Chinese Canadian achievements feted at Victoria's Empress Hotel, attended by Hon. Norman Kwong, Sen. Vivienne Poy, Dr. David Lai, Dr. Wallace Chung and many others.

Hon. Norman Kwong, Lt. Gov. of Alberta, addressing the 150 Years in Golden Mountain dinner audience - photo Todd Wong

It was a night to recognize achievements in Chinese Canadian history, and it was best summed up by the Hon. Lt. Gov. of Alberta Norman Kwong.  He told a story about how challenging it was being the first Chinese in the Canadian Football League, and how the Calgary Stampeders had given up on him. 

"Don't ever give up," he told the audience.  The he proudly showed his Stanley Cup ring and mentioned his four Grey Cup victories, "And I'm Chinese!" he said.

David Obee and Lucinda Chodan, Editor and Editor in Chief of the Vicotoria Times Colonist stand with Todd Wong, Victor Wong and Daniel Lee, holding up copies of the 12 page insert titled Chinatown that celebrated 150 years of Chinese Canadian Chinatown history - photo Deb Martin.

Archival picture displays of Chinese Canadian history greeted the audience for the "150 Years in Golden Mountain" gala event - photo Todd Wong

The evening had began with a reception in the Palm Court of the Empress Hotel.  There were picture displays, music, food and mingling.  I was finally able to meet Amanada Mills, the chair of the Victoria Chinese Commerce Association, who I had communicated with for months, as well as Sinclair Mar, the chair of the 150 Years in Golden Mountain Celebrations Committee.  And I also finally got to meet Dr. David Lai, Victoria Chinatown historian, whom I have heard so much about over the years.

Todd Wong & Sen. Vivienne Poy - photo Deb Martin.

Senator Vivienne Poy is the patron senator of Asian Heritage Month throughout Canada, and I first met her in Ottawa when I worked for Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society.  It's always nice to see Vivienne, as her husband's late Aunt Cecilia had been married to my grandmother's oldest brother Henry.

NDP leader Carole James & Todd Wong - photo Deb Martin

I chatted with Gabriel Yiu, news commentator, and Carole James, NDP Opposition Leader.  I asked Carole about her family ancestry, and she shared with me that her father was First Nations.  I thought it would be real cool if she became Premier, because then we would have both a Premier and Lt. Gov. of First Nations heritage!  I got to know Gabriel when we were both active on the Chinese Head Tax Redress campaign.  Unfortunately Jenny Kwan couldn't attend, as she is due with her second child in one month.

Many people traveled from Vancouver to attend this event.  I bumped into Tung Chan, executive director of SUCCESS.  We remarked that this was a great event and lamented that nothing of this scope was happening in Vancouver.... yet.

It was wonderful to see Dr. Wallace Chung and Dr. Madeline Chung of Vancouver.  They have given so much to the community in Vancouver, the Chinese Cultural Centre, the Vancouver Maritime Museum and the UBC Asian Library.  They are friends of my parents, and it was Dr. Madeline who delivered me as a baby many many years ago.

Deb Martin, Valerie Sing Turner & Todd Wong - photo Deb Martin

Actor/Writer Valerie Sing Turner was there with her family, as her father James Sing was an award winner.  I had last seen Valerie's family at the opening of her theatrical production of Malaysia Hotel, when I helped promote it through Asian Heritage Month, and also find her some sponsorship.

Victoria councilor Charlene Thornton-Joe with Todd Wong - photo Deb Martin

Charlene Thornton-Joe came over to our table during the dinner to say hello.  It was the first time I had met this Victoria city councilor, after reading about her efforts to preserve Victoria's Chinese heritage.

It was nice to speak with MLA Ida Chong, who brought greetings from the Government of British Columbia, as Premier Campbell was in Beijing for the Olympics.  Ida Chong is one of the 6 newest invitees (along with me) to "The Party" exhibit at the Royal BC Museum, which features life-size photos of almost 150 of BC's most colourful and interesting characters.  Ida is the first Canadian-born MLA of Chinese ancestry.

150 Years in Golden Mountain Awards

My role at this dinner and awards evening  was to represent the Rev. Chan Yu Tan family along with my grand uncles Victor Wong and Daniel Lee.  We all sat at the same table, accompanied by Uncle Victor's wife Auntie Dorothy and my girlfriend Deb Martin.

Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe was the dinner Emcee, Hudson Mack of A-Channel was Emcee for the awards.

Norman Kwong, the Hon. Lt. Gov. of Alberta was invited to say a few official words of greeting, representing the Queen.  But instead he turned it into his acceptance speech for his award.  I guess there was some confusion, or else Mr. Kwong was very canny, because sadly there were no acceptance speeches allowed for the award recipients, as the program didn't allow for any on a very tight schedule.

But as each winner was escorted to the stage, there was a short video played on a large video screen with a voice-over, as pictures flashed before the audience.  It was a lovely gesture and helped to give meaning to each person's contributions to history and why they were deserving of the award.

