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Thursday, January 28

Larissa Lai is featured poet for 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner
by
Todd
on Thu 28 Jan 2010 12:38 PM PST
Last year, Larissa Lai was a guest at the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner. She enjoyed the event so much she is coming back... as our featured poet! At a reading event at the Vancouver Public Library, Larissa shared with me that she teaches Robert Burns to her students at University of BC. Wow... Perfect!
But Larissa is much more than that... She is an acclaimed poet in her own right, and the author of two novels - When Fox Is A Thousand, and Salt Fish Girl. Both books are in my personal collection. I first met Larissa back in 1994, when I wrote an article for the SFU Student Newspaper, and she was a featured poet for the Go For Broke Festival - the forerunner of Asian Heritage Month..... + MORE more »
Wednesday, January 27

Google News Alert for "Gung Haggis Fat Choy"
by
Todd
on Wed 27 Jan 2010 12:44 PM PST
Every year I do media interviews. On Robbie Burns Day, I was woken up at 7am by a request from BBC Radio Scotland. Yesterday, I did an interview for French CBC television. Monday was Epoch Times. Last week the Georgia Straight did a food feature article. Somewhere in Scotland there is an interview in the Sunday Post. Even SFU, Seattle and North Shore News have stories about Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner this year. Check out the links: more »
Monday, January 25

Happy 251st Birthday Rabbie!
by
Todd
on Mon 25 Jan 2010 11:18 PM PST
BBC Radio Scotland woke me up at 7am for a 9:30 am interview. There is 8 hours time difference. After I was woken up, it was hard to get back to sleep, so I got onto the computer and listened to BBC Radio Scotland for awhile. It's always fun to listen to them both on New Year's Eve and Robbie Burns Day.... + PICTURES + MORE more »
Thursday, December 31

2009 Year of Gung Haggis Fat Choy from Royal BC Museum in Victoria to Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh
by
Todd
on Thu 31 Dec 2009 01:42 PM PST
2009 featured photos in exhibits at Royal BC Museum and Scottish Parliament. Other highlights included the inaugural writer in residence program at Historic Joy Kogawa House, and Todd Wong's first visit to Scotland for the finale weekend of Homecoming Year. And there was the 250th anniversary of poet Robert Burns.
more »

Todd Wong on CBC Radio One December 31st - Traditions of singing Auld Lyne Syne for New Year's Eve.
by
Todd
on Thu 31 Dec 2009 01:10 PM PST
Why do we sing Auld Lang Syne at New Year's Eve?
Todd Wong
be heard today on CBC Radion One 690 AM - ON THE COAST. 3-6pm
They
asked me about the origins of singing "Auld Lang Syne" - the Robert
Burns lyrics connection and the proper way of holding hands while
singing. Of course I threw in similarities between Scottish Hogmannay
and Chinese New Year - such as making lots of noise and paying off your
debts.They asked if I will be with friends ringing in the New Year. I said I
am at Silver Star in Vernon, with good friends... including Craig Brown
who was at my 1st Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner, when the only "kilts" we
had were Canadian Mackinkaw lumberjack shirts tied around our waists... Origins of singing Auld Lang Syne in North America are traced back to a Scottish tradition that spread through Scottish and British emmigration. Wikipedia writes:
Singing the song on Hogmanay or New Year's Eve very quickly became a Scots custom
that soon spread to other parts of the British Isles. As Scots (and
other Britons) emigrated around the world, they took the song with them.
Canadian band leader Guy Lombardo
is often credited with popularising the use of the song at New Year’s
celebrations in America, through his annual broadcasts on radio and
television, beginning in 1929. The song became his trademark. In
addition to his live broadcasts, Lombardo recorded the song more than
once. His first recording was in 1939. A later recording on September
29, 1947 was issued as a single by Decca Records as catalog #24260 Wikipedia's entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Synealso compares the 1711 version of Old Long Syne by James Watson to the 1788 version of Scots verse by Robert Burns.
Friday, October 16

CUPE's WriterFest Oct 22 featuring host Daniel Gawthrop + Larrisa Lai, Stan Persky, David Chariandy + more!
by
Todd
on Fri 16 Oct 2009 02:42 PM PDT
Featured author panelists:
CAROLINE ADDERSON (A History of Forgetting, I Bruno)
CARELLIN BROOKS (Wreck Beach, Carnal Nations)
DAVID CHARIANDY (Soucouyant)
LARRISA LAI (Salt Fish Girl, When Fox is a Thousand
STAN PERSKY (The Short Version: An ABC Book, Mixed Media Mixed Messages)
BILL TIELMAN (24 Hours, The Tyee)
+ moderator DANIEL GAWTHROP (Rice Queen Diaries) more »
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

