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Join the
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
Sunday 1:30 pm -3:30 pm
Tuesday 6pm-7:45pm
Wednesday 6pm - 7:45 pm
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 2005 Season brought us the David Lam Award for being the team that best represented the multicultural spirit of the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival, and Bronze medals at the Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat Race. In 2007, we won Gold in B Division at Vernon Races.
WHAT: GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner - 12th Annual Dinner, celebrating 250th Anniversary of Robert Burns' birth + Chinese New Year's Eve.
CULTURE:
Our Performers
create something special for us every year with traditional and contemporary performances featuring everything in-between and beyond!
Joy Kogawa story in Vancouver Sun's "Raise a Reader" supplement
Rebecca Wigod wrote a short story about Joy Kogawa in Thursday's
Septemeber 29th, Vancouve Sun, page A23c. with a small picture.
On the road of learning with Joy Kogawa
by Rebecca Wigod
Joy Kogawa, the 70-year-old author of Obasan, is a
venerable Canadian writer - so venerable that in Vancouver, Nov. 6 is
Joy Kogawa Day.
She's a Member of the Order of Canad, but she's not
able helping children in southeast Vancouver with their reading.
In fact, she's only too happy to help.
On a sunny summer afternnon, Kogawa went to the
Fraserview branch of the Vancouver public library and shared her
children's book Naomi's Road, with the young folk in its Readalong
program.
Many of them had South or East Asian backgrounds.
A diminuitive gifure in a long blue denim jumper,
she gathered the kids around her and asked: "Sixty years ago in August,
a terrible , terrible thing happend. I was 10 years old.
Does anybody know what happened?"
"A war?" asked one of the children.
Happy to recieve such an answer from children too
young to know anything of the Secod World War, she nodded
vigorously. Then she told them something of her own history.
At one point, she produced a figurine and showed it
to the Readalong group. It depicted Ninomiya Kinjiro, a great
19th-century Japanese landowner who began life in a poor peasant family.
He is seen as a symbol of hard work, and perseverence.
"His special road was the road of learning. He
taught himself to read because he was too poor to go to school and he
beacme the greatest teacher in all of Japan. When I was young, my
parents said, 'Be like Ninomiya Kinjiro.'"
Children in the Readalong program visit the library
twice a week during the summer for stories and help with their
reading. Kogawa made the task palatable by handing out origami
paper and teaching them songs.
Her classic novel, Obasan, is the centrepiece of the library's One Book One Vancouver program this year.
Please sign the petition to preserve the Kogawa Homestead. Click on the white banner - this will forward you to an on-line petition.
Naomi's Road
is a new opera for young audiences. It is composed by Ramona Luengen, with libretto by Ann Hodges. It is based on Joy
Kogawa's novel Naomi's Road
which tells the story of a young girl named Naomi and her brother
Stephen as they meet the challenges created by the internment of
Japanese-Canadians during World War 2.
I have seen performances of highlights from the Opera both at the Chan
Centre for Roy Miki's June 27th lecture for the Laurier Institution titled, Redress: Dealing with Past Injustices, and also at the Vancouver Arts Awards
last week. Both times, the performances were captivating and
featured singer Jessica Cheung in the role of Naomi.
This is a milestone for Asian Canadian art and literature for a
successful children's story to be turned into an opera, that will be
touring schools throughout BC, as part of the Vancouver Opera in the Schools program.
It is important to share the story about an ugly chapter in Canada's
history - yet teaching children how to move beyond racism and hatred.
The "Save the Kogawa Homestead" Committee is meeting:
Friday, September 30th, 4pm Sylvia Hotel
1154 Gilford @ Beach Avenue
Vancouver, BC
This will be the first meeting in person of the reconstituted
committee. It is important for us to meet in person and
strategize how to best save the house where author Joy Kogawa had so
many happy childhood memories and was raised until the internment of
Japanese-Canadians forced the Kogawa family to Slocan BC.