Here's what the program said about the winner of the British Columbia Lifetime Cultural or Multicultural Award:

Picture of Rev. & Mrs. Chan Yu Tan's 60th Wedding Anniversary, surrounded by their family and descendants - photo Deb Martin.

Rev. Chan descendants Todd Wong, Daniel Lee, Victor Wong, stand beside Celebrations Chair Sinclair Mar and Awards Emcee Hudson Mack from A-Channel - photo Deb Martinev

Rev. Chan descendants Todd Wong, Daniel Lee, Victor Wong, stand beside Celebrations Chair Sinclair Mar and Awards Emcee Hudson Mack from A-Channel - photo Deb Martin

The evening's final award, the Golden Mountain Pioneer Legacy Award, was given in recognition to the Chinese Canadian Veterans.   Both my grand-uncles Victor Wong and Daniel Lee went to accept it.

Here's an excerpt from the program about the veterans:

Daniel Lee and Victor Wong stand onstage, as a picture of Victor Wong in India during WW2 is shown on the giant screen - photo Todd Wong

Uncle Dan and Uncle Victor proudly accepted the award, and the entire audience rose to give them a standing ovation.  They represented one of the most important moments in Chinese-Canadian history.  They both saluted the audience, the the applause grew louder.  I am very proud of my uncles, because I know about all the work and devotion they have to keeping the legacy of the Chinese Canadian veterans alive. 

Victor Wong and Daniel Lee, cousins and grandsons of Rev. Chan Yu Tan saluted the audience after accepting the Golden Mountain Pioneer Legacy Award on behalf of their fellow Chinese Canadian veterans- photo Todd Wong

Every November, Uncle Dan is out selling poppies in the streets of Vancouver and he is now 88 years old.  He has helped organize the Armistice Ceremonies in Vancouver's Victory Square for many many years.  Uncle Victor was interviewed for the CBC documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy, as he recounted stories about not only his grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, but also about being in the service, and that he had been a part of a covert force behind enemy lines that were to be assigned suicide missions.  This is the legacy of the Chinese Canadian veterans - that even though the Canadian government wouldn't let them vote in the country they were born in, they were willing to lay down their lives to defend it.

Giles, Amanda Mills (VCCA Chair), Serena, Sinclair Mar (Celebration Chair), Deb Martin, Todd Wong shared thoughts and company after the event at The Empress Hotel's Bengal Lounge. - photo Deb Martin

More pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53803790@N00/sets/72157606697779094/

Here is a complete list of the awards:

The Golden Mountain Achievement Awards:
"...the recognize persons of distinction in the Chinese community or for being intrumental in the growth and development of Chinese culture and business..."'

Canadian Lifetime Individual Achievement Award
Dr. David See-Chia Lam

Canada Lifetime Public and Community Serivce Award
Ron Lou-Poy, Q.C.

Canada Lifetime Public and Community Service Award
Senator Vivienne Poy

Canada Lifetime Entrepreneurial Achievement Award
Hon. Norman L. Kwong

Canada Lifetime Entrepreneurial Achievement Award
James Alan Loo Sing

British Columbia Lifetime Entrepreneurial Achievement Award
Hok Yat Louie (post-humous), Tong Louie (post-humous), Brandt Louie, H.Y. Louie Co. Ltd, and London Drugs Ltd.

British Columbia Lifetime Public and Community Service Award
Sgt. Roy Quock Quon Mah (post-humous)

British Columbia Lifetime Cultural or Multicultural Award
Rev. Chan Yu Tan (post-humous)

Inaugural Golden Mountain Achievement Awards British Columbia:
"For recognition of persons or businesses, who are persons of Chinese descent or an organization having "Chinese" roots, who have excelled in their field of endeavor benefiting the Chinese Canadian communities or Canadian society.  These awards are to be for nominations in or related to British Columbia

BC Business and Entrepreneurial Achievement Award
H.Y. Louie Co. Ltd.

British Columbia Arts, Culture or Educational Achievement Award
Dr. Hua Lin

British Columbia Community and Public Service Award
Phillip J. Chan (post-humous)

British Columbia Online or Multi-platform Achievement Award
Mainstream Broadcasting Corporation

Inaugural Golden Mountain Roots Awards and All-Canadian Benefactor Awards:
"The 'Roots' awards are for recognition of distinguished work and dedication to preserving our heritage, culture, and or to advancing our economic impact or advancing business enterprises or projects or research, in or related to, or tied to Victoria BC and/or creating better understanding between Canadians of all backgrounds and/or advancing the entrepreneurial spirit emanating from our roots, Victoria, BC.  they are the safekeepers of our heritage and roots in Victoria, the first Chinatown in Canada.