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.
Thursday, June 4

Another Magical Evening for final event of Historic Joy Kogawa House's inaugural writer-in-residence program
by
Todd
on Thu 04 Jun 2009 12:15 PM PDT
Another Magical Evening for final event of Historic Joy Kogawa House's inaugural writer-in-residence program with John Asfour, Gary Geddes and Ann Erikson. Old friends and new friends, friends now forever at Historic Joy Kogawa House. Gary Geddes, John Asfour, "Joy Kogawa" life size photo, and Ann-Eriksson on the final event for John Asfour's inaugural writer-in-residence program. - photo Todd Wong"John Asfour was the perfect choice to be the inaugural writer-in-residence for Kogawa House" said Richard Hopkins, board member of the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society. Asfour, a Montreal poet, blind since the age of 13 because of the injuries from the Lebanese civil war, hosted an over-flowing audience on May 30th for a final event reading with special guests Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson. Shelagh Rogers was a surprise guest emcee for this event which took place on a beautiful late spring evening in the backyard of author Joy Kogawa's childhood home. "It was another magical evening" said Shelagh Rogers who had previously hosted the "Al Purdy Party" at Kogawa House on April 20th. Shelagh had initially planned to come to the event as a guest, partially because "Falsework" by Gary Geddes, was one of Shelagh's favorite books of 2008. She gladly accepted the invitation to host from John Asfour. Ann Erikson reads underneath the cherry and apple trees in the back yard of Historic Joy Kogawa House.
Ann Eriksson describes her new novel "In the Hands of Anubis" to Shelagh Rogers.
Gary read from his many works, and shared stories of traveling in the Middle East with John Asfour, describing the incident as "the lame leading the blind" because Gary had hurt his leg, and John would have his hand on Gary's arm, as they walked.
 Two old chums share a smile and a glass of wine. More to come....
Friday, May 29

Final event for Montreal poet John Asfour at Kogawa House, with Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson
by
Todd
on Fri 29 May 2009 03:40 PM PDT
MONTREAL POET WRAPS UP RESIDENCY THIS WEEKEND Historic Joy Kogawa House celebrates success of its first writer-in-residence
On April 20, inaugural Kogawa House writer-in-residence John Afour welcomed Shelagh Rogers, Jean Baird, George Bowering and George Stanley to Kogawa House for a joint Purdy Party with three BC Book Prize Poetry nominees Daphne Marlatt, George Stanly and Nilofar Shidmehr - photo Todd Wong
Kogawa House writer-in-residence John Asfour leaves a trail of inspiration behind as he packs his bags to return to Montreal on Sunday, May 31.
Final reading with Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson on Saturday, May 30th.
During
his residency in Vancouver Asfour has hosted a number of writers for
readings at the house, including Judy Rebick, Ann Diamond, and Daphne
Marlatt, George Stanley, and Nilofar Shidmehr—three poets nominated for
this year’s Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. On Saturday, May 30, Gary
Geddes and Ann Eriksson join him for a final reading. Asfour
has also welcomed visits from writing classes and he has coached
numerous individual writers. Following an evening class at the house,
SFU Writers’ Studio lyric poetry instructor Rachel Rose wrote: “John
has been so generous with his time, meeting many students for
individual consults.” Another writer said: “I had a very good,
productive meeting with John and learned more in meeting with him than
I had learned in a whole year studying creative writing at university.
He taught me how to edit.” Asfour’s frequent writing consultations did not keep him completing a book of poems entitled Blindfold,
which is partly autobiographical—born in Lebanon, Asfour was blinded at
age 13 during the Civil War in 1958. His poems explore feelings of loss
and displacement and suggest that the disabled often feel like
foreigners in their own land, hampered by prejudice (sometimes
well-meaning), communications barriers and the sense of “limited
personality” that characterizes the immigrant experience.
John Asfour was featured at the Vancouver Public Library on May 19th with Neworld Theatre's Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong read his poems in English - photo Todd Wong While
in Vancouver Asfour also presented poetry readings to a variety of
audiences, including the Canadian National Institute for the Blind,
Christianne’s Lyceum of Art and Literature, the BC Muslim School and in
collaboration with Neworld Theatre at the Vancouver Public Library. On
Thursday, 58 students from Killarney Secondary School will practice
their creative writing while scattered over the lawns, patio, and deck
at Kogawa house. Asfour
is the author of four books of poetry in English and two in Arabic. He
translated the poetry of Muhammad al-Maghut into English under the title Joy Is Not My Profession (Véhicule Press), and he selected, edited and introduced the landmark anthology When the Words Burn: An Anthology of Modern Arabic Poetry, 1945–1987 (Cormorant Books). Further information can be found on the website of the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society at www.kogawahouse.com or by calling (604) 263-6586. ends/more Contacts: Kogawa House Society: Ann-Marie Metten (604) 263-6586 Notes to Editors: 1. Information on Historic Joy Kogawa House Historic
Joy Kogawa House is the former home of the Canadian author Joy Kogawa
(born 1935). It stands as a cultural and historical reminder of the
expropriation of property that all Canadians of Japanese descent
experienced after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Between 2003 and
2006, a grassroots committee fund raised in a well-publicized national
campaign, and with the help of The Land Conservancy of BC, a non-profit
land trust, managed to purchase the house in 2006. Together
with Joy Kogawa, the various groups decided that the wisest and best
use of the property would be to establish it as a place where writers
could live and work. Following the models of the writer-in-residence
programs in place at the Berton House Writers’ Retreat in Dawson City ,
Yukon , and Roderick Haig-Brown House in Campbell River , BC , the
Historic Joy Kogawa House writer-in-residence program brings
well-regarded professional writers in touch with a local community of
writers, readers, editors, and librarians. While in residence, the
writer works to enrich the literary community around him or her and to
foster an appreciation for Canadian writing through programs that
involve students, other writers and members of the general public. Beginning
in March 2009, as a partner with TLC, the Historic Joy Kogawa Society
will begin hosting writers to live and work in the house on a paid
basis. Funding is provided through the Michael Audain Foundation for
the Arts, the BC Arts Council, the Canada Council and through donations
from the general public.
Thursday, May 14

