Author Dan Seto holding a copy of the CCHSBC book Finding Memories, Tracing Routes"  Dan's story includes a beaver... how Canadian is that? - photo Todd Wong

Almost two hundred people attended the book launch of the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC's book launch for "Finding Memories, Tracing Routes: Chinese Canadian Family Stories."

Family and friends + interested listeners all crowded into the Alice Mackay Room at the Vancouver Public Library to hear about how self-confessed non-writers helped create the most significant new book about Chinese Canadian stories.  CCHSBC executive members described how the 6 week writing project took place and what its' significance means to how history will be understood. 

Dr. Henry Yu, UBC professor of History said "Many people think that history is defined by the historians, but it's not - it's really defined by the people who tell the stories.  The authors in this book have changed how history is being told."

Editor Brandy Liên Worrall, who was a former editor for the Amerasia Journal in Los Angeles, led the 6 week workshop.  With simple exercises, the 8 first-time writers were able to discover their topics, and flesh out their stories with details, sights, sounds and emotional experiences.  Worrall was credited by each of the writers as being very
supportive, and able to make their stories really come alive.

Shirley Chan, one of the writers, said she had always wanted to be able to share the stories that her mother had told her - but she didn't know how.  The writing workshop with a group setting not only helped her to write, but she developed lots of new friends, and a sense of community too!

Writer Hayne Wai (also my cousin), who is also currently president of the CCHSBC, said it is important to note that nobody considered themselves a "writer" before the workshop.  They didn't know what a "metaphor" was.  And while they all had different reasons for wanting to write, they also had different audiences to write for.  Some people wrote for their parents or their ancestors.  Some people wrote for their family and future generations.  But many of the writers each admitted that it was also important for them to write for themselves.

Dan Seto was the one writer selected to give a testimonial presentation to how the workshop helped him to give voice to the stories inside him, as well as helping to understand his brothers and his parents better. And along the way, Dan said the writing process helped him to mature.  Dan introduced his family to the audience.  And he introduced his dragon boat team too!  He asked the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team and its coach - me... to stand up and credited us with giving him the support and listening to his stories about his family.

All of the eight authors attended the book launch, and next took seats near the stage.  They answered questions from the audience, then signed copies of the books for family, friends and fans.

Author Dan Seto holds a copy of "Finding Memories" with his dragon boat team buddies, Todd, Jen, Stephen, Wendy, Jonas, Julie, Grace, Tzhe and Jeremy. - photo courtesy of Grace.

We really do love Dan on the dragon boat team.  He and many others on the team regularly exchange ideas about Chinese-Canadian identity and issues, as well as thoughts about issues that affect us.  This year I openly shared with the team about my activities in the Save Kogawa House and Head Tax redress campaigns.  Others talked with Dan about where we grew up, and where our ancestors grew up.  And like the writing group our  Dragon boat team members provides lots of social support - the following paddlers came out to support Dan: Grace, Julie, Jonas, Wendy, Jennifer, Jeremy, Tzhe, Joe, Keng, Gerard, Stephen, Steven, Christine and myself.

CCHSBC president Hayne Wai (my cousin!), Dan Seto and Todd Wong (me!), attending the Oct 21st CCHSBC writing workshop at the Vancouver Museum - photo courtesy of Todd Wong