Victoria, British Columbia Individual or Family Victoria Heritage Award
Don Yuen

Victoria, British Columbia Individual or Family Heritage Award
Dr. Yuen-Fong Woon

Victoria, British Columbia Corporate or Organizational Heritage Award
Fairway Market

Victoria "Roots" Community and Public Service Heritage Award
Dr. David Lai

Victoria "Roots" Community and Public Service Heritage Award
Lee Mong Kow Family

British Columbia All-Canadian Benefactor Award
&
Victoria "Roots" Community and Public Service Heritage Award
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

Victoria "Roots" All-Canadian Benefactor Award
Victoria Chinese Presbyterian Church

Golden Mountain Pioneer Legacy Award
Chinese Canadian Veterans

150 Years in Golden Mountain
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story.html?id=ee16c99d-5863-44a9-a0ba-09aac28a6ade

Pageant will tell tales of Golden Mountain
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=867dcebe-097b-4652-9ac6-a4c65456d34c

Celebration Pageant
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story.html?id=ee16c99d-5863-44a9-a0ba-09aac28a6ade

This is the CTV documentary about my cousin Rhonda Larrabee's struggle to resurrect Canada's smallest First Nations band the Qayqayt.......... Once upon a time the band flourished on the banks of the Fraser River. Then White settlers moved into their territories and renamed it New Westminster. The Qayqayt were put on a Reserve, but that was taken away from them too....... Rhonda's mother fled her homeland territories due to racism and shame. She came to Vancouver's Chinatown, where she met Rhonda's father. Rhonda grew up into her teenage years thinking she was Chinese. Then she discovered she was First Nations.    more »

Last year in 2006, the Vancouver Sun published a list of 100 Influential Chinese-Canadians in B.C. in BC.... to much criticism - positive and negative.  I commented on my blog article: GungHaggisFatChoy :: Vancouver Sun: 100 Influential Chinese...

I am now working on my list of "Chinese-Canadians that inspired me in 2007"

I was inspired by seeing the name of Roy Mah, in the Vancouver Sun's list of people we lost in 2007, and shared the idea with my friend George Jung.   Rather than create a list of newsworthy or influential Chinese Canadians, we decided on CC's that inspired us.  This way there is NO official requirement or standards.  It is  very subjective and personal.

I also emailed some friends to create their own lists:  David Wong and Gabriel Yu have sent me replies.  David's list can be viewed on http://www.uglychinesecanadian.com

In no order, other than who came to mind first, who has crossed my path, and reviewing my blog www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com to remind myself who I wrote about in 2007.


Roy Mah - the founder of Chinatown News, was written about in the Vancouver Sun after celebrating his 90th birthday, as well as when the City of Vancouver declared July 12th Roy Mah Day, in recognition of his memorial service.  I have known Roy since I submitted an article back in the early '80's.  When he would make his regular trips to the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch, he would also wave to me sitting at the Information desk.
  
  
Thekla Lit for her work with Alpha Canada, promoting the film Rape of Nanjing, and inviting media and public to meet Comfort Women survivors.  Gabriel says that a columnist on the Global Chinese Press has named Thekla the Chinese-Canadian of 2007, as she and her husband Joseph have been busy on these issues for a long decade.  I got to know Thekla when she joined the committee for Chinese Head Tax Redress campaign in the months preceding the 2006 federal election.  She is a very smart women, not afraid to say what she thinks.


James Erlandsen - the young Eurasian SFU Student needing a bone marrow donor as he fights leukemia (James was named honourary drummer for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon boat team).  James reminded me so much of my own 1989 battle with cancer, even going to the same high school and university.  There have been ups and downs, and he still puts on a brave face.  I did a City TV interview with James, when James and I met for the first time.  It was James' cousin Aynsley who first contacted me about writing about James for my blog.
  
 
Tracey Hinder - the 15 year old inaugural BC CanSpell champion, featured in the CBC documentary GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy.  People constantly told me after watching the documentary that they  thought that my young cousin Tracey was great in it.  She was very inspiring for the future of Canada, especially with Tracey's Eurasian heritage, learning Mandarin and being involved with her school's multiculturalism club.  This summer Tracey started an e-newsletter titled "Becoming Green" that gives suggestions how to create a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.  I knew from the beginning that Tracey had to be in the documentary.  The documentary also featured family elders Victor Wong, Helen Lee, and Gary Lee, artist/author Janice Wong and myself.  Read my blog stories about Generations: The Chan Legacy
Tracey Hinder, Betty Wong and Todd Wong re: Generations: The Chan Legacy

Henry Yu - UBC professor of History, chair and organizer of the Anniversaries for Change '07 events recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Anti-Asian Riots in Chinatown.  Henry has organized events at UBC and throughout Vancouver recognizing the impact on Vancouver made by the 1907 Anti-Asian riot in Vancouver Chinatown, the 1947 franchise for Chinese Canadians enabling them full citizenship rights, the new immigration act of 1967, and the 1997 handover of Hong Kong.  Henry has attended many Gung Haggis Fat Choy and Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop events over the past few years.  Henry always seems to have boundless enthusiasm and energy for all his projects.  But this past year was also significantly inspiring because he also became a cancer support person for his wife (see below).