Poet John Asfour, Kogawa House writer-in-residence joins Neworld Theatre May 19th at Vancouver Public Library
by
Todd
on Thu 14 May 2009 05:24 PM PDT
John Asfour with "Joy Kogawa" and Judy Rebick at the April event for Historic Joy Kogawa House inaugural writer-in-residence programming. - photo Todd WongTwo more events with John Asfour
will round out his third and final month in residence.
Tuesday,
May 19 at 7:30 p.m., John presents an evening of Arabic poetry in
translation. John performs on the oud, or Arabic lute, as actors
Adrienne Wong and Marcus Youssef of Neworld Theatre read his poems and those of
Syrian poet Muhammad al-Maghut and Mahmoud Darwish, Palestine’s national poet.
This event will take place in the Alma VanDusen and Peter Kaye rooms on the
Lower Level of the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library, 350 West
Georgia Street. Admission is free.
Back at Kogawa house on
Saturday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m.—the final
evening of John's residency with us—he welcomes Gary Geddes
and Ann Eriksson for readings in celebration of John's residency. Gary Geddes
has written and edited more than 35 books and won a dozen national and
international literary awards, including the Gabriela Mistral Prize and, most
recently, the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence in BC. He will
read from Falsework about the collapse of the Second Narrows Bridge in
Vancouver. Ann Eriksson’s new novel, In the Hands of Anubis, has been
described by the critics as wise, wicked, touching and funny. It ranges from
Cairo to Calgary to Ucluelet and has a cast of coyotes, tractors and dog-headed
gods. Her novel, Decomposing Maggie, appeared on bestseller lists in
2003. This event takes place at Kogawa house and seating is limited. To
reserve a seat, please respond to this message.
I look forward to seeing you at one or both
events,
Ann-Marie Metten Executive
Director
Contact
Information
Telephone: 604-263-6586 Email:
kogawahouse@yahoo.ca Historic
Joy Kogawa House | 1450 West 64th Avenue | Vancouver | BC
| V6P 2N4 |
Canada
Sunday, April 26

