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Tuesday, March 9

"CHINESE VANCOUVER THEN AND NOW: 1972-2010" - Vancouver Opera Speaks
by
Todd
on Tue 09 Mar 2010 01:58 AM PST
"CHINESE VANCOUVER THEN AND NOW: 1972-2010"
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
7-9 pm
Alice MacKay Room, Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch
OPERA SPEAKS @ VPL -
Admission is free.
An eminent panel explores the history of Chinese in Vancouver, with emphasis on the Chinese communities' emergence and development since 1972, the year of Nixon's momentous trip to China. Discover how our city has been shaped and transformed by Chinese culture over the past 38 years. This will be a fascinating evening. Speakers include eminent architect Bing Thom, UBC historian Henry Yu, and filmmaker and writer Colleen Leung.
Presented in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library. Opera Speaks @ VPL is sponsored by Omni BC Diversity Television.
http://www.vancouveropera.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=255&Itemid=15
Wednesday, March 3

Vancouver Olympic Ceremonies: Where was the cultural diversity?
by
Todd
on Wed 03 Mar 2010 04:31 PM PST
Winter Olympics invited countries from around to the world to multicultural Vancouver, but cultural diversity was missing in the Opening and Closing ceremonies.
Apparently the opening ceremonies did feature performers of cultural diversity. But we missed it.
Only
before the televised official opening... ("Miss Jully Black to the back
of the bus please")... not "Canadian" enough to be televised.... and
February is Black History month in Canada!Read Vancouver Sun Pete McMartin's review of the opening ceremonieshttp
http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=195883fa-d774-4385-9365-2cda2e55e631
The Closing Ceremonies were promised to include more French content,
and to feature Canadian humour and myth-busting of Canadian stereotypes.
Vancouver's cultural diversity was represented in the hundreds of
jumping Grade 9ers holding snowboards in the opening sequence. My
First Nations 2nd cousin was there - his mother was very proud. But
all the featured performers were White - with the exception of K-OS.
And most of the volunteer performers of colour were dressed as hip-hop
dancers, instead mounties, lumberjacks and hockey players. Because
there are no Asian hockey players in the NHL - but that's another
Canadian Myth that's been busted since Larry Kwong played one game in
the NHL in 1948, 10 years before Willie O'Ree became the first black
hockey player in 1958.
A Few days later the same Pete McMartin quoted Tung Chan in an opinion piece - Opinion - An Olympic Games as white as snow
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Opinion+Olympic+Games+white+snow/2620782/story.html
But read the comments to the above piece, or to Craig Takeuchi's pieces in the Georgia Straight.
2010 Olympic closing ceremony: Why wasn't there any aboriginal content?
or
Vancouver 2010 Olympics: The Great White, er, Multicultural North?
Despite all the crowd cheering, street filling patriotism, when Canada
wins a gold medal hockey game, there is still a dark anonymous racism
that haunts all the internet comments, and rears its head at any hint
of "affirmative action" or ethnic inclusion.
This is the next story. This is the next stage of insight.
The aim of the Closing ceremonies was to have some fun, poking fun at
Canadian stereotypes, and doing some "myth busting." But one of the
myths that got reinforced is that Canada is White. Despite generations
of immigration from all around the world, Canada cannot find a
performer of colour good enough to speak at or perform at and during
the Closing ceremonies.
Would it have hurt Canadians if one of the chorus line lumberjacks,
mounties, or hockey players had been a shade of colour other than
white? Would we have heard a chorus of boos, if one of the mounties
had worn a turban?
We know that racial discrimination in sports can be cruel to kids growing up, so it can't be
a wonder why our top athletes are mostly White. But we have succeeded in
the Arts.
Where was Indo-Canadian comedian Russell Peters?
Canadians of multi-ethnicity are cool and sexy. What better examples
do we have than actors Kristin Kreuk of Smallville? or Lisa Ray of
Bollywood? Even Keanu Reeves primarily grew up in Toronto, despite
being born in Lebanon - but we didn't hold Steve Nash's birthplace of
South Africa against him.
First Nations actors Graham Green and Tantoo Cardinal were good enough
for "Dances with Wolves" but not for the Closing Ceremonies? And
Tantoo just received her Order of Canada too...
Our authors Joy Kogawa, Thomas King are amongst the most studied
authors in our Canadian high schools, colleges and universities. Wayson Choy and 7th generation descendant of Black Loyalists
George Elliot Clarke are also amongst our most loved - these four authors also are Order of Canada recipients.
We are not saying that Canada should enforce racial inclusivity
guidelines for its sports teams. But we are saying that the closing
ceremonies lacked the representation of Canada's population, and it
reinforced every sad stereotype of Canada. Alongside the Mounties,
lumberjacks, beavers and moose was the sad realization that Canada is
only populated by White people, despite multi-generations of accepting
people from all over the world.
And where are the bagpipes?
Canada's first Prime Minister, BC's first Premier, and Vancouver's
first mayor were all born in Scotland. Has the former largest ethnic
group of Vancouver so much assimilated into mainstream culture, that
they have forgotten their ethnic roots?
The SFU Pipes and Drums is the six time and current World Champion pipe
band. There are more bagpipers in Canada then there are in Scotland -
or is this a Canadian myth that we are not proud of?
Bagpipers have performed with Uzume Taiko, and Delhi 2 Dublin, - two
internationally recognized examples of cultural fusion music happening
in Vancouver. To me, these are the examples of performers that should
have been featured at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, demonstrating
how Canadians have come from all over the world, put aside our racial
differences, and blend our cultures, and our shared our histories
together.
This is the Canada that I am proud of - not the beer swigging garage
band party music that was featured - without any relevance to the
historic Olympic successes that we witnessed over the past 17 days
Sunday, February 21