Brandy Lien-Worrall - editor of Eating Stories: a Chinese Canadian and Aboriginal Potluck and All Mixed Up - a Hapa anthology.  It is easy to be impressed by all the writing and editing projects that Brandy is involved in.  I got to know Brandy better when I took the writing workshops sponsored by the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC.  I truly learned what an incredible dynamo she is. She pushed us to write creatively, and from the heart.  And it was fun to have my stories and pictures published in Eating Stories. Read: Eating Stories, a Chinese Canadian and Aboriginal Potluck: book launch Nov 25th at Vancouver Museum.  But more important to recognize is that Brandy finished editing Eating Stories in between chemotherapy treatments, after she was diagnosed with cancer in the summer.  Soon she started up a cancer blog in addition to her poem a day blog, and her 12 other blogs...  Just like James Erlandsen, Brandy is Eurasian... and also reminds me of my own cancer experience. 


Larry Wong, Todd Wong, Shirley Chan, Janice Wong with editor Brandy Lien Worrall at the Eating Stories anthology official book launch at Vancouver Museum - photo Deb Martin

more to come....

Jen Sookfong Lee -

Margaret Gallagher

Karin Lee

Bill Wong

Vicki Wong

Joseph Wu

Tricia Collins

see part II
More Chjinese Canadians that Inpired me in 2007: part 2

Head Tax survivors Mrs. Der and Ralph Lee

Sid Tan - head tax activist

Bev Wong - community activist on bone marrow and blood donors

Douglas Jung building at 401 Burrard St. 

Lan Tung, leader of Orchid Ensemble, incredible musician and creator of Triaspora

Wesley Lowe - film maker, creator of I Am the Canadian Delegate - story of Douglas Jung

George Chow - city councilor

Raymond Louie - city councilor

Jenny Kwan - MLA

Jim Chu - 1st Vancouver police chief of Asian ancestry

Assaulted Fish - sketch comedy troupe

Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre VACT presented three productions in 2007, Cowboy VS Samaurai, Asian Comedy Night, and Bondage.

Twisting Fortunes duo - Charlie Cho and Grace Chin

Chinese Canadian veterans

Generations: The Chan Legacy
re-scheduled for August 19th on CBC Newsworld

***  Re-schedule for August 19th ***

On July 29th, 4pm PST / 7pm EST, CBC Newsworld showed Generations: The Crowfoot Dynasty instead of The Chan Legacy on July 29th - contrary to their http://www.cbc.ca/newsworld website.

so....  set your VHS recorders... or go buy a new DVD recorder!

True patriot Love: North Shore News article on Todd Wong, Betty Wong and Tracey Hinder re: The Chan Legacy

http://www.canada.com/northshorenews/news/live/story.html?id=281951b4-4181-4c68-a39b-5e5855445271

- Generations: The Chan Legacy is re-scheduled for August 19, on CBC Newsworld at 4 p.m. PST / 7pm EST

To say that Todd Wong, a 47-year-old North Vancouver resident, is proud of his roots would be an understatement.

Wong's family is one that has greatly impacted Canada's history and as a result its members continue to celebrate where they come from.

"We're just a Canadian family," says Wong, not downplaying his family's identity, but rather stating, realistically, who they are.

Not only has the Chan family survived, its members are continuing to thrive, exemplifying what it means to truly be "Canadian."

Wong's family's unique story is being brought to life in Generations: The Chan Legacy, a CBC documentary airing today on CBC Newsworld. It's part of a series of documentaries called Generations and was produced by Halya Kuchmij.

Filmmakers approached Wong, known in the Lower Mainland for his unique interest in multiculturalism, community work and activism. He's the founder of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, a website promoting inter-cultural activities.

Wong is also behind a 10-year-old Vancouver tradition, the Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner -- a mix of Chinese and Scottish traditions meant to play against racial stereotypes -- and he's a member of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team that further promotes multiculturalism and community spirit.

Wong's website site also details his adventures, told at times through his alter ego, "Toddish McWong," further celebrating what it is to be Canadian, he says.

The documentary discusses Wong's great, great grandfather Reverend Chan Yu Tan and how he and his wife came to the West Coast in 1896 to "spread the gospel" throughout, he says. Methodist church missionaries, they were tasked with "Westernizing" and "Christianizing" the Chinese pioneers, the majority working in labour-based jobs like the railroad.

Filming and interviews with Wong and his relatives, encompassing a number of generations, happened last fall.

"Before the documentary, I didn't know a lot about my ancestry," says Wong's second generation cousin, West Vancouver resident Tracey Hinder, 15, who's featured in the film. Hinder attends West Vancouver secondary.

"I only knew that I was Chinese-Canadian, that my mother was Chinese and that my father was British-Canadian. With the making of the documentary, I found that my family history started to unfold and I never knew that part of myself. It was absolutely fascinating," Hinder says.

Hinder is a member of her school's multiculturalism club, which organizes activities for students to participate in. She's also learning Mandarin.

Wong says he's proud of her as he believes it's important to ensure the younger generations of his family come to know and recognize their ancestral roots.