Several strategies will be discussed, and we will also discuss key
meetings with movers and shakers in our literary community + political
community.
Worst case scenario: Kogawa House is demolished.
Best case scenario: Kogawa House is saved and preserved on original site.
Alternative scenario: Kogawa House is saved but moved to another
site. But this could be similar to the displacement faced by the
Japanese Canadians who were interned!
Good people are needed for this committee!
Please step forward and make yourself known.
Please sign the petition to preserve the Kogawa Homestead. Click on the white banner - this will forward you to an on-line petition.
Last
November city council passed a motion to plant a cherry tree propagated
from one growing in the backyard of the former home of author Joy
Kogawa.
But if a demolition application recently filed at the
city by the owner is approved, that tree could soon be one of the last
remaining tangible symbols of the home on West 64th Avenue.
Kogawa
lived there until she was six years old, when her Japanese-Canadian
family was interned in the Slocan Valley during the Second World War.
The Marpole house was then auctioned off at a bargain price by the
government's "Custodian of Enemy Alien Property" program. Her 1983
autobiographical work Obasan, named one of the most influential novels
of the 20th century by Quill and Quire, a monthly magazine of the
Canadian book trade, tells the story of the internment camp through the
eyes of a child.
Kogawa, who keeps small apartments in both
Vancouver and Toronto, noted the irony of receiving the bad news while
being honoured at several events across the city.
"It is how life operates," said Kogawa from her children's home in Surrey. "It is the yin and yang of the world."
Kogawa
was honoured last weekend at a One Book, One Vancouver event for her
novel Naomi's Road, the children's version of Obasan, at Vancouver
Public Library, and at a dinner for Ricepaper Magazine, during the Word
on the Street Book and Magazine Fair, and at the premiere of Naomi's
Road performed by Vancouver Opera.
Kogawa, who was named to
the Order of Canada for her writing and work with the Japanese-Canadian
redress movement, said she was "dumbfounded" by the news the home is in
danger. Two years ago Kogawa discovered the property was for sale and a
committee was formed in an attempt to purchase it. The home was
eventually bought by private owners. In December 2004 when the owners
started renovations without a permit, the Joy Kogawa Homestead
Foundation contacted both the city and the media to increase pressure
on the federal and provincial governments to save the home as a
historical and cultural icon.
The city issued a stop-work
order which the new owners followed. They also donated the three doors
and 12 windows they had removed to the city for safe keeping. The
owners, who have no messaging service, did not answer several phone
calls from the Courier.
"I don't want to be aggressive, I don't want to fight," Kogawa said. "We'll see what friendship can do."
Jim
Green, a city councillor and mayoral candidate for Vision Vancouver,
said he was at the house with Kogawa recently to look at the cherry
tree.
"This is too sad," he said. "This is a historical place in Canada and it should be preserved."
Green sits on the city's heritage committee but admits the city can do little to save the home.
"There
is very little we can do with the powers we have," he said. "It will be
up to the will of council because I expect it to come before the
development permit board because it would have a significant impact
historically on Vancouver."
Green said he and Kogawa expect to plant the cherry tree on the grounds of city hall within the next couple of weeks.
Since 2004, the house has again risen in value. But today there
are the tell tale signs that something is happening. Paing
markings on the sidewalk mark city services to the house, and
surveyor's tape criss-cross the yard. Earlier this week an
inquiry was made by an architect to apply for demolition.
Saturday's Globe and Mail featured a "This Just In" by Alexanda Gill
(September 24, p. R6)national Globe edition:
"Vancouver: The wrecker's ball could wipe out a Canadian literary
landmark. The owner of Joy Kogawa's childhood home, a house that
figured prominently in her award winning novel Obasan, applied to the
city of Vancouver for a demolition permit this week, just as the author
is about to be celebrated. In 1942, under the War Measures Act, Kogawa,
her parents and brother, were removed from the bungalow. Obasan,
published in 1981, recalls this episode in Canadian history. This
weekend, the author is scheduled to read a passage from Obasan at
Vancouver's Word on the Street festival."