Gung Haggis Fat Choy SEATTLE!!! Feb 21, 2010
by
Todd
on Sun 21 Feb 2010 12:18 PM PST
Gung Haggis Fat Choy in the USA
 Sunday, February 21st 2010 5-9pm Ocean City Restaurant 609 S. Weller St. Seattle Chinatown, WA
Ticket Price US$35 Reservations
required
Scottish Troubadour Red McWilliams Belltown Martial Arts Lion Dance Troop
Master, David Leong
Pipers Don Scobie & Paul Vegers
Drummers Thane Mitchell & Steven Wheel
Kenmore and District Pipeband
Pipe Major, Jim McGillivray
The Asian Youth Orchestra
Director, Warren Chang
Scottish Highland Fiddler Susan Burke with Bill Boyd
Here's the information from the Caledonians Website
Gung Haggis Fat Choy! Huh?! In 2007 Bill
McFadden, President of the Caledonian & St. Andrew's
Society, introduced Todd Wong's trademarked production of "Gung Haggis
Fat Choy" to Seattle. Billed as "A Celebration of Chinese New Year and
Robert Burns' Dinner", the laughter-filled evening included haggis, a
delicious Chinese dinner, Pipes & Drums (traditional and fusion
style), sing-alongs (including "When Asian/Scottish Eyes are Smiling"
and "My Haggis/Chow Mein Lies Over the Ocean"), Poems, The Address tae
the Haggis (delivered in rap to an enthusiastic and responsive crowd)
and Auld Lang Syne sung in both Mandarin Chinese and English.
For February 21st, 2010
BIll has worked out improvements, and Gung Haggis Fat
Choy IV will be the best year! We will celebrated the
251st Birthday of Robert Burns and Chinese Lunar New Year Year of the
Tiger with an 8 Course Chinese Dinner, Haggis, Raffle/Door Prize, and
musical entertainment featuring: Emcee "Toddish McWong" and
his inimitable "Address tae the Haggis Rap", "Red" McWilliams, Sifu
David F. Leong's Belltown Martial Arts, Kenmore & District Pipe
Band, Piper Don Scobie and Asian Youth Orchestra - Warren Chang, Director
Toddish
McWong's 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy IV (Seattle style) Produced by Bill McFadden
The fourth
annual event has been scheduled for Sunday, February 21st 2010 5-9pm Ocean City Restaurant 609 S. Weller St. Seattle, WA
Ticket Price US$35 Reservations
required
For tickets and additional information please contact Bill McFadden (206) 364-6025 bill@gunghaggisfatchoy-seattle.com
Please click here to go to the gunghaggisfatchoy-seattle.com web site.