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Generations: The Chan Legacy on CBC Newsworld.
July 29th - 4pm and midnight

The Chan Legacy is the lead episode in the new documentary series Generations on CBC Newsworld.  It debuted on July 4th - my grandmother's 97th birthday.

How fitting!  Because the show is about her grand-father Rev. Chan Yu Tan who came to Canada in 1896 as a Christian missionary.

Feedback has been very positive.  Family members are very proud.  Friends are very supportive.  Historians are enthusiastic. Strangers are thrilled.

Listen to Auntie Helen and Uncle Victor tell stories about Rev. and Mrs. Chan, and about growing up in pre-WW2 BC, and facing racial discrimination.  Uncle Victor Wong also tells about enlisting as a Canadian soldier to go behind enemy lines in the Pacific for suicide squadrons, fighting for Canada, even though Chinese-Canadians could not vote in the country of their birth.

The next generations assimiliated more easily into Canadian culture.  Gary Lee became an actor and singer.  Janice Wong became a visual artist and author of the book CHOW: From China to Canada - memories of food and family, which addressed the history of Rev. Chan coming to Canada, and how Janice's dad started a Chinese restaurant in Prince Albert SK.

Then there is Todd Wong - cultural and community activist who founded Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner - which inspired a CBC Vancouver television performance special.  Todd is shown active in the dragon boat community, and speaking at a Terry Fox Run in the role of a 16 year cancer survivor.  Renowned Japanese-Canadian author Joy Kogawa makes an appearance, as Todd was also involved in helping to save Kogawa's childhood home from demolition and to turn it into a national historic and literary landmark.

July 29th Sunday - repeats at midnight

4:00 p.m.

Generations: The Chan Legacy - Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.

J

Kilts and family history abound during two episodes of the 6-part Generations series on CBC Newsworld

Find out what a 250 year old Anglophone family in Quebec City and a 120 year old Chinese-Canadian family in Vancouver have in common.

Both have:
bagpipes and kilts
+ accordion music
+ canoe/dragon boat racing
+ immigration as a topic
+ Church music
+ archival photos/newsreels of an ex-premier
+ cultural/racial discrimination stories
+ prominent Canadian historical events to show how
   the families embraced them or were challenged by them
+ both featured saving a historical literary landmark.
+ younger generation learning the non-English language

Generations: The Chan Legacy features Todd Wong, founder of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, a quirky Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, which inspired a CBC Vancouver television performance special.  Todd's involvements with Terry Fox Run, Joy Kogawa House campaign and dragon boat racing are also shown.

July 29th 4pm PST / July 30th 12am

4:00 p.m.

Generations: The Chan Legacy - Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.

August 5th 4pm PST

4:00 p.m.

Generations: The Blairs of Quebec - An Anglophone family with 250 years of history in Quebec City struggles to maintain it's heritage.

Produced by Halya Kuchmij, narrated by Michelle Cheung.

Work took Ronnie Blair and his family to England in the 1960’s but his children longed to return to Canada, and to Quebec City. Alison Blair was the first to return, as a student, in 1972. Her brother David followed in 1974. Both were excited by the political and social changes that had taken place during the Quiet Revolution in Quebec and threw themselves into everything Francophone. David learned to speak French, married a French Canadian and settled into a law practice.

Generations on CBC Newsworld. 
The Chan Legacy plays 5 times

The Chan Legacy is the lead episode in the new documentary series Generations on CBC Newsworld.  It has played a total of 5 times.  But only the 1st and 2nd times were listed correctly on the www.cbc.ca/documentaries/generations website.  I had trouble finding listings on the www.cbc.ca/newsworld program listings.

Feedback has been very positive.  Family members are very proud.  Friends are very supportive.  Historians are enthusiastic. Strangers are thrilled.

The series is supposed to repeat on July 29th and is listed on the Generations website - but not the CBC Newsworld program listings.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

I am looking forward to seeing the other Generations stories. 
The Blairs of Quebec begins on Wednesday July 11th.
The McCurdy Birthright begins on Wednesday July 18th
The Crowfoot Dynasty begins on Wednesday July 25th

July 4th Wednesday

7:00 p.m.

Generations: The Chan Legacy - Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.

July 4th Wednesday

10:00 p.m.

Generations: The Chan Legacy - Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.

July 6th Friday

1:00 a.m.

Generations: The Chan Legacy - Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.

July 8th Sunday

7:00 a.m.

Generations: The Chan Legacy - Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.

July 9th, Monday

12:00 a.m.

Generations: The Chan Legacy - Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.

Other upcoming Generations episodes
July 11th, Wednesday

7:00 p.m.

Generations: The Blairs of Quebec - An Anglophone family with 250 years of history in Quebec City struggles to maintain it's heritage.

July 18th, Wednesday

7:00 p.m.

Generations: The McCurdy Birthright - From the Underground Railroad to the House of Commons, one of the oldest Black families built a civil rights legacy.

July 25th, Wednesday

7:00 p.m.

Generations: 100 Years in Crowfoot - The Crowfoot Dynasty: The descendants of a great Chief continue a legacy of Native leadership through seven generations.