2009 BC Book Prizes with Terry Glavin
by
Todd
on Sun 26 Apr 2009 10:37 AM PDT
 Todd Wong, with Terry Glavin, and Terry's wife Yvette - BC Book Prizes. I was at the BC Book Prizes last night and my friend Terry Glavin received the Lt. Gov. Award for Literary Achievement. It was a fun evening, and I sat with the Editors Association of Canada, the table organized by my friend Ann-Marie Metten.
 Lt. Gov. Stephen Point always makes a great speech, not only about his personal contradictory job of being a First Nations Catholic representing the Queen, head of the Anglican Church, for which he had spent a large part of his life in defiance to for pushing First Nations rights, but also about the ability of BC authors, publishers and citizens for overcoming challenges for racial, historical and cultural differences. I first met his honour, last year, when the BC Community Achievement Awards were presented at his Victoria home of Government House. He really likes the concept of "Gung Haggis Fat Choy" and he shared with me that he does have some Scottish ancestry from a forefather named Jamieson. Commander. King Wan is one of the six rotating honour guards that accompany the Lt. Gov. when he attends events in the Vancouver area. Cdr. Wan is the first Asian-Canadian high ranking officer at HMCS Discovery in Stanley Park. We know each other from the many events of Pacific Unit 280 for the Chinese Canadian veterans.
Our friend Daphne Marlatt won the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize.
I met Steven Hume, author of Simon Fraser: the Search for Modern British Columbia. We had a great time talking about Simon Fraser history - especially how Fraser was actually born in the United States just outside Vermont, in disputed New Hampshire territory, and how Fraser himself, had never ever set foot in Scotland. The kilt I am wearing is the modern hunting Fraser tartan, which Steven thought looked amazing similar to a Hume tartan. I recounted the story of how the origins of "Gung Haggis Fat Choy" go back to my days as a tour guide at Simon Fraser University telling stories of Simon Fraser University in the mid-1990's. Standing with is is Howard White, publisher of Harbour Publishing. Hume's "Simon Fraser' is the one book that I purchased at the end of the evening, published by Harbour Publishing.
 Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (aka "Haida Manga Guy") was nominated for the BC Bookseller's Choice Award, for his book Flight of the Hummingbird: A Parable for the Environment. Sheryl Mackay presented the first award of the event for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, then recorded the rest of the evening for her CBC Radio early morning radio show North By Northwest, and had everything edited for the delight of listeners less than 10 hours later... WOW! Hopefully she was still perky and beatific!
Here are my pictures on Flickr.
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2009
Vancouver
BC Book Prizes Winners Announced
Vancouver,
BC –
The West Coast Book Prize Society is pleased to announce the
winners of the 25th Annual BC Book
Prizes. They are as follows:
Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize Supported by Friesens and
Webcom
Lee Henderson,
The Man Game (Penguin
Group Canada )
Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize Supported by
the BC Teachers’ Federation
Daphne Marlatt,
The Given (McClelland
& Stewart)
Hubert Evans Non-fiction
Prize Supported by Abebooks
Gabor Maté,
In the
Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction (Knopf
Canada )
Roderick Haig-Brown Regional
Prize Supported by Editor s’
Association of Canada ,
BC Branch
Stephen Hume,
Simon Fraser: In Search of Modern
British Columbia
(Harbour Publishing)
Sheila A. Egoff
Children’s Literature Prize Supported by
the BC Library Association
Polly Horvath,
My One Hundred Adventures (Groundwood
Books)
Christie Harris Illustrated
Children’s Literature Prize Supported by
Kate Walker and Company
Katarina Jovanovic
(author), Philippe Béha
(illustrator), The King has Goat Ears
(Tradewind Books)
BC Booksellers’ Choice
Award In Honour of Bill Duthie
Supported by BC Booksellers' Association and Duthie
Books
Stephen
Bown and
Douglas & McIntyre, Madness, Betrayal and the
Lash: The Epic Voyage of Captain George Vancouver
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR LITERARY
EXCELLENCE
Terry Glavin
is the recipient of this award,
established in 2003 by the
Honourable Iona Campagnolo, which recognizes
British Columbia writers who have
contributed to the development of
literary excellence in the province.
A total of $19,000 is awarded to winners with each
prize providing $2,000 with the
exception of the Lieutenant
Governor’s prize which awards $5,000.
This year’s gala, emceed by
Alan Twigg and attended by the
Honourable Lieutenant Governor Steven L. Point, took place at
the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel in
Vancouver . The BC Book Prizes were
established in 1985 to celebrate the
achievements of British Columbia
writers and publishers. The prizes are administered and awarded by members of a
non-profit society who represent all facets of the
publishing and writing community. The West Coast Book Prize Society
congratulates all of the winners!
For fur the r details,
visit www.bcbookprizes.ca.
Monday, April 20

Terry Glavin wins Lt. Governor's Award for Literary Excellence
by
Todd
on Mon 20 Apr 2009 11:35 PM PDT

Terry Glavin named recipient of
the sixth annual Lieutenant Governor’s Award
for Literary Excellence