Todd
Wong (aka "Toddish McWong") of Vancouver, B.C., creator of Gung Haggis
Fat Choy. Recognized in the Scottish Parliament's exhibition: "This
is Who We Are: Scots in Canada". Photo taken in Edinburgh, October of
2009.
Please click here to view photos in our Gallery from the '07 event in Seattle.
Please click here for a sample of "Toddish McWong's" Haggis Rap!
Please click here for additional information on Todd Wong's annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy held in Vancouver, BC.
Saturday, February 20

More media stories about "lack of colour (and bagpipes)" in Vancouver 2010 Opening ceremonies
by
Todd
on Sat 20 Feb 2010 01:30 PM PST
Stories critical of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies are in Vancouver Courier and Georgia Straight blogs.Vancouver Courier: Allen Garr's Much is continuing to be written about the Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremonies that took place with great hoop-lah on Friday February 12th, in BC Place Stadium. Yes, there were the Four Host Nations welcoming the world to their ancestral (and unceded) lands. Yes, there were Canadian Aboriginal peoples from all across the nation, dancing and drumming, while Bryan Adams and and Nelly Furtado took the spotlight and sang a new Adams' song "Beat the Drum." And then.... a show that has brought complaints from across the country, as Federal Minister James Moore has said "there wasn't enough French-Canadian content." Even Quebec Permier Jean Charest, as he sat next to
VANOC CEO John Furlong at a news conference Monday said, “Not at the level we were expecting,” said “It wasn’t
sufficient.”I admit that enjoyed watching the show. And my girlfriend and I watched
it twice... but we were also playing video and computer games during
the second time. But we cannot ignore that so many people are
speaking out, and to so is to risk great peril. Clearly there is a
schism in the understanding of what make's us Canadian... as understood
by new immigrants of both Asian and Celtic origins, as well as
multi-generational Canadians of First Nations, Asian, Celtic, Gaelic,
British, French and European heritage. Maybe like at Expo 67, we are discovering the point of how we see ourselves in the world, and in our own country. I
especially liked Shane Koyczan's poem. He is indeed addressing the
values that push us to do better, to be more inclusive, and to always
try harder - just like my personal hero Terry Fox, who is very dear to
me, as I hold the SFU Terry Fox gold medal, as a recipient "for courage
in adversity and dedication to society." Remember what happened after the Closing Ceremonies in Turin? Even
Premier Gordon Campbell criticized Turin closing ceremony display by
saying, “I thought there were lots of stereotypes that are not what the
new Canada is.” http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=8a6a6c72-05f7-4a8d-91a1-60f2ebe27219&k=96687Yes,
I too understand that we cannot please everybody all the time, and that
some cultural groups will cry foul. But my experiences are also tainted
by growing up in a deliberate exclusion of systemic racism, where my
born-in-Canada grandmother could not vote in this country until after
her brothers and cousin had been reluctantly accepted into the Canadian
Forces due to pressure from Great Britain, and then sent on "Suicide
Missions" to be behind enemy lines in Burma. For these reasons
I knew it was important to help save Joy Kogawa's childhood home from
demolition, where she was forced to leave at age 6 due to internment of
Japanese-Canadians. For these reasons, I know it is important
to support my cousin Chief Rhonda Larrabee whose mother's people had
their ancestral lands taken away from them, to create BC's first
capital city of New Westminster. And then to add insult, had their
reservation taken away, and their band name of Qayqayt was said to not
exist, because the people didn't live there anymore. If we don't
speak out on these issues, now - then it is like the silence that
watches the Japanese Canadians put on trains and sent away, or like
knowing that First Nations children are in Residential schools. We know
something is wrong, but dare not speak. I have tried to embrace
this country and it's foibles, despite hating the bagpipes when I was
little because it represented Colonialism. I speak better french, then
I do Chinese. I understand the the Ceremonies wanted to emphasize "The Land" rather than the cultural diversity. Even Margaret Atwood's great book "Survival" argues that there is indeed a distinct Canadian literature, with its own preoccupations, themes, and ideas specific to its history, geopolitics, and landscape. But that was so 20th Century... Now in the 21st Century, it is about the geopolitics, our cultural diversity, and our place in the global world. Yes John Furlong has done and amazing job with
VANOC. It is a very challenging, almost impossible task - But John
Furlong's terrible french pronounciation seems to be an apt metaphor
for VANOC's ceremonies team of understanding and including Canada's
multicultural history and culture. But come on VANOC.... We Are More!!!!
Thursday, February 18