Where was GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy on CBC Newsworld at 10am PST

I received a number of e-mails this morning asking this very question?

The http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/generations/ website listed 10am EST/PST but evidently only broadcast at 10am EST (7am PST)

I have sent notice to the Generations executive producer.
looks like different branches of CBC (Newsworld and documentaries aren't talking to each other).

I have both video and dvd - and will try to arrange for a public /family viewing at a restaurant if possible.

In the meantime - please check http://www.cbc.ca/programguide

The Chan Legacy is next set to air on July 29th, Sunday, 7pm EST (which means 4pm PST).

More comments about GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy

Generations is a 6 part series and the lead installment is The Chan Legacy - which is about my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, and our family descendants who are committed to community service - like me!  The episodes of the series are:

Generations: The Chan Legacy - Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.

Very fine! That Generations item on CBC-TV is another indication that the history of the Chinese in Vancouver is rich and interesting and human. And, besides, we got to see Todd Wong in a kilt! It inspired me to think, and I'm being serious here, that my history web site www.vancouverhistory.ca should be offered in Chinese. We just need to find someone to share that dream.

- Chuck Davis - Vancouver historian


Being the son of head tax payers and a founding member of the Head Tax Families Society of Canada, I watched your documentary with a great deal of interest and a touch of sadness; I am happy that you told the story of the Chinese pioneers in Canada with such clarity, but saddened by the memory of the racism all Chinese had to endure.

Watching "GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy" with my grandmother and family

We attended the 97th birthday dinner for my grandmother, Mabel Mar (who can be seen in the documentary during the home movies, and in the Gung Haggis Fat Choy television special dinner segment.  It was great to watch with family members who hadn't seen the documentary yet.  My cousins Diane, Chris, Auntie Sylvia and Uncle Ian were all so pleased at how well done the show was. 

They kept talking over the narration whenever they recognized somebody in the pictures or the home movies that were shown.

Below are e-mails and messages that I have received from friends and family:

Todd - YOU have made us all very proud of our ancestors.
YOU did a great job to make this happen
MANY thanks
- David Young (Toronto cousin)

Dear Todd-really touched by your family, thought it was beautifully told - you look like your aunt Helen Lee 
but in a handsome, manly way.  What a treasure to have this documentary of this incredible 
clan-well done, thanks for sharing
- Jane Duford - artist and Gung Haggis paddler

SO Canadian. Great documentary, and I'm glad that I caught it. Well, I
only received half a dozen messages about it. ;) The other segments
look really good, too.
- Hillary Wong

Karen and I enjoyed it. Watch the whole thing.
- Richard Mah (Vancouver International Dragon Boat Race - race director)

Congratulations, Todd!  I actually read a story last year about your family in the North Shore News -- how proud you must feel!!!!  & how proud I am to know you!!! 
--Terrie Hamazaki (writer)

Todd! Generations was excellent! I loved it!  You were so great in it!!
Great job on all of your hard work in putting this together, it was really interesting.
Tell Aunty Mabel Happy Birthday for me!  Talk to you soon
Katie (Toronto cousin)

sharing,-jane         

GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy airs today 10pm on CBC Newsworld

10:00 p.m.

Generations: The Chan Legacy - Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.

Yesterday I was interviewed 8:20 am Tuesday morning, July 3rd, by Rick Cluff for the CBC Radio 690 show "The Early Edition."  Rick first asked me how I got interested in family history, and I replied that one of the first computer programs I got was for genealogy.

I had found it fascinating that we were descended from a Chinese United Church minister. It was important for me to find positive role models growing up, because as a Chinese-Canadian, there weren't many.  I grew up in North Vancouver, and many people couldn't tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese back then. Some people would tell me to go back where I came from.

I brought some photo displays into the radio studio and Rick asked about them.

"Here's a picture of Rev. Chan Yu Tan" when he first arrived in Canada in 1896."

Here's a picture of Uncle Dan and his brothers during WW2"

"Here's a picture of our family reunion in 1999."

"How many people attended, Todd?"

"We had over 200 people, from all across the continent Rick - from Ontario, Alberta, Washington, California."

Rick asked what I hoped the younger generations would learn from the story.  I told him that it was important for our younger generations to learn what our ancestors had overcome, such as the head tax, the 1907 riot, the exclusion act, gaining the voting franchise.  And that it is an important story for all Canadians.  Too often as multigenerational Chinese-Canadians we get lumped in with the new immigrants as "Chinese" - even though our family has been here for seven generations.

Rick asked "What would Rev. Chan think of Gung Haggis Fat Choy"

 but our family didn't go to Church. When I was little, I attended one day of class at the Chinese United Church.  I was little and cried for my mother almost the entire time. 

But the legacy of Rev. Chan Yu Tan and his brother and sisters still lives in our family.  It lives on in the stories that my grandmother and my mother have shared with me.  My grand-uncle Daniel Lee and his sister Helen Lee, lived with Rev. and Mrs. Chan Yu Tan in Nanaimo while they were growing up.  Auntie Helen recalls her memories while she is interviewed for the documentary.  There are some newsclips of Uncle Dan and Chinese-Canadian veterans at Vancouver's Victory Square cenotaph for Remembrance Day.