Ricepaper 10th Anniversary Celebrations: featuring Joy Kogawa, Scott McIntyre & Gim Wong
Ricepaper staffers greet guests at the door - photo Meena Wong
It was a love-fest as former editors and writers, + many featured
authors and performers + our favourite city councillors and community
organizers, all attended the celebration. The Buzz about the Rice Paper Magazine 10th Anniversary Party,
organized by Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop, picked up speed late in
the week. Numbers confirmed on Thursday night practically doubled
by Saturday night, as attendees "borrowed" extra chairs and tables from
the Tinseltown Food Court.
Writers Fiona Lam and
Lydia Kwa sat at a table next to Faye Leung, Vancouver Librarian Ross
Bliss stated "I want to meet writers!" and was quickly introduced to
lots. UBC professor Glenn Deere and wife Faye sat at the Joy
Kogawa table. Writer and Artist Janice Wong, along with Capilano
College instructor and writer Crawford Killian joined friends at Scott
McIntyre's table. Citizenship Court Judge (and former City Councillor)
Sandra Wilking sat nearby Opera singer Grace Chan, and across from
writer SKY Lee. City councillor Ellen Woodsworth chatted with SFU
writer-in-residence Daphne Marlatt. City Councillor Anne Roberts
brought her mother Barbara. Kelly Ip chatted with Lt. Col. Howe
Lee. Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre
producer Joy Lam hung out with CBC writer Charlie Cho, and scripting
partner Grace Chin.
Elwin Xie (ACWW Director) and Joyce Lam (VACT producer) share a smile and long friendship - photo Meena Wong
Joy Kogawa signs a book for one of the many event guests - photo Meena Wong
Whoops of joy were heard as it was announced that Vancouver city
councillor Sam Sullivan had secured his mayoralty bid to represent the
NPA party, as he made a surprise appearance fresh from the NPA
counting. Even COPE city councillors Anne Roberts and Ellen
Woodsworth rushed to give him heartfelt congratulations.
And in the middle of this sat our featured guests: Joy Kogawa, Scott
McIntyre and Gim Wong. Host and ACWW Vice President Don
Montgomery introduced each starting with Kogawa. Joy said that
this year started off with the surprise of having Obasan selected for
the Vancouver Public Library's One Book One Vancouver program, and
described how wonderful the republishing of new versions of Emily Kato
(Itsutka) and Naomi's Road have been plus the delight of seeing Emily's
Road transformed into an opera by the Vancouver Opera.
Joy Kogawa holds
her ACWW Community Builders Award while Todd Wong (ACWW vice-president)
speaks about efforts to save the Kogawa Homestead - Event host Don
Mongomery (ACWW vice-president) looks on - photo Meena Wong
Joy called on me to speak about the developments of the previous 60
hours, as she had learned about the planned demolition of the Kogawa
Homestead and the efforts mobilized to save it. I described the
seemingly impossible contradiction that while this week when Joy is
being celebrated at the Rice Paper Anniversary Dinner, Word On The
Street, Vancouver Public Library and Vancouver Opera... the proposed
demolition represents polar opposites that create a dynamic tension,
giving even greater emphasis on both positive and negative
aspects. But it is because of her being celebrated, that reaction
to the proposed demolition, is even more sharply responded to - witness
the way that the Globe & Mail picked up on the story, that it was
announced and spoken about at the Vancouver Arts Awards by both Mayor
Larry Campbell and city councillor Jim Green. And by the evening,
Scott McIntyre was volunteering his influence and suggestions to help
save the house. "One Million Dollars should be easy to raise," he told
me.