Okay.... it was author Terry Glavin who partly inspired me to create a "writer's speaking series" on the 2007 strike line of CUPE 391 Vancouver Library Workers. Terry called me up for some reason or another, maybe to admit he was a big fan of my Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, and somehow I asked him to give a reading on our strike line. And that's how it started! After Terry came many other authors such as Stan Persky, Hiromi Goto, Daniel Gawthrop, Rita Wong, Tom Sandborn, Chuck Davis.... but it started with Terry! http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2007/8/15/3160687.htm
Author, jounalist Terry Glavin speaks to the CUPE 391 Vancouver library workers - giving support - photo Todd Wong
We since became friends and look for reasons to go for a pint of Guinness at the Irish Times Pub in Victoria, or host a Gung Haggis house party at his place... but the only thing we manage to do is leave comments and links to each other blogs.
Terry has written amazing books, and is very big on diversity - both cultural and environmental and bio-diversity. Moreover, I think we recognize in each other a deep respect for First Nations culture and history, the ability to laugh and poke fun at mainstream institutions, and the necessity of shaking up the world a little now and then.
But on this Saturday, I will be able to have a drink and toast to my rabble rousing "outspoken voice" as he is feted by the BC literati. In the mean time he says he "Vows To Resist The Urge To Cash The Cheque And Head Straight For The Track" http://transmontanus.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-vow-to-resist-urge-to-cash-cheque-and.html
At last year's BC Book Prizes, I got to hang out a bit with Gary Geddes, the 2008 winner of the Lt. Gov's Award for Literary Excellence.
Rita Wong and Gary Geddes big winners at BC Book Prizes Gala http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/4/29/3666200.html
Terry and Gary are friends, so Terry won't mind if I put Gary's picture in here... Check out the official BC Book Prize website...
and what they have to say about Terry:
Vancouver, BC
– The West Coast Book Prize Society is proud to recognize Terry Glavin as the
recipient of the sixth annual Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary
Excellence.
British
Columbia’s Lieutenant Governor,
the Honourable Steven Point, will present
the award at the
Lieutenant Governor’s BC Book Prize Gala to be held at
the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel in
Vancouver on April 25, 2009.
The event will be hosted
by BC BookWorld publisher and
author Alan Twigg .
“Terry Glavin,
author and journalist, has been an outspoken voice in
British Columbia as a conservationist and
nature writer. He is known for his passionate commitment to
British Columbia ’s First Nations and
for his deep understanding of how First Nation culture and way of life are
bound up with the province’s
natural history and our future as a just and sustainable society.
In addition to his books,
Glavin’s many articles on social and political issues are evidence of his
strong journalistic ability to marshal facts and his unwillingness to go with
the accepted wisdom of either
the right or the
left. In his role as an iconoclast, he is a critical voice in
the dialogue that sustains a civil society.
As editor, Glavin has also
brought us the innovative and
courageous Transmontanus series, published by New Star Books. Established in
1992 with the aim of exploring
the relationships between landscape and imagination,
this innovative series of 16 titles has given voice to authors and
the mes that might o the rwise
have been lost to us.
Glavin offers an
extraordinarily holistic vision that does not focus on single issues, but
instead in everything he writes shows us a world where culture and nature,
human aspiration, natural beauty, language, history and social justice are
inextricably intertwined.
Terry Glavin has won many
awards for his work as a journalist, as a science and technology writer, for
his editorial innovation and for his powerful essays. We are privileged to
honour him with the Lieutenant
Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence in 2009, for his contribution to
life and letters in British Columbia
and for his willingness to show us how to see our world more deeply, more fully
and more truthfully.”
– Jury member Ellen Godfrey
The jury for this year’s Lieutenant
Governor’s Award: Ellen Godfrey, author and former literary publisher;
David Hill, Manager of Munro’s Books, Victoria; and Sheryl Mac
Kay , host of CBC’s North by Northwest.
This prize was
established in 2003 by former Lieutenant Governor, the
Honourable Iona Campagnolo, to recognize British
Columbia writers who have contributed to
the development of literary excellence in
the province. The recipient receives a cash award of
$5,000 and a commemorative certificate.
All BC
Book Prizes info at www.bcbookprizes.ca
Friday, April 17

Al Purdy Party at Joy Kogawa House features 3 poets nominated for BC Book Prize
by
Todd
on Fri 17 Apr 2009 11:58 PM PDT

This is going to be an exciting event, created for BC Book and Magazine Week.4 poets in an intimate setting with special host Shelagh Rogers. Innaugural Kogawa House writerinresidence John Asfour has invited 3 nominated poets for the BC Book Prizes Dorothy Livesay Poetry Award: George Stanley, Nilofar Shimehr and Daphne Marlatt. Shelagh Rogers did the last public interview Purdy at the Eden Mills Writers' Festival. Shelagh says "He was awesome," and will share her Al Purdy memories with the audience. www.cbc.ca/wordsatlarge/blog/2008/05/al_purdy_an_uncommon_poet_memo.htmlThis will be also be a fundraiser for Save the Al Purdy A Frame… in the Joy
Kogawa childhood home, a house that was saved from demolition to be
turned into a writer in residence program and a historical/literary
landmark for all of Canada  April 21 is National Al Purdy Day. http://www.poetrymap.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=35
from www.kogawahouse.com
Shelagh Rogers, host of "The Next Chapter" on CBC Radio, to emcee with John Asfour - inaugural writer in residence at Joy Kogawa House, George Stanley, Nilofar Shidmehr and Daphne Marlatt
George Stanley (Vancouver: A Poem), Nilofar Shidmehr (Shirin and Salt Man) and Daphne Marlatt When: 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 20 Where: Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 West 64th Avenue, Vancouver Admission by donation. Space is limited. To secure a seat, please RSVP kogawahouse@yahoo.ca Three
BC Book Prize-nominated poets—George Stanley, Nilofar Shidmehr and
Daphne Marlatt—have accepted an invitation from writer-in-residence
John Asfour to read at Historic Joy Kogawa House on Monday, April 20,
as part of BC Book and Magazine Week. Asfour,
a Montreal poet, is the first writer-in-residence at Kogawa House and
will present poetry readings to a variety of audiences, in
collaboration with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Simon
Fraser University’s Writers Studio, Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature
and Art and the Vancouver Public Library. Asfour
is the author of four books of poetry in English and two in Arabic. He
translated the poetry of Muhammad al-Maghut into English under the
title Joy Is Not My Profession (Véhicule Press), and he selected, edited and introduced the landmark anthology When the Words Burn: An Anthology of Modern Arabic Poetry, 1945–1987 (Cormorant Books). CBC
Radio host Shelagh Rogers will emcee the event, which is a
co-presentation of Historic Joy Kogawa House and the West Coast Book
Prize Society. George Stanley (Vancouver: A Poem), Nilofar Shidmehr (Shirin and Salt Man) and Daphne Marlatt (The Given) are finalists for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. The
event takes place the evening before National Al Purdy Day, and the
League of Canadian Poets has invited all Canadian poets and lovers of
Canadian poetry to host a Purdy party to raise funds for the Al Purdy
A-Frame Project—Purdy’s former home on Roblin Lake, Ontario—and to
create a poet-in-residence program there that is similar to the
writer-in-residence program now under way in the childhood home of the
author Joy Kogawa. This
poetry reading will be held at 7:30 pm at Historic Joy Kogawa House,
located at 1450 West 64th Avenue, Vancouver. Entrance by donation.
Space is limited. To secure a seat, please RSVP kogawahouse@yahoo.ca
Thursday, April 16