Furlong doesn't get it. I doubt Closing Ceremonies will be more inclusive of Vancouver's Multicultural Diversity
by
Todd
on Thu 18 Feb 2010 03:08 PM PST
I
don't think Furlong "gets it".
Reflecting multicultural diversity isn't
about presenting stereotypes to the world or having "token heads of
state" - It's about how we as generations of so-called "visible
minorities" live our lives and make ourselves included in the
mainstream.
My God... even bagpipes weren't includ...ed
somewhere in the opening ceremonies, and our first Canadian Prime
Minister, first BC Premier and first Vancouver mayor were born in
Scotland. We have more bagpipers in Canada than there are in Scotland.
And the Chinese immigrants played major roles in BC history including
the railway, the head tax and chinese food restaurants.Furlong
assures closing ceremony will reflect everyone
Visible-minority
groups, francophone leaders complained of opening ceremony snub
By Randy
Shore , with files from
Lindsay Kines, Vancouver Sun; with files from Canwest News ServiceFebruary 18, 2010
Vancouver
Olympic CEO John Furlong will not make changes to the closing ceremony of the
Winter Olympic Games despite complaints from leaders of the city's ethnic
groups about the content of the opening ceremony.
High-profile
members of some ethnic communities -- including Sukhi Sandhu and S.U.C.C.E.
S.S. chairman Peter Kwok -- had complained that the opening ceremony omitted a
crucial aspect of Canadian life, the culture mosaic and the role of immigrants
in Canadian society.
Sandhu,
an anti-racism activist and community volunteer who lives in Surrey ,
wrote to Furlong seeking a meeting with the Vancouver Organizing Committee to
air their concerns, but four days later Sandhu has no reply.
Sandhu
and others had hoped that visible minorities could be better showcased in the
closing ceremony.
Furlong
stressed Wednesday that the closing ceremony is already planned and that it
will leave little doubt about "who we are and who is here."
He said
telling the story of a country made up of people from all over the world is a
complex task, but the opening ceremony did a good job of reflecting
Canada .
"We
feel like having a good cry," said Sandhu. "We are surprised that it
takes this much energy to bring some common sense to people."
"I'm
not going to call any more, I'm not going to beg," Sandhu said.
The
opening ceremony included strong first nations participation both in the show
and the dignitaries box. Four local first nations chiefs sat as heads of state
to welcome the world along with Canada 's
Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean and Premier Gordon Campbell.
But the
show contained little to represent the country's other major ethnic groups,
critics said.
Canadian
Heritage and Official Languages Minister James Moore, Liberal leader Michael
Ignatieff and Quebec Premier Jean Charest complained that the ceremony didn't
include enough French language content.
Canada's
Commissioner of Official Languages Graham Fraser will be investigating the
complaints, but because his mandate only allows him to probe federal institutions,
he will confine his investigation to Moore 's
heritage ministry, according to an e-mail sent to Canwest News Service by
Fraser's office.
Fraser
will release a preliminary report on the level of bilingualism at the Games
following their conclusion.
The
complaints hinge on the $20 million in funding that Heritage Canada gave to the
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the opening ceremony, the most-watched
televised event in Canadian history.
"There
is an agreement between the federal government ... and Vanoc that came with a
certain amount of funding," said Robin Cantin, a spokesman for the
language commissioner's office. "And that agreement came with some
language provisions."
Langara
College sociologist Indira Prahst will watch the
closing ceremony carefully for signs of respect to
Canada 's visible minorities, but
she is not satisfied with Vanoc's response to complaints.
"I
want to be blunt: This should have been addressed at the very outset," she
said. "We should have showcased our diversity. Is this just a quick
response meant to pacify the community?"
"That's
really not enough," she said. "I told Sukhi and the others that they
were unrealistic to expect major changes [to the ceremony] because there is so
much work, planning and technology that goes into it."
"But
they could have a person from a visible minority speak."
rshore@vancouversun.com
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver
Sun
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Furlong+assures+closing+ceremony+will+reflect+everyone/2579637/story.html
More visible minorities at closing, VANOC
hints
Last Updated: Thursday, February 18, 2010
| 9:26 AM PT Comments14Recommend22
VANOC CEO John Furlong is hinting
Canada 's racial
diversity may be better represented in the closing ceremony of the Winter
Olympics after criticism that ethnic minorities were mostly missing from the
opening.
With its large South Asian and Chinese
communities, Metro Vancouver is one of
Canada 's most diverse regions.
Forty-one per cent of residents are part of visible minorities. But none of
that diversity appeared in the big show that opened the 2010 Winter Games on
Feb 12, critics say.
'We can't force ourselves on VANOC
if they don't welcome us.' — Charan
Gill, CEO of Progressive Intercultural Community Services
Canadian-born Sukhi Sandhu wrote a letter
to Furlong, saying Olympic organizers missed an opportunity during the final
torch-lighting ceremony "to represent our nation's diversity."
Sandhu said he and his family are proud
Canadians and excited to attend events at the Games, but he was disappointed
visible minorities were excluded from key roles during the opening ceremony.
"If I look at the eight individuals
who carried the Olympic flag and the final torchbearers, who are all rightfully
outstanding Canadians — no one is disputing that — however, out of
13 people there isn't one outstanding visible minority that you could think of
— David Suzuki, Donovan Bailey, Jerome Iginla or Daniel Igali,"
Sandu said.
Closing ceremony could offer more
It is not the first time the opening
ceremony has been criticized for its lack of diversity. Federal Heritage
Minister James Moore said earlier this week that "there should have been
more French."
On Wednesday, Furlong defended the opening
ceremony but hinted the closing on Feb. 28 will be different.
"We did a very good job of showing
Canada and we
had a goal to tell a story, and at the closing ceremony … we will have a
very certain kind of celebration, and I don't think you'll have any doubt when
the ceremonies are over who we are and who's here."
Sandhu said he doesn't want to just see
bhangra dancers or hear drumbeats. He wants to see accomplished visible
minorities represented in the closing ceremony.
"Our nation is a cultural mosaic, and
our diversity is our strength and frankly I am surprised in 2010 we need to
continue educating our leaders on this Canadian value," he wrote.
"There is no shame or justifiable reason to not showcase this significant
part of our nation’s identity."
His concerns are echoed by Peter Kwok, the
chairman of the immigrant services organization SUCCESS, which provides
services for new Chinese Canadians.
"You know we have Chinese New Year,
just a few days ago and when attending all those New Year's celebrations I have
been chatting with people and I've heard from quite a few people that they,
too, feel that it was a spectacular show," Kwok said. "And they only
wish that they had a bit more portrayal of the multiculturalism in
Canada ."
Charan Gill, the CEO of the Progressive
Intercultural Community Services, an immigrant organization based in
Surrey , B.C., said he tried to reach out to VANOC to
encourage more visible minorities to get involved and volunteer for the Games
but got no response.
"We can't force ourselves on VANOC if
they don't welcome us," he said.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/18/bc-visible-minorities-olympic-ceremonies.html#ixzz0fuevX1Y4
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/18/bc-visible-minorities-olympic-ceremonies.html
Monday, February 15