Scott McIntyre
tells the audience about the pionneering nature of the books by Paul
Yee, SKY Lee and Jim Wong-Chu that he has published - photo Meena Wong
Scott McIntyre was jovial in his speech. He spoke about the
achivements of Douglas McIntyre Publishing, in putting out Salt water
City by Paul Yee, Disappearing Moon Cafe by SKY Lee, and Many Mouthed
Birds edited by by Jim Wong-Chu and Bennett Lee - each the first of
their genres, pioneers in Asian Canadian literature. Then Scott
said, "We haven't done enough." He talked about the fact that we
are all one family - no longer separated by clan or race
distinctions. Chinese-Canadian literature and Japanese-Canadian
literature is all Canadian literature - We are all the same family, as
he spoke about how his own daughter-in-law is Asian, and they are all
one family. I was so moved by his talk, that at the end of the
evening, I invited him to speak the same words for the 2006 Gung Haggis
Fat Choy dinner in January. "I'd be delighted," was his reply.
Gim Wong recalls
the sacrifices he made and the discrimination that he faced by choosing
to enter Canada's armed forces in WW2 - photo Meena Wong
Gim Wong, stood up shakily, his 82 years betraying his youthful heart
and still innocent demeanor. Honest in his gratitude, and
eloquent in his politeness, Gim talked about how proud he is to be a
Canadian, and how he came to enlist and train in the Canadian armed
forces, when nobody wanted Chinese in the army, airforce or navy.
"We couldn't even vote," he exclaimed. He described his unselfish
attitude, willing to make the supreme sacrifice for the country of his
birth, and how he has continued to sacrifice his time unselfishly to
champion for redress, for the Chinese head tax. "They told me it
couldn't be done," he said of his motorcyle "Ride for Redress" from
Victoria's Mile 0, to Ottawa and Montreal. His bravado had
revealed itself when he had threatened to ride his Harley up the steps
of Parliament to confront Prime Minister Paul Martin. His son
Jefferey had accompanied him on the ride, and looked after him.
This week, the Georgia Straight's "Best of Vancouver" selected Gim Wong
for the "Gutsiest Ride against Racism." I had talked with Gim
many times throughout the evening, and knew that he was both humbled
and tired by the evening's celebration. The applause touched him
deeply.
Great appreciation to all the ACWW directors, Rice Paper staff and
volunteers for putting on such a grand event. Special thanks to
organizers Jim Wong-Chu, Don Montgomery, Michelle Sui, and Jenny Uechi.
BCIT broadcast journalism students covered the Port Coquitlam
"Hometown" Terry Fox Run on Sept 18, attended by 13,000 people.
One of those students was camera person Alex Rawnsley.
Alex and his reporter partner interviewed me in my role as a Terry's
Team Member - cancer survivors who demonstrate that cancer research
does make a difference.
Their story about the Terry Fox Run is the lead story, and part of the interview with me, made the final cut - Yippee!!!
Watch the SHAW tv on Sunday 1:30pm.
Hi Todd
My name is Alex Rawnsley, I was the shooter at the Terry Fox Run and also the commentator at the Taiwanese Dragon Boat Festival.
BCIT Magazine will air Sunday at 1.30pm on Shaw TV. It may be
repeated, however I don't know when. The story made the show and is
actually the lead story which is fantastic. Part of your interview made
the final cut.
Thanks for stopping and I hope the rest of the run went well for you
I attended the 2005 Vancouver Arts Awards Friday night, and the ripples
of Joy Kogawa were felt throughout the evening. I spoke to both Councillor Jim Green and Mayor Larry Campbell, and told them about the demolition for application of the Kogawa homestead. A house acknowledged with heritage designation. They were both surprised
and concerned, saying "Council had just passed resolution to save the
cherry trees on Tuesday".
more»
Gim Wong: Gutsiest Ride Against Facism - in the Best of Vancouver
Our Rice Paper Magazine 10th Anniversary Dinner is HOT!
