I am now working on my list of "Chinese-Canadians that inspired me in 2007"
I was inspired by seeing the name of Roy Mah, in the Vancouver Sun's list of people we lost in 2007, and shared the idea with my friend George Jung. Rather than create a list of newsworthy or influential Chinese Canadians, we decided on CC's that inspired us. This way there is NO official requirement or standards. It is very subjective and personal.
I also emailed some friends to create their own lists: David Wong and Gabriel Yu have sent me replies. David's list can be viewed on http://www.uglychinesecanadian.com
In no order, other than who came to mind first, who has crossed my path, and reviewing my blog www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com to remind myself who I wrote about in 2007.
Roy Mah - the founder of Chinatown News, was written about in the Vancouver Sun after celebrating his 90th birthday, as well as when the City of Vancouver declared July 12th Roy Mah Day, in recognition of his memorial service. I have known Roy since I submitted an article back in the early '80's. When he would make his regular trips to the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch, he would also wave to me sitting at the Information desk.
Thekla Lit for her work with Alpha Canada, promoting the film Rape of Nanjing, and inviting media and public to meet Comfort Women survivors. Gabriel says that a columnist on the Global Chinese Press has named Thekla the Chinese-Canadian of 2007, as she and her husband Joseph have been busy on these issues for a long decade. I got to know Thekla when she joined the committee for Chinese Head Tax Redress campaign in the months preceding the 2006 federal election. She is a very smart women, not afraid to say what she thinks.
James Erlandsen - the young Eurasian SFU Student needing a bone marrow donor as he fights leukemia (James was named honourary drummer for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon boat team). James reminded me so much of my own 1989 battle with cancer, even going to the same high school and university. There have been ups and downs, and he still puts on a brave face. I did a City TV interview with James, when James and I met for the first time. It was James' cousin Aynsley who first contacted me about writing about James for my blog.
Tracey Hinder - the 15 year old inaugural BC CanSpell champion, featured in the CBC documentary GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy. People constantly told me after watching the documentary that they thought that my young cousin Tracey was great in it. She was very inspiring for the future of Canada, especially with Tracey's Eurasian heritage, learning Mandarin and being involved with her school's multiculturalism club. This summer Tracey started an e-newsletter titled "Becoming Green" that gives suggestions how to create a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. I knew from the beginning that Tracey had to be in the documentary. The documentary also featured family elders Victor Wong, Helen Lee, and Gary Lee, artist/author Janice Wong and myself. Read my blog stories about Generations: The Chan Legacy
Tracey Hinder, Betty Wong and Todd Wong re: Generations: The Chan LegacyHenry Yu - UBC professor of History, chair and organizer of the Anniversaries for Change '07 events recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Anti-Asian Riots in Chinatown. Henry has organized events at UBC and throughout Vancouver recognizing the impact on Vancouver made by the 1907 Anti-Asian riot in Vancouver Chinatown, the 1947 franchise for Chinese Canadians enabling them full citizenship rights, the new immigration act of 1967, and the 1997 handover of Hong Kong. Henry has attended many Gung Haggis Fat Choy and Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop events over the past few years. Henry always seems to have boundless enthusiasm and energy for all his projects. But this past year was also significantly inspiring because he also became a cancer support person for his wife (see below).
Brandy Lien-Worrall - editor of Eating Stories: a Chinese Canadian and Aboriginal Potluck and All Mixed Up - a Hapa anthology. It is easy to be impressed by all the writing and editing projects that Brandy is involved in. I got to know Brandy better when I took the writing workshops sponsored by the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC. I truly learned what an incredible dynamo she is. She pushed us to write creatively, and from the heart. And it was fun to have my stories and pictures published in Eating Stories. Read: Eating Stories, a Chinese Canadian and Aboriginal Potluck: book launch Nov 25th at Vancouver Museum. But more important to recognize is that Brandy finished editing Eating Stories in between chemotherapy treatments, after she was diagnosed with cancer in the summer. Soon she started up a cancer blog in addition to her poem a day blog, and her 12 other blogs... Just like James Erlandsen, Brandy is Eurasian... and also reminds me of my own cancer experience.
Larry Wong, Todd Wong, Shirley Chan, Janice Wong with editor Brandy Lien Worrall at the Eating Stories anthology official book launch at Vancouver Museum - photo Deb Martin
more to come....
Jen Sookfong Lee -
Margaret Gallagher
Karin Lee
Bill Wong
Vicki Wong
Joseph Wu
Tricia Collins
see part II
More Chjinese Canadians that Inpired me in 2007: part 2
Head Tax survivors Mrs. Der and Ralph Lee
Sid Tan - head tax activist
Bev Wong - community activist on bone marrow and blood donors
Douglas Jung building at 401 Burrard St.
Lan Tung, leader of Orchid Ensemble, incredible musician and creator of Triaspora
Wesley Lowe - film maker, creator of I Am the Canadian Delegate - story of Douglas Jung
George Chow - city councilor
Raymond Louie - city councilor
Jenny Kwan - MLA
Jim Chu - 1st Vancouver police chief of Asian ancestry
Assaulted Fish - sketch comedy troupe
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre VACT presented three productions in 2007, Cowboy VS Samaurai, Asian Comedy Night, and Bondage.
Twisting Fortunes duo - Charlie Cho and Grace Chin
Chinese Canadian veterans