Chinese New Year welcomes Year of the Tiger in Vancouver Chinatown
by
Todd
on Mon 15 Feb 2010 10:01 PM PST
It looks like a Tiger of a year... with the Olympics in town, and lions running everywhere at Vancouver's Chinatown Chinese New Year Parade
 Lions were everywhere in Vancouver Chinatown, celebrating the Year of the Tiger.
 All the celebrities, politicians and VIP's walk at the beginning of the parade.
Next come the Chinese Canadian veterans of Pacific Unit 280 (minus my uncle Dan, who passed away less than a month ago). But the veterans all wore red Olympic mittens!

Here's a Chinese parade dragon. How to tell a dragon from a lion? You wear the lion costume over your body, while the dragon is always held up on poles!
 The Kitchen God always marches in the parade. The trick is to put honey on the Kitchen God's lips before he makes his report to heaven about your kitchen, so he can only say sweet things with honey on his lips.
 Here I am with my friend Georgia, who paddles with us on the Gung Haggis dragon boat team.
 The Carnival band all tried to dress up as Tigers....

City Councilor Kerry Jang hands out lucky red envelopes called "li-see" for good luck!
 Here I am dressed in my kilt and red Chinese dragon vest. I met this fellow in his black utility kilt outside the skytrain stop at The Bay. Kilters greet each other, and I invited him to join us for the next kilts night. Since it was Chinese New Year we took a picture of him waring my Chinese jacket. Very cool.
Monday, February 1