Gim Wong makes this week's Georgia Straight "Best of Vancouver."
more»
This week, notice was received that an inquiry for application for demolition was made to Vancouver City Hall by the owner of the Kogawa homestead. It is a house celebrated by the award winning novel Obasan, and the childhood home of famed writer Joy Kogawa, who describes the house in both the novel Obasan and the children's story Naomi's Road. Kogawa's reaction has been of shock and dispair, as she knew that efforts were being made to save the beloved cherry tree in the back yard which figures prominently in the novel. COPE mayoral candidate Jim Green is a founding member of the "Save the Kogawa Homestead" committee.
This is a weekend when Joy Kogawa is being celebrated all across Vancouver... at the Vancouver Public Library for One Book One Vancouver, at the ACWW Sep 24th dinnner for Rice Paper Magazine's 10th Anniversary Celebration, on Sunday for the Word on the Street Book and Magazine Fair, and next week for the Vancouver Opera Premiere for "Naomi's Road." A movement to buy the house, and to apply for heritage designation was aborted 2 years ago because of high costs to buy the house and resistance from the new owner to sell. The owner at the time said that she liked the house and did not intend to demolish it.
Now more than ever, it is important to preserve this house for the cultural heritage of Vancouver. There is not another house in Vancouver that is recognized for being confiscated during a dark time in Canada's history.
No other house in Vancouver could be turned into a bright spot on our cultural landscape as a writer's retreat, celebrating the work of a writer which has been called the most influential Canadian novel of the past 20 years. There is no other writer whose work helped fuel the Japanese-Canadian Redress movement, and has also received the Order of Canada.
In May, the Vancouver Public Library selected Obasan as the book chosen for all Vancouverites to read, as part of their award winning "city wide book club." Earlier this summer, during One Book One Vancouver events Joy Kogawa held up a graft of the cherry tree that held such a revered place in the novel Obasan - studied by so many Canadians in high schools and universities across Canada. Both the novel and the homestead have a proven place in Vancouver’s literary history.
Please sign the petition to preserve the Kogawa Homestead. Click on the white banner - this will forward you to an on-line petition.
Joy Kogawa, Scott McIntyre and Gim Wong will be featured guests for Rice Paper Magazine's 10th Anniversary Celebrations as part of the continuing Asian Canadian Writer's Workshop Community Builder dinners. more»
Terry Fox has a place in the heart of every Canadian. I also
believe there is room for Terry's mother Betty Fox in our hearts
too. Just watching her on the tv special, Terry Fox: 25 Years of
Legacy, and at the Terry Fox "hometown" Run in Port Coquitlam. show
confirmed for me, that Betty Fox is a quintessential mother for all
Canadians.
Betty Fox has tirelessly talked at elementary schools, universities and
run sites across our country, and in other countries as well. Her two
sons Fred, and Darrell, had been former directors of the BC Yukon Terry
Fox Run offices. Darrell is now National Run director.
On Friday, September 16, over one million school children across our
vast country participated in the first-ever Terry Fox National School
Day Run. From St. John's in NewFound Land, to Victoria on
Vancouver Island in BC.
To have Betty and Rolly Fox interviewed for the tv special while school children ran in the background was very important.
To have live television coverage of this event from different points
across our country was very important. At now other time in our
nation, have over one million people all participated together in a
single event.
And yet television coverage was almost jeopardized by the CBC
lockout. Moyra Rodger of Out To See Productions has been working
tirelessly over the past year to produce the tv special that was shown
twice on the weekend. Over the past year, she filmed footage of
interviews with significant people in Terry's life, as well as events
such as the Canadian Mint coin launch for the $1 Terry Fox coin at
Simon Fraser University. Because of the CBC lockout, the project
was threatened. Scaled back, and switched to an independent
production, it continued on. On the morning of Friday, Sep 16th, Moyra
recieved a 6am phone call that a picket line was blocking the St.
John's camera crew.
