes the panic when government tried to pull the rug out from the redress movement. But we did stop it." wrote Joy Kogawa to me in an e-mail....   more »

City Councillor Ellen Woodsworth runs for re-election in Vancouver

Ellen and her friend Alex, don the official Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team shirt at the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival June 2005 - photo Ray Shum

I am pleased to know Ellen Woodsworth, Vancouver City Councillor, and to be listed as one of many endorsers on her website.  She has a long committement to social activism and is proud to be a descendant of J.S. Woodsworth, one of the original founders of the CCF party.

Ellen Woodsworth is one of the hardest working city councillors in Vancouver.  She has led the efforts to make Vancouver the co-host for the World Peace Conference next year,  fought for child and youth advocacy and childcare spaces in Vancouver, emphasized the importance of neighborhoods, the revitalization of Woodwards and the Downtown Eastside, increased emphasis for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users, increased arts funding, gender equality, cultural diversity, ethical purchassing, more festivals, and a more open City Hall.

The first day I met her was when she attended our Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop Community Builders Dinner.  I hosted the dinner and Ellen sat beside my father, making instant friends.  The next time I met Ellen was soon after, at a press conference where Mike Harcourt endorsed COPE mayoralty candidate Larry Campbell in front of the Chinese Cultural Centre.  I went down to say hello to Ellen and she introduced me to Raymond Louie and Allan Wong.  It was then that I learned more about Ellen's work with seniors and the Downtown Eastside.

The following year, Ellen and I were both panelists for the 2003 CARFAC National convention (Canadian Artists Representation/Le front des artistes canadiens).  I spoke about my experiences networking in the Asian Canadian arts community and developing opportunities for artists.  Ellen spoke about the City of Vancouver initiatives and programs for artists.  We immediately liked what each other had said and where each was coming from.

Since then we have kept in touch, sometimes helping each other network and bouncing ideas.  Ellen brought her father to my Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns/Chinese New Year dinner and I seated them at my father's table.  They had a great time, and since I was learning about Ellen's passion for cultural diversity and her sense of fun, I invited her to join me for the 2004 St. Patrick's Day parade.  I offered Ellen the drummer's seat and she banged out a rhythm for CBC Radio broadcaster Margaret Gallagher to paddle by (see picture below), as our Taiwanese dragon boat float for Gung Haggis Fat Choy paddled along Granville Street, to the cheers of many people. The float was very popular last year, so the parade officials asked me again to create an entry emphasizing multiculturalism.

Ellen Woodsworth, Adrianna Ermie,  Margaret Gallagher and Dave Samis are all part of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy float. - photo Todd Wong


Ellen Woodsworth waving to the crowd during the St. Patrick's Day parade in Vancouver this year, Margaret Gallagher and Dave Samis paddle as part of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat float - photo Todd Wong


Waiting for the parade to start... Adrianna Ermie, EllenWoodsworth, Dave Samis, Margaret Gallagher and me - with the Chinese Lion Head mask - for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy multicultural dragon boat float. - photo by Trev Sue-A-Quan..

To help celebrate her May birthday, Ellen invited me to perform for the COPE fundraiser event Encouraging Women in Politics.  For this event I read her impressive bio, and then I carefully documented the significant achievements of her life, identified her values, her goals and her dreams... and crafted the words to fit the rhythm of my chosen form.... the Police song "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic."  I sang the words as I played my accordion, and I think I floored the audience. 

But this is how I feel about Ellen Woodsworth.  I really do believe that every little thing she does.... is magic.  Below is a photo of us at the close of the party event - you can tell I am the one wearing the skirt.... I mean kilt!


I was very pleased to be able to see her at work, when I made a presentation for the Save Kogawa House committee before the City of Vancouver standing committee on planning and environment.  Ellen asks critical questions and clearly summarizes impacts of the issues before council.  She spoke of the importance of having Kogawa House as a literary and cultural landmark for Vancouver, and its impact for our multicultural population and our future generations.

But more than just a hard worker - Ellen also knows how to have fun, and loves to explore and see all aspects of Vancouver.
She loves Vancouver dearly, its peoples, its heritage and its cultures -  and that makes her a wonderful city councillor.

The Chinese Vote in Vancouver: NPA, Vision Vancouver or COPE?

The Vancouver Sun has run an article titled Vision trying to lure Chinese voters away from NPA on today's page B5.  But the article does not identify a distinction between Chinese immigrant voters and the multigenerational Chinese Canadians born and raised in Canada.