2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner brings a bit of Scotland back for everybody!
by
Todd
on Mon 01 Feb 2010 11:45 PM PST
"Bringing back a bit of Scotland for everyone" was how Toddish McWong described the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
Throughout the evening, Todd Wong, creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, shared stories of his recent trip to Scotland. He had gone to Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.for the finale weekend of Scotland Homecoming Year, and wrapped up a long year of Scottish celebrations that had started with the 250th Anniversary of the poet Robbie Burns and finished with a closing reception at Scottish Parliament where a life-size picture of him had been included in the photo exhibit This Is Who We Are: Scots in Canada. By the end of the evening, Bill Saunders, giver of the Immortal Memory, had received a bow tie in Burns Check brought all the way from Burns Cottage in Alloway, and almost every guest walked home with a lovely Burns 2010 calendar courtesy of Visit Scotland, which had been shipped from Edinburgh specifically for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner.
 The evening started off soon after 6pm, with a piping in of the head table and performers by the Gung Haggis Pipes & Drums, led by pipe major Bob Wilkins. All the guests rose to greet the procession, as host Toddish McWong, introduced the band and the performers to the audience.


The pipers and the performers stood at the front of the stage. It was an amazing array of colours and costumes as wollen tartan kilts and chinese embroided silk clashed and complimented each other.
 Co-host Tricia Collins dressed in a Saltire blue Chinese silk top and wore our Fraser
Hunting Tartan mini-kilt from the Gung Haggis dragon boat team. She shared with the audience how her own Irish-Chinese ancestry came to Canada via Guyana (British Honduras), similar to the first governor of Canada, James Douglas, whom she is writing about for her next project..
Joy Kogawa read the "Selkirk Address" to bless our food and dinner. In 2006, Joy was our featured author and she read a new work then. The Historic Joy Kogawa House Society is one of the non-profit organizations that receives monies raised by the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner.
 Joe McDonald performs "The Rap to the Haggis" as he "cut ye up wi' ready slight." Co-host Tricia Collins looks on, as she witnesses this strange ritual for the first time.
Wong leads a chorus of "Gie her a Haggis" and "Gie Vancouver a Haggis", as she rouses the finale to this rowdy and interactive version of the sacred Burns poem.
 5 "men" were selected to recite the Burns poem "A Man's a Man For All That" included "The Bearded Lady". Left to right included a Judge, Parks Commissioner/teacher Stuart Mackinnon, Kilt afficianado and dragon boater Raphael Fang, The Bearded Lady, and a kilted friend from Richmond. All stout men who gave good readings of the verse, finalizing with Mackinnon singing the last verse. Throughout the evening, Wong and McDonald led singalongs of "When Asian/Scottish/Chirish Eyes Are Smiling" and "Loch Lomand." These singalongs encouraged audience participation and took a warm surprise turn when McDonald had men only singing "Ye take the High Road" chorus of Loch Lomand, immediately followed by an outstanding version of the Women only singers.! The women were clear winners! Special poet of the evening was Larissa Lai, who read from her new book of poetry Automaton Biographies. Each year the Gung Haggis dinner features a different poet. Larissa also briefly explained how she teaches Burns at University of BC, in her role as an Assistant Professor in the English Department. Special theatrical performance was done by playwright/actor Marcus Youssef accompanied by writer/comedian Charles Demers. They did a stage reading of Youssef's critically acclaimed play Ali & Ali and the Axis of Evil. The segment poked fun at Multiculturalism and Scottish history and culture, to great effect. Birds of Paradox is a musical instrumental trio, featuring Lan Tung (erhu), Ron Samworth (electric guitar) and Nealamjit Dhillon. Their playing was sublime and took turns highlighting each performer. It was exciting to see the erhu played with soaring passages, trading phrases with the picking and fretwork of the guitar, all accompanied by the polyrhythms of the tabala drums. Of note, Dhillon had first performed with Joe McDonald at the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners in 2001 and 2002 as the musical duo Brave Waves.
Highland Dancing was the surprise hit of the evening performed by Aidan and Alex Huang from Kelowna, sons of drummer Dan Huang. They are only 6 and 9 years old, but they showed poise and control as the young boys are experienced competitors in Highland Dance competitions. The boys certainly enjoy their Chinese and Scottish heritage. Bringing the evening to a more serious tone, Bill Saunders, president of the Vancouver & District Labour Council, gave the Immortal Memory. He recounted Burns life, from a "ploughman's poet" to the "toast of Scottish high society" in Edinburgh. He described the values and beliefs of the poet, then went on to postulate what Rabbie would be like today as a poet. Saunders painted a portrait of a young community activist, fighting for social justice and gender equity, wearing a hoody, criticizing the elite, and protesting against the economic and social conditions that promote and cause homelessness. Raffle tickets were drawn and the top prizes were quickly given out: Vancouver Opera tickets to Nixon in China, The Monkey King, upcoming productions from Firehall Arts Centre, Neworld Theatre and UBC Opera. Arsenal Pulp Press and Harbour Publishing had donated books such as Larissal Lai's first novel "When Fox is a Thousand" and Charles Demers' "Vancouver Special" as well as Fiona Tin Wei Lam's "Enter the Chrysanthemum."
The Gung Haggis Pipes and Drums, performed again, first weaving their way through the audience, easily filling the large restaurant space with the skirl of the pipes and the beats of the drums. They winded their way to the stage, and performed 3 numbers. Todd and Tricia thanked the volunteers, production coordinators and the audience before leading a singalong of Auld Lang Syne with the first verse in Mandarin Chinese. The evening ended with lots of smiles and compliments. Here are some of the comments: "Thanks, Todd for another fantastic Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner. " - Joan Young of Historic Joy Kogawa House Society
"Awesome night, Todd!! Great job. " - Desmond Rodenbour
"Gung Haggis Fat Choy was just as Amazing as I had always dreamed. You should be very proud of what you've done." - Lorraine Murphy
"I just wanted to say thanks for your efforts and creativity in bringing
about the Gung Haggis Fat Choy event. I attended tonight for the first
time, along with a mix of Scottish and Chinese friends and we all
enjoyed ourselves and our table-mates." - Paul
Saturday, January 30