Many of our family is excited at seeing the documentary tonight.  I have received e-mails from Ontario, and Washington.  Distant family members I haven't met have found the Rev. Chan Legacy facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2390778670

Here are some well wishes from my friends after hearing me on radio and receiving my announcements about GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy

Good morning Todd, just heard you on CBC Early Edition about your family.  
I look forward to watching it tomorrow night on CBC  Newsworld at 10 p.m.  
I hope some of our colleagues will watch some of the Chinese history in 
Vancouver.  You may wish to tell us something more about this 6-part series 
on Chinese pioneers in Vancouver.
- Kelly Ip (Community organizer and advisor on Canadian Club Vancouver)

Hi Todd
congratulations !!!!
where are you going to watch tonight's episode .... invite me along if 
appropriate.
All good things,
Joseph Roberts - publisher of Common Ground

Generations is a 6 part series and the lead installment is The Chan Legacy - which is about my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, and our family descendants who are committed to community service - like me!  The episodes of the series are:

Watch The Chan Legacy on CBC Newsworld

Many family members were interviewed:

• Victor Wong, grand-son, WW2 veteran and Victoria resident who visited his grandparents in Nanaimo BC.
  
• Helen Lee, grand-daughter, who lived with Rev. & Mrs. Chan Yu Tan in Nanaimo.
• Gary Lee, great-grandson who tells about some of the challenges overcome by the family.
• Janice Wong, great-grand-daughter, and award winning author of CHOW: From China to Canada, memories of food and family.
• Rhonda Larrabee, great-grand-daughter, and chief of the First Nations Qayqayt (New Westminster) Band, featured in the NFB film "Tribe of One."
  
• Todd Wong, great-great-grandson, community and cultural activist, creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
• Tracey Hinder, 5th generation high school student who was the inaugural Vancouver CanSpell champion and went on to compete in Ottawa and Washington DC.  Tracey is a member of her school's "multicultural club."
  

Rev. Chan Yu Tan came to Canada in 1896, following his elder brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai who had earlier arrived in 1888 at the invitation of the Methodist Church of Canada.  These two brothers were later followed by sisters Phoebe in 1899, and Naomi who later moved to Chicago.  Throughout seven generations, the family has spread throughout Canada and the United States.  The Rev. Chan Yu Tan Family was featured in the photographic exhibition Three Early Chinese Canadian Pioneer Families. 


Read my blog entries about Rev. Chan Legacy Project which includes stories during the making of the documentary and events for Janice Wong's award-winning book C H O W: From China to Canada memoris of food and family.

http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/RevChanLegacyProject
http://c-h-o-w.blogspot.com/

Please tell all your friends and relatives about this upcoming documentary, very informative about the history of Chinese-Canadians, and the legacy they have built in Canada.

check out the CBC Generations home page:
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/generations/

Produced by Halya Kuchmij, narrated by Michele Cheung.

Halya is convinced this "our project" is going to rock! She is amazed at the almost 120 year long family history that started when Mr. Chan Sing Kai first came to Canada at the invitation of the Methodist Church of Canada in November 1888. There are now 7 generations of Chan descendants throughout North America, descended from eldest brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai, who later moved to California, Rev. Chan Yu Tan (my great-great-grandfather who retired in New Westminster), and Aunt Naomi who had moved to Chicago. Aunt Phoebe is the 4th sibling who stayed with the Chinese United Church in Vancouver, and became affectionately known as "The Bible Lady" - she never married.   more »

CBC Generations filming: Rev Chan bible + descendants Rhonda and Tracey

On Saturday, we filmed Tracey, Todd Wong and Betty Wong with the Rev. Chan family bible.  It is the largest bible I have ever seen. It is 106 years old, published in 1900.  Bound by leather, it was rebound several years ago, as it was held together by tape.  Karen Chan Wong is the keeper and preserver of the Rev. Chan bible.  She is the eldest daughter of Gerald Chan, son of Jack Chan, son of Rev. Chan Yu Tan.... so Karen is a 4th generation descendant.

Tracey Hinder is a 5th generational descendant of Rev. Chan Yu Tan.  Our grandmothers are sisters, the daughters of Kate Lee, the eldest daughter of Rev. Chan.  Last year in March 2005, Tracey won the BC regional Canspell contest held in Vancouver.  She later travelled to Washington DC for the annual Scripps Spelling Bee, as well as the inaugural CanSpell national championship in Ottawa. Tracey was interviewed by CBC documentary producer Halya Kuchmij on Friday morning.

Halya interviewed me again to address head tax issues.  I share the story about Uncle Dan writing to Parliament every year asking for an apology, but never receiving an answer.  I spoke about how it was an important campaign for me to be involved in, as I have many ancestors who paid the head tax including my mother's father Sonny Mar, and my grandmother's father Ernest Lee.  Both are predeceased and will not be eligible for the Conservative head tax redress refund program.