The reporter Frances Bula, had interviewed me on Friday afternoon asking me about whether Vision Vancouver can capture some of the traditional Chinese vote in Vancouver.  I immediately asked "Which Chinese community vote are you talking about?"

"Raymond Louie, is the first Vancouver born City Councillor," I told Frances Bula, who was surprised at the fact. Bill Yee was the first Chinese elected to council but he wasn't born in Vancouver.  "Sandra Wilking was the first Chinese woman councillor but was born in South Africa. Jenny Kwan was the first COPE councillor but was born in Hong Kong.

"We have to go back to Douglas Jung in 1957" to find a Chinese Canadian politician born in Vancouver."  Jung was Canada's first Member of Parliament.  Even Art Lee, elected in the 1970's had come from Alberta.

"We are what I call the 'invisible visible-minority', multi-generational Canadian born chinese, who have integrated and assimilated into the mainstream," I told the reporter.

"How do I vote?  I vote according to the person, rather than strictly along party lines.  It's important to have a healthy opposition in government, or on civic council  That's why people kept voting for Harry Rankin.

"I like Ellen Woodsworth of COPE, and Heather Deal of Vision Vancouver.  I've gotten to know them since they were elected.  I know both Sam Sullivan and Jim Green - Sam has supported our Asian Canadian Writers Workshop dinners, and Jim has helped us with the Save Kogawa House campaign.  Anne Roberts, Peter Ladner, along with Woodsworth and Sullivan also attended my Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner earlier this year. They are all wonderful human beings."

"I first got to know Raymond Louie through his wife, when she was on the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society.  Raymond, like all my cousins on my mom's side - all married caucasians." This surprised the reporter.

Raymond wants to be more than just "the Chinese councillor" - more importantly, he identifies himself as a Canadian who happens to be of Chinese ethnicity, as I do.  I can actually say this about many multi-generational ethnic Canadians, because we think Canadian first!  And we are better able to cross ethnic lines this way, and better able to understand all cultures.

Raymond's family has been in Vancouver for a long time.  We gave shared stories about early Chinatown experiences.  George Chow's grandfather paid the head tax, and he immigrated to Vancouver in the 1960's.  Personally, I don't expect the newer immigrant counsellor candidates to understand some of these issues about head tax or the experiences of the pioneer chinese of the 1800's and early 1900's.  But I think Raymond and George can.  They are also people I can relate to and trust.  Then again, I can't expect myself to understand a lot of the immigrant Chinese issues.  But because I am more familiar with Chinese culture, and work with and know a lot of immigrant Chinese, I am probably more knowledgeable than somebody who is non-Chinese and hasn't experienced similar issues.

Raymond I and were both at the opening of the 3 Chinese Canadian Pioneer Familes exhibit at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and archives in 2002.  I am descended from Rev. Chan Yu Tan, and he is a distant relative of H.Y. Louie, who were both featured along with Lee-Bick, the ancestor of former UBC Counsellor and Vancouver businessman Bob Lee.

I think that it is a myth that the Chinese vote traditionally goes to the NPA, and it may be simply that the NPA were better at recruiting candidates such as Tung Chan, Don Lee, and Daniel Lee, who as native Chinese speakers were better able to speak to Chinese media.  Even the Chinese Canadian voters didn't fully support Douglas Jung in his re-election bid, nor did Don Lee and Daniel Lee get re-elected in the last civic election, even though Raymond Louie was elected.

I know that I have also had the pleasure to meet Alan Wong and John Cheng, the COPE and NPA Vancouver School Board Trustees.  They are also both wonderful men, but I relate a bit better to Alan maybe because he grew up here in Canada, and we are closer in age.

I think that when people vote, they want the people who can best represent their interests.  And this may also mean voting for people that come from similar backgrounds, hence immigrants may be more likely to vote for other immigrants of similar background.  But they may also vote for people who are multigenerational, and represent how their children will grow up as integrated Canadians and Vancouverites.

I forgot to tell the reporter that I'll be attending the Libby Davies' COPE chinese dinner fundraiser on November 10th at the Rich Ocean Seafood Chinese Restaurant on 777 West Broadway.  It's being organized by my friend Meena Wong, who is helping COPE as a chinese voter strategist.  And I may even be wearing my kilt as a performer with my accordion.  How Chinese is that?  Not very.... but very multicultural Vancouver!