What to expect at the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner
by
Todd
on Sat 30 Jan 2010 05:43 PM PST
The Bar is open at 5:00 and Dinner Start time is 6:00, Buy Your Raffle Tickets, FREE Subscription for Ricepaper Magazine, This dinner is the primary fundraising event for Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team, Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop/ Ricepaper Magazine, Historic Joy Kogawa House Society + Food + Music + Pictures more »

Robbie Burns was born in the year of the Tiger.
by
Todd
on Sat 30 Jan 2010 04:38 PM PST
In 1759, a wee bairn of a boy named Robert was born in a cottage in the village of Alloway, in Ayrshire Scotlandm, on January 25th in the last days of the Chinese Lunar Year of the Tiger. Four days later on January 29th, Chinese New Year of the Rabbit occurred + pictures + more
more »
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 »
Sunday, January 24

Menu revealed for 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner to welcome Year of the Tiger
by
Todd
on Sun 24 Jan 2010 10:43 PM PST
There are some changes for the dinner menu for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner. We try to vary the dinner items from year to year, add some new surprises, take out items we are bored with. This is a draft menu - subject to change.
See if you can spot the new additions - not repeated from last year.
1. Floata Appetizer Platter
a. Haggis Pork dumpling (Shiu Mai)
b. turnip cake (Lo-bak-goh)
c. Honey BBQ Pork
d. Jelly Fish
2. Deep fried haggis won ton + PICTURES + MORE more »
Wednesday, January 20

Special new dishes for 2010 menu at Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner - not just haggis & spam
by
Todd
on Wed 20 Jan 2010 01:27 PM PST
The haggis is ordered from Peter Black & Sons @ Park Royal. Next up is the secret taste-testing dinner which is essential to the planning of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner. We we want to make sure the food selection is right. And it is also a wonderful way to introduce the performers to each other, as we combine our talents and creativity to try out new ideas. I remember many rehearsal taste-test dinners when the performers brought out their musical instruments and started playing + PICTURES + MORE more »
Monday, January 18

Cultural Connection interview: What is the connection between Chinese New Year and Robbie Burns Supper?
by
Todd
on Mon 18 Jan 2010 11:44 PM PST
Internet Radio blog link to Cultural Connects - Very interesting interview with Todd Wong, creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, by Gary Jarvis.Listen to Gary's interview of Todd Wong, creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, as he explains the Scottish and Chinese and BC roots of his brain child - a cultural fusion Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.vie...w&friendId=400868504&blogId=526013921 more »
Saturday, January 9

Kilts Night report for January 7 2010
by
Todd
on Sat 09 Jan 2010 12:54 PM PST
report and pictures from January 7th Kilts Night. more »
Saturday, January 2

Toddish McWong goes to Vernon BC and meets Betty McChan and Dan McHuang.
by
Todd
on Sat 02 Jan 2010 11:54 PM PST
Todd goes to Vernon and meets Betty Chan, former Highland Dance champion of Canada, and Dan Huang drum sgt of Kelowna pipe band. more »
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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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