I attended the COPE Chinese dinner fundraiser at the 200 seat Rich Ocean Seafood Restaurant last week on Nov 10th. We were warmly greeted at the door by city counsellor David Cadman, whom I have recently gotten to know through my efforts with the Save Kogawa House committee. David is a warm and genial person, helpful and smiling. The line up is moving slowly as people check in. We stand behind city counsellor Tim Louis in his wheelchair, as MP Libby Davies comes in smiling hello.
This was the 2nd ever campaign fundraiser dinner I have ever attended and I am amazed by all the people that I know. I greet city councillor Anne Roberts with a hug, and give a warm hello to her mother, whom Anne had brought to our ACWW Ricepaper dinner in September. I see Allan Wong, COPE Schoolboard trustee who often says hello to me when he brings his children into the Champlain Heights Branch Library if I am working there on a Saturday. I have conversations with Noel Herron and Alan Blakely who remember the presentation I did for Vancouver School Board when I worked for the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society. Ellen Woodsworth and Jenny Kwan wave from across the room.
It is a diverse crowd. Mostly caucasians - but a definite COPE crowd. Much more casual and friendly than the Vision Vancouver event I attended for Raymond Louie and George Chow in October. Chinese media darling Gabriel Yiu is MC for the evening. There are multi-generational Chinese Canadians like myself and there are new immigrant Chinese as well. But everybody likes Chinese food.
Speeches begin with Libby Davies and Jenny Kwan. Both are former COPE city councillors that talk about their times on the previous NPA dominated city councils. Both are passionate in their talks, and recieve warm applause from the audience.
My friend Meena Wong organized the COPE Chinese fundraiser dinner
I am sitting at table #19 with the musicians - the entertainment for the evening. It is because of me, they are here. Dinner organizer Meena Wong telephoned me to ask for names of performers. Because of the Chinese Head Tax issue, we were able to book Sean Gunn, writer of the song "Head Tax Blues" - he is accompanied by singer Ula Shines and guitarist Keegan. On my suggestion, Sean dedicates the song to former MP Margaret Mitchell who is present in the audience. Margaret was the first MP to bring up the Chinese Headtax issue in parliament back in the mid-1980's. I introduce her to Sean and Keegan after their performance
My good friend Joe McDonald plays bagpipes with Sunny on Indian tabla drums, as the group Brave Waves. They open with Joe's own composition "Gung Haggis Fat Choy" then move into a song featuring vocals by Joe, along with his Chinese flute. The applause is good, and people comment on how multicultural the entertainment is.
I am invited up to the stage, and I personally the thank the COPE councillors, Ellen Woodsworth, Anne Roberts, David Cadman, Fred Bass and Tim Louis for their unaminous vote supporting the preservation of Kogawa House. I introduce myself as the person responsible for putting Ellen Woodsworth drumming on a dragon boat for the St. Patricks Day Parade, and having Jenny Kwan wear Joy McPhail's tartan and Joy wearing Jenny's cheongsam for the 2005 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner. I introduce the song "Chinatown My Chinatown" then lead an audience singalong of a chorus - then change the words to "Vancouver, My Vancouver." Lots of fun.
Ellen Woodsworth drumming on a dragon boat on St. Patricks Day Parade