I had a heart-felt talk with Moyra on Sunday night. She had been
the producer for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy television special that aired
in 2004 and 2005, and was nominated for two Leo Awards. I knew
how much Terry Fox now meant to her. Both Darrell Fox and I sung
her praises to each other when we chatted at the coin launch.
Moyra is a compassionate worker, and includes people in the
process. Both Darrell and I felt that our own stories and
interests were represented and respected by Moyra. And here she
was, exhausted from a long 2 weeks of filming and editing, getting the
show finished for its 8pm airing just seconds in time.
We talked about how important it was for the country to have the
television special go ahead, and what Terry means to Canadians.
She herself, had questions about proceeding during the CBC
lockout. She wouldn't have done it for a hockey game she told
me. But Terry Fox is special. I told her that Darrell Fox
had told me at times, "What would Terry do?" Does this event
raise people's inspiration and connect them to Terry's dream.
It's important. period.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life. It's also the day after I attended the Terry Fox Run in Port Coquitlam known as the Home Town Run... I am a cancer survivor... and one of my friends just passed away from cancer. more»
It all began 10 years ago, when a motley crew of artists, writers, and
would-be lawyers got together one night and decided to give a voice to
one of the largest and most eclectic demographics in the nation--Asian
Canadians.
Fast forward to 2005. Lined up along the magazines at Chapters,
Ricepaper has evolved into the authoritative chronicle of Asian Canadian culture: from Wayson Choy to Joy Kogawa, Kid Koala to Sook-Yin Lee, the magazine covers major and emerging artists, while its hard-hitting articles speak of the issues that are changing Canadian society as we know it. From
interracial marriages to head taxes, Ricepaper leaves no stone unturned in the Asian Canadian experience. more»
Terry Fox Run Day - I go to the Port Coquitlam "Hometown Run"
Very exciting day today... I went to the "hometown" Terry Fox Run
in Port Coquitlam at Hyde Park Recreation Centre. There were
thousands of people, it was hard to
count. I saw a sea of people when I arrived. Moyra Rodger,
producer of the CBC special, told me that the attendance was
10,000. Wow! I have spoken at Terry Fox Runs as small as 65
to 70, and as large as 1,500... but 10,000 people!
Special speakers were Rick Hansen, Premier Gordon Campbell, Prime
Minister Paul Martin, Betty Fox. The event was MC'ed by Greg
Moore's father. Lots of media cameras there. I took some
pictures too!
Premier Gordon Campbell takes off his right shoe and gives it to Betty Fox, when she complains she doesn't have a "Adidas Terry Fox running shoe" - a very funny moment... - photo Todd Wong
I was interviewed by CTV, they had called me yesterday asking if I
could contact them when I got there. They got my number from the
Terry Fox Run BC office, as I often speak to media in my role as a
Terry's Team member - cancer survivors serving as living examples that
cancer research has made a difference. I also saw a BCIT
broadcast media student Alex, who had done the commentating for the
Taiwanese Dragon Boat Races - he was there with a camera and a reporter
doing a story on the Terry Fox Run too! Will have to remember to
watch CTV tonight!
I showed the reporters my SFU Terry Fox Gold Medal, from 1993. I
often take it out to school visits, but this was the first time I had
taken it to a run. I explained that Terry recieved the inaugural
medal, and that it is given anually to somebody exemplifying the
qualities of "courage in adversity and dedication to society."
Rick Hansen is a medal recipient too.
As I did the run, I would talk to some of the participants. After
talking with one woman and her daughter, she said she knew me and
explained out mutual friends. I remembered Brenda Seraphim, and
when I learned that her daughter was doing the run for the first time,
I reached into my pocket and gave 10 year old Nicola a Terry Fox $1
coin.
Along the way, I met more people who were running for their daughter
Teresa - a two time cancer survivor, and another woman Dolores, a
cancer survivor. Marylou's friend Angelo Lee, was featured in the
CBC tv special - Terry Fox: 25 Years of legacy. I saw a young
family with the 1993 Terry Fox Run shirt, and we were amazed it was the
first year either of us had done the run. I gave Terry Fox $1
coins to each of their small children.