Judy Rebick comes to Joy Kogawa House
by
Todd
on Thu 16 Apr 2009 08:16 PM PDT
Special guest at Historic Joy Kogawa House with writer-in-residence John Asfour from www.kogawahouse.com
When: 5 p.m., Friday, April 17 Where: 1450 West 64th Avenue, Vancouver Admission by donation. Space is limited.
To reserve a seat, please RSVP kogawahouse@yahoo.ca Writer-in-residence
John Asfour welcomes Judy Rebick to Historic Joy Kogawa House on
Friday, April 17. Rebick is a veteran activist, former host of CBC
Newsworld, chair of Social Justice and Democracy at Ryerson University
and former publisher of www.rabble.ca. Come join us on Friday, April 17, as Judy Rebick speaks about her new book Transforming Power. One
reader commented that Transforming Power "[is] a powerful, inspiring
treatise on a paradigm shift in social action that is taking place from
around the world. It offers new pathways to change making that are
critically needed in this time of crisis, and is an exciting window
into stories of hope and possibility around the world." To attend this
event, please RSVP kogawahouse@yahoo.ca.
Friday, April 10

Wayson Choy is "Not Yet" dead: story in the Georgia Straight written by Brandy Lien Worrall
by
Todd
on Fri 10 Apr 2009 10:41 PM PDT
Wayson Choy's new memoir "Not Yet" is now available.
Brandy Lien Worrall wrote the related cover story for the Georgia Straight last week about Wayson. Also check out Charlie Smith's sidebar cover story: featuring Jen Fooksong Lee, author of "The End of East" http://www.straight.com/article-210547/choys-chinatown-memories-inspire Life and Death are linked. Wayson Choy has defied death twice. His memoir writings are just as important as his novels. Brandy Lien Worrall is just finishing up the last courses and meetings for her Masters of Fine Arts, Creative Writing. I got to know her during the Spring 2007 writing workshop she taught for the Chinese Canadian Historical Society, which produced the book Eating Stories: A Chinese Canadian & Aboriginal Potluck. Just before the course was finished, Brandy was diagnosed with breast cancer. She would fight and survive. Check out Brandy's blog In 1989, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer tumor. When I found myself questioning whether I would live or die, I knew I wasn't finished yet... I didn't know what I still had to do, but I knew I wasn't finished.... not yet. Wayson Choy also said "Not Yet." Not Yet is now the title of Wayson's newest memoir. It follows the 1999 memoir, Paper Shadows, which was concerned with the ghosts and secrets of his adoption. I got to know Wayson and his work while I was on the inaugural One Book One Vancouver program with his boyhood friend Larry Wong. The Jade Peony was the perfect book and lent itself easily to create so many events to help make the book come alive for readers and participants. We organized events for the library, coordinated with Asian Heritage Month, created "Jade Peony Tours" in Chinatown led by John Atkins, a reading at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens with pipa player Qiu Xia He of Silk Road Music. But one of my favorite events was the "Dim Sum With Wayson Choy" for which Larry brought together friends of Wayson, that had inspired some of the characters to speak to the audience. And Larry even surprised Wayson with a video greeting from Carole Shields, who was unable to attend due to cancer treatment. But even with the impending death of Wayson's teacher, Carol Shields, few people knew about how close Wayson had come to death. Jade Peony almost wasn't chosen because Wayson almost wasn't available. In July 2001, Wayson Choy suffered a combined asthma and heart attack that would put him in a coma. He would later suffer a second heart attack in 2005. Wayson's public talks are very accessible and intimate. He shares openly his brushes with death, and his time in a coma, his discovery of issues about his adoption and birth parents. Wherever he speaks, he always connects with the audience and they walk away touched by his generosity of spirit, knowledge and insight. In 2002, the Asian Canadian Writers Workshop held their inaugural Community Builders Dinner during which Wayson and Paul Yee were both recognized along with special Community Pioneer Roy Mah. Wayson told stories about being both intimidated and inspired by Roy Mah, the founder of Chinatown News. It was a very special evening. I was proud to be one of the event organizers, and especially to have pushed ACWW to hold an event to recognize Wayson's achievements. In 2005, Wayson Choy's novel All That Matters, was a runner up for the 2004 Giller Prize. With that came a whirlwind of more publicity tours and speaking engagements. In the fall of 2005, he suffered a second heart attack.
Saturday, April 4