Rhonda Larrabee, my mother's cousin was also interviewed. Rhonda is also Chief of the Qayqayt First Nations.  Her father Art Lee (my grandmother's elder brother) married Marie Charlie, a First Nations woman.  "Tribe of One" is a movie about how Rhonda came to understand both her Chinese and First Nations heritage, and resurrect the Qayqayt First Nations from obscurity.  When Rhonda first applied for Indian status, the Department of Indian Affairs had claimed that the Qayqayt no longer existed.  She proved them wrong.

CBC Generations filming:  Searching for Rev. Chan on Vancouver Island
  

Rev Chan Yu Tan is 4th from the left, standing beside his elder and taller brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai at the 50th Anniversary of the Chinese United Church in Victoria, 1935.  Rev Chan Sing Kai first came to Canada in 1888 to help found the Chinese Methodist Church which later became the Chinese United Church.  Photo from family archives.

My great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan was a United Church minister on Vancouver Island in Victoria and Nanaimo.  He first arrived in Victoria in 1896, 110 years ago.  He then came to Vancouver to work at the Chinese Methodist Church which was founded by his older brother Rev.Chan Sing Kai, in 1888.  He also ministered in New Westminster, then moved to Nanaimo in the 1920's before returning to New Westminister where he retired.  I have a picture of my mother as a child at the Rev. & Mrs. Chan's 65th wedding anniversary party back around 1943.

The CBC film crew went to Vancouver Island yesterday to interview my grandmother's cousin Victor Wong and my grandmother's younger sister Auntie Helen Lee for a CBC Generations documentary.  They were Rev. Chan's grandchildren who both remember attending their grandfather's services in Nanaimo during the 1920's.  "Auntie" Helen and her younger brother Daniel, lived with Rev. Chan and his wife for a time in Nanaimo.

I travelled with producer Halya Kuchmij, cameraman Doug, and sound guy Rick. We caught a 9am ferry to Victoria, arriving at Uncle Victor's place just after 11am.  Auntie Roberta Lum was also there to greet us.  She brought some pictures that were scanned for use in the documentary.  Uncle Victor talked about visiting his grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, about becoming a Canadian soldier and going to India.  Uncle Victor is the president of the Chinese Canadian veterans association in Victoria, and he was filmed two weekends ago when they hosted a reunion in Victoria.  Uncle Victor gave a speech about how the Chinese-Canadian veterans played a major role in bringing enfranchisement to Chiense Canadians, helping us gain the vote in 1947.  Halya was very pleased with the interview. 

"I loved my grandfather," beamed Uncle Victor, as his face lit up and he recalled happy times playing in Victoria.  He was a very kind man."


Here I am with my Grandmother's cousins Roberta Lum andVictor Wong in Victoria.  Their mother was Rose Chan Wong, a daughter of Rev. Yu Tan Chan.  My great-grandmother Kate was the eldest child of Rev. Chan - photo Halya Kuchmij

We finished after 2pm then went for lunch.  It was a 2+ hour drive to Nanaimo.  We arrived at Auntie Helen's just after 6pm.  We were also greeted by Helen's daughters Donna and Judy.  Auntie Helen talked about growing up in Nanaimo, and attending services with her grandfather Rev. Yu Tan Chan.  She shared that she sometimes accompanied Rev. Chan on his visits to Ladysmith, Duncan and Cumberland where there was a large group of miners.  Rev. Chan held evening services for the miners.

She also talked about her grandmother Mrs. Shee Wong Chan, whom I learned could be a very stern woman as well as loving.  Mrs. Chan was also very active in the community, knowledgable about Chinese herbal medicines and midwifery.  A highlight of the interview was when Auntie Helen sang "Jesus Loves Me," and talked about the hymns that Rev. Chan played on his pump organ at Church.


My favorite Grand-Aunt... Auntie Helen is my grandmother's younger sister, at 91 years old.  She has attended the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners and she LOVES to eat Haggis - photo Halya Kuchmij

We caught the 9pm ferry back to Vancouver/Horseshoe Bay.  It was a long day travelling from the 9am ferry in Tsawassen to a 10:45 arrival at Horseshoe Bay.  But we captured some great interviews on film.  Halya keeps saying "This is going to be a great film."  She is excited and it's great to be part of history in the making!

On Thursday morning we filmed my 15 year old 2nd cousin Tracy Hinder at West Vancouver Secondary School during her mandarin chinese language class.  She next did an interview and talked about what she has learned of her family history and her plans for the future.  Tracy really represents the future history of the family.  At her young age, sh is already a newsmaker.  For the film she also shared her experience winning the 2005 Canspell contest in Vancouver, and going to Ottawa for the National competition.  Tracy remembers being at the Rev. Chan family reunions that her mother helped to organize in 1999 and 2000.  Of course she was very young but remembers that "there were lots of people."

Filming continues this weekend.  Generations: Rev Chan is expected to air in Febrary 2007.