A very special feature of the Port Coquitlam Terry Fox Run, is that it
goes past Terry Fox Secondary School, where the Terry Fox Ravens
cheerleading squad was stationed doing cheers for people running and
walking past. Many people detoured to the front of the school
where a stature of Terry is placed. A school teacher and her
students were taking pictures of people with the statue for
donations. I brought out my medal for the picture, and they
thanked me for making a special moment for them. I gave them each
a Terry Fox coin.
Todd Wong cancer survivor with Doug Alward and Terry Fleming - photo Deb Martin
Special moments for me were meeting Terry's basket ball coach Terry
Fleming and Doug Alward, Terry Fox's best friend who drove the van and
accompanied Terry on the Marathon of Hope. Doug and Terry were
pleased to see the SFU Terry Fox Medal, as I told them Terry recieved
the inaugural medal. Doug gave me a picture of himself and Terry
walking on the St. John's harbour beach in New Foundland where they
started the run. I also talked briefly with Betty and Rolly Fox,
Terry's parents. I was very happy to know that they loved the new
CTV movie "Terry" that was shown twice this week, starring Shawn Ashmore.
Doug and Terry Fleming really enjoyed it too - remarking that the actor
who played Doug Alward, did a very good job capturing Dougl's subtle
and quiet ways - even if the actor was almost twice as big as Doug is
in real life.
While my friends Brenda and Nicola were waiting in line to see Betty
Fox, run organizers came to Betty and told her that the run had
collected pledge amounts of 100,000 dollars. Amazing! She
was very happy.
Brenda and Nicola pose for a picture after meeting Betty Fox - photo Deb Martin
It's not too late to donate funds for the Terry Fox Run. You can donate online at www.terryfoxrun.org.
I am very happy to be a Terry's Team member. I know that Terry
Fox has become a big part of my life, not only because of speaking at
run sites and elementary schools, or helping to start Terry Fox Day at
SFU, but also by thinking about the values that Terry strived
for. Cancer changes lives, and it is how we deal with the change
that determines how we live our lives. I believe that Canadians are
better people because of what Terry reminds us about ourselves.
We all can make a difference.
more updates to come...
Here are links to some recent news stories about Terry Fox
Come
celebrate Community Builders of the Asian Canadian literary community,
such as Joy Kogawa, Scott McIntyre, Gim Wong, and the 10th Year
anniversary for Rice Paper Magazine.
Watched the CBC 2 hour special last night that celebrated the Friday
National Terry Fox Run Day, interspersed with interviews, stories and
footage of Terry and the Marathon of Hope. Pretty amazing...
host Jody Vance interviewed Betty and Rolly Fox at the Clover Point
Park site where many many school children were there for a run and
unveiling of a brand new Terry Fox statue.
Segments were shown "live" from Brampton and Ottawa Ontario too!
It's really too bad, that the CBC is in lock-out mode, as this is a
scaled down version of what probably would have gone coast to coast
from St. John's to Victoria and included a few more cities.
It's great that a Terry Fox statue will now be at Mile 0, in Beacon
Hill Park in Victoria. This is a stone's throw away from where
Terry would have dipped his leg into the Pacific Ocean, to mark the
significance of his coast to coast run, started by dipping his leg in
the Atlantic Ocean harbour of St. John's NewFoundland.
The 2 hour special ran without commercials, and was produced by Moyra
Rodger of Out To See Productions, who also did the Gung Haggis Fat Choy
tv performance special. There were some great stories from people
who had met Terry along the way, such as Rick Hansen, Daryl Sittler,
his highschool basketball coach Terry Fleming, his nurse from New
Westminster's Royal Columbia Hospital.
Some of the stories are very familiar, having heard them