Heather Pawsey, Leslie Uyeda, perform at Bloedel Conservatory for a FREE event for Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
by
Todd
on Sat 04 Apr 2009 11:45 PM PDT
Heather Pawsey, Leslie Uyeda, perform at Bloedel Conservatory for a FREE event for Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival....
Heather Pawsey has been a performer at Gung Haggis Fat Choy events since 2004. Sometimes she brings flautist Karen Cernauskas. Heather has been a pioneer of New Music in New Spaces, performing in places as diverse as Brittania Mines, a wine vat at Calona Winery, the Vancouver Aquarium and the Vancouver Crematorium at Mountain View cemetary. Last year, Heather performed Historic Joy Kogawa House, with poems by Joy Kogawa set to music by Leslie Uyeda. http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/4/26/3661604.htmlThis looks like a fun event... and Free... to get into the Bloedel Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park.
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REVIEW: "The C-Word" play is full of c-words: Chinese, Canadian, colou-blind, change, characters... "C" it for yourself!
by
Todd
on Sat 04 Apr 2009 04:22 PM PDT
What is the C-Word that is the meaning of life?
The C-Word cast
(Foreground, from left): Preet Cheema (Akesh Gill), Grace Chin (Kelly Cho), Sheryl Thompson (Ashley Hennessey).
(Background, from left): Fane Tse (Steve Chung), Raahul Singh (Pal Prasad). Photo by Terry Wong, courtesy of The C-word.
The C-Word April 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 2009 written by Grace Chin
at the Playwrights Theatre Centre on Granville Island, Vancouver
The C-Word is an engaging play... even before you sit down in the seats. What is the C-Word? Is it for Chinese? Or the derogatory Chink word? Does it mean Coloured? Is it a four letter word that belongs below the belt? One for male appendage, or for female anatomy? Is the C-Word something more abstract, profound and perhaps "Complicated"? Or is it "Compassion" or "Cheating"? In the opening scene, "The Love Guru" is giving a seminar on how to get some action for his male clients. Pal Prasad (played by Raahul Singh), gives a short talk about goals, and what it takes to follow through. It's about intention and going after what you want. It could be any personal development seminar, but this is about the C-word. Next we meet girlfriends Kelly Cho and Akesh Gill played by Grace Chin and Preet Cheema. They are on a shopping trip and talking about Kelly's upcoming wedding plans. Soon we learn that Kelly has a live-in boyfriend named Steve Chung (Fane Tse) who is a yellow guy, while Akesh is single, but she doesn't like brown guys. Things become complicated when Steve goes to see his old friend Pal to ask for some advice, and compare his relationship and impending marriage with Kelly to Pal's long term "open relationship" to a blonde woman named Ashley (Sheryl Thompsson). What follows becomes an intercultural Vancouver-style dramedy of errors, innuendo, suppositions on the study of relationships. Excuse me... the proper words are cheating, commitment, compassion, change, comic and consolation - after all this is "The C-Word." "The C-Word" is the third play by Grace Chin. Twisting Fortunes was co-written with her TF Productions partner Charlie Cho, and was a delightful comedic romp, set to Vancouver's caffeine drive. " The Quickie", Chin's first solo playwright experience, explored multicultural speed dating. "The C-Word" goes to the next level, exploring a search for meaning in relationships. This is Chin's most frank and sexual play to date, and hints at the darker sides of relationships and human nature, not to mention weddings. In all three productions, Vancouver's multicultural society is the setting, but it is the intercultural nature of the characters where the culture clashes occur. It's not just a Chinese-Canadian 2nd generation immigrant experience that is explored, but also South Asian this time around too. And somehow this is juxtoposed with what might be mainstream Canadian or possibly alternative sexual lifestyles. From the beginning, the characters are all interesting and engaging. The topics are easily relateable to the audience... unless you don't have any friends of a different ethnicity, or have never dated. The pacing is good, and the diaglogue never flags. The casting all works. Raahul Singh has fun being the egotistical "Love Guru" and his character makes reference to the Mike Myers movie. More cultural references abound as character development exploration occurs when Kelly and Ashley try to figure each other out, and what their men may see in each other. Here the extremely self-critical Kelly tries to get a handle on the brazen Ashely, she labels a "Samantha" compared to her "Miranda" - or is she really a Carrie Bradshaw? Grace Chin actually displays a bit of each of the Sex in the City characters in her role of Kelly. Much of the action revolves around Kelly and Pal, but while Steve's character seems stalled and doesn't give Fane Tse a big range to play with, Preet Cheema gets to push her character Akesh in the 2nd Act. Supporting actors Lili Lau Cook and Vincent Cheng provide wonderfully surprising turns as Kelly's parents. Mel Tuck directs this ensemble cast.
Previous productions
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a take-out love story
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an accidentally Asian romantic dramedy
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Web: www.scriptingaloud.ca/cword
See previews in Review Vancouver and Vancouverplays.com.

Robert Burns in a Transatlantic Context: SFU events FREE to the public
by
Todd
on Sat 04 Apr 2009 02:38 PM PDT
SFU Centre for Scottish Studies hosts a global Robert Burns conference The 250th Anniversary of Robert Burns birth, was celebrated at the Burns statue in Stanley Park with an small informal celebration organized by Todd Wong (red vest) and Dr. Leith Davis (2nd row with purple shawl, behind her front row daughter in red skirt) - photo T. Wong
How does the poetry and songs of Robert Burns affect Canadians in West Coast Vancouver?
Dr. Leith Davis, director of the Centre for Scottish Studies, Simon Fraser University, has organized a conference about the global Robert Burns - titled "Robert Burns in a Transatlantic Context." Leith loved attending the 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner, and how we blended and juxtaposed Scottish, Chinese cultures with a Canadian twist and a seasoning of First Nations. In planning her conference for Tartan Week, we wondered how to give a "Gung Haggis" experience to her conference attendees. So for the Tuesday night evening of Robert Burns songs and po etry, A Musical Celebration of Burns in North America, she has invited Toddish McWong and Gung Haggis Fat Choy performers to give our "Rap to a Haggis", a Chinese claper tale performance by Dr. Jan Walls set to a Robbie Burns poem, and a performance of Auld Lang Syne (with the first verse sung in Mandarin Chinese) augmented with our parade dragon and Chinese Lions. Deep-fried haggis wontons will hopefully be served along with haggis on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday afternoon, I will be part of the Community Research Forum of "Burns in BC." - where I will talk about the history and development of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, and how it inspired both a CBC TV television Gung Haggis Fat Choy performance special and the SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival.
2009 SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival features "dragon cart racing" invented by yours truly - photo Todd Wong.
How did I first meet Dr. Davis?
After brief email introductions, I called her with the idea of a wreath laying ceremony at the Burns statue in Vancouver's Stanley Park to mark the 250th Anniversary of Burn's birth. We emailed and talked by phone and organized some activities, but we didn't meet in person until after she had spent 2 weeks in Scotland for the 2009 Homecoming activities, and arrived back in Vancouver on January 25th, and came to Stanley Park for our planned event, which her husband and two children were already present at. That evening she and her husband were guests of honour at the 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner. Leith gave "the immortal address" and marvelled at all the songs, guests, food and performances at the Gung Haggis Dinner, and especially at the impromptu ceremonial cutting of the haggis by Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson.
Please check out the free public events for the:
SFU's Centre for Scottish Studies presents
"Robert Burns in a Transatlantic
Context"
Public events:
Tuesday, April 7th
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; concerts starts at 7:00
p.m.
A Musical Celebration of
Burns in
North America
Jon Bartlett and Rika Ruebsaat,
“Burns Songs in BC”
Kirsteen McCue and David Hamilton,
“Burns Songs Set by Serge Hovey”
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Performers
Scottish Cultural Centre,
8886 Hudson Street , Vancouver
Wednesday, April 8th, 3:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Michael Russell, Scottish Minister for Culture,
External Affairs
and the Constitution
“Connecting
Scotland and
the Scottish Diaspora”
Room 1425
SFU Harbour
Centre, 515 West Hastings Street ,
Vancouver
Wednesday, April 8th, 3:45 - 5:00 p.m.
Community Research Forum on
“Burns in BC”
Room 2200
SFU Harbour
Centre, 515 West Hastings Street ,
Vancouver
Wednesday, April 8th, 7:00 p.m.
Lecture: Dr. Robert Crawford,
“Writing Burns’s
Biography”
Room 1400,
SFU Harbour
Centre (reception to follow)
Thursday, April 9th, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Workshop: “Connecting Diasporas:
Scotland, Asia and the Caribbean ”
Room 2200, Harbour Centre,
515 West Hastings Street , Vancouver
All events are free and open to the public.
Please contact Ron Sutherland to reserve a seat:
rsutherl@sfu.ca;
604-988-0479
Sponsored by SFU’s Centre for Scottish Studies;
the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada; and the
Vancouver Burns Club
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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,
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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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