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Welcome to GungHaggisFatChoy.com
Home to my passions for my inter-cultural adventures, Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner event. Save Kogawa House campaign, Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team, Find what you are looking for by 1) scroll the topics links, 2) use the search function ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. For more information: Click on Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team information phone: 604-987-7124- e-mail: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2009 TICKETS Available in October 2008 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. WHEN: 6PM January 25 2009, SUNDAY doors open 5pm WHERE: Floata Chinese Restaurant, #400-180 Keefer St. 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! Watch for more surprises in 2008! Description of 2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner featuring performers: Rick Scott & Harry Wong, The Shirleys, Joe McDonald & Brave Waves, Sean Gunn, author Joy Kogawa, with co-host Prem Gill . Media Inquiries Call Gung Haggis Productions 604-987-7124 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sponsors
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Thursday, June 15
ADBF reminder for the dragon boat festival
by
Todd
on Thu 15 Jun 2006 03:23 PM PDT
All team members please read through the race reminders
- just sent to me from the race registrar.
Please check the www.adbf.com website
for a list of activities for the weekend. more »
Redress Train to Ottawa.... Gim Wong featured in Vancouver Sun Story
by
Todd
on Thu 15 Jun 2006 02:44 PM PDT
  Redress Train to Ottawa.... Gim Wong featured in Vancouver Sun Story My father used to joke that Canada honoured the Chinese railway workers by naming the rail line after them. CPR.... Chinese People's Railway.... 83 year old Gim Wong will be hopping on board the "Redress Train" to Ottawa for the June 22nd Ceremony and announcement for Apology and Acknowledgement for the Chinese Head Tax. Last year Gim rode his motorcycle to Ottawa to ask Prime Minister Paul Martin for an apology for the racist head tax. Martin's office denied Gim a meeting, but current Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with Gim during a vist on May 25th with Chinese community elders, head tax payers and descendants.    I blogged Gim's 2005 Ride for Redress with pictures and contributions from across Canada. Gim was featured in a June 15 Vancouver Sun story today on page B5 Senior recalls closed doors made him feel second-class: Chinese RCAF veteran heading to Ottawa to hear prime minister apologize in Parliament on June 22 (see below) Here's something I have just written... to help send off Gim at the VIA RAIL trainstation on Friday. Main and Terminal streets in Vancouver. 4:00pm Ceremony and Media Information at Th 5:30pm Train Leaves. This Train is Bound for Redress (to the tune of This Train is Bound for Glory) http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages tiTHSTRAIN;ttTHSTRAIN.html This Train is Bound for redress, this train.... This Train is bound for redress, this train... This train honours the head tax payers This train honours Chinese railway builders This train is bound for redress this train. This Train is Bound for redress, this train.... This Train is bound for redress, this train... This train is justice and fairness This train is sharing our stories This train is bound for redress this train. This Train is Bound for redress, this train.... This Train is bound for redress, this train... This train wants apology and action This train wants symbolic compensation This train is bound for redress this train. This Train is Bound for redress, this train.... This Train is bound for redress, this train... This train honours all our stories This train honours all Canadians This train is bound for redress this train. Senior recalls closed doors made him feel
second-class Chinese RCAF veteran heading to
"Slaves
at least were worth something -- you could sell a slave if you didn't want him. "Chinese?
Dime a dozen, not even a dime a dozen. Worthless!" There
was no mistaking the visceral bitterness in the words. In a few short minutes,
83-year-old Gim Foon Wong electrified a news
conference Wednesday, explaining the long-repealed Chinese head tax in terms of
a life bent and shaped by legislated Canadian racism. His
father arrived in B.C. from China in 1906 and paid the $500 head tax to escape
starvation in China, thanks to two elder brothers who shovelled
coal for a dollar a day in Cumberland for a decade. A century later, Wong let
his frustration off its leash and revealed the long reach of the discriminatory
legislation. "I'm
not saying I'm a smart guy, okay?" he said, sitting in Strathcona
Community Centre next door to the school he graduated from in 1936. "I had
potential, [but] any degree in university would have been useless, so what did
we do? Drop out in Grade 9 and go to work. "In
1941 in a cannery in Wong
fought his way into the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War,
but could not shake the feeling of being a second-class citizen. "Invariably,
everywhere I went, I was the only Chinese. You know what that was [like], 60
years ago?" The news
conference was not Wong's first round with the head tax. Last summer, he rode
his big Honda Gold Wing motorcycle across Paul
Martin, who was prime minister at the time, refused to speak to him. Now he's
headed back to The news
conference was called by B.C. groups seeking redress for the tax. Compensation
suggestions range from $20,000 to $39,000 per person affected, but Harper has
given no indication whether any kind of compensation will accompany the planned
apology. "For
over three weeks, redress organizations across the country have asked for a
meeting with government officials," said Mary-Woo Sims, on behalf of the
B.C. Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendants. "We
are ready, willing and able to meet with government any time to ensure that the
redress package is one which will ensure that justice is achieved for those
wronged by government discrimination, and which all Canadians can
support." Sims
said the groups are also still waiting to hear details of the "redress
train," the highly symbolic train trip to Wong
says he will go, and thinks five or six spouses or descendants of head-tax
payers will leave There
are believed to be fewer than 20 surviving head-tax payers in Sid Tan,
president of the Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity
Society (ACCESS) in Vancouver, and a national director of the Chinese Canadian
National Council, said more than 82,000 Chinese paid the head tax between 1885
and 1923, effectively covering the cost of the CPR railway which many of them
built. He
termed the request for redress "a tax refund -- this is not compensation. "We're
not a bunch of ungrateful, greedy bastards. Even if we do get our rightful
return, the money's going to be spent in "This
is not about the money-- it's about justice and honour.
This is the dignity of a community finally finding its voice and its rightful
place in this Canadian society of ours, which I'm very proud to be a part
of." mbridge@png.canwest.com
Vancouver Sun: dragon boats + mention for Gung Haggis Fat Choy Kogawa House team!
by
Todd
on Thu 15 Jun 2006 01:44 PM PDT
  Vancouver Sun: dragon boats + mention for Gung Haggis Fat Choy Kogawa House team! Our draong boat team name "Gung Haggis Fat Choy" on page D15. but somehow part of our name got dropped. Our official team name this year is: Gung Haggis Fat Choy KOGAWA HOUSE, as we are helping to raise awarness and fundraising for the Save Kogawa House campaign.  Author Joy Kogawa is our honourary drummer for the team. Joy has inspired many Canadians through her novels Obasan, Naomi's Road, and Emily Kato.   Last year our dragon boat team won the David Lam Multicultural Award for "best representing the multicultural spirit of the festival" This year we our vying for the Alcan Sustainability Award, with our efforts to create cultural sustainability with the preservation of histori Joy Kogawa House. There are also at least 4 head tax descendants paddling on our dragon boat.... coach/steers Todd Wong, paddlers Dan Seto, Steven Wong and Julie Wong. We are also helping to organize a fundraiser dinner for Joy Kogawa House, on June 23rd. for more information contact me: Todd Wong 604-240-7090
More Chinese Head Tax Stories in Media for June 15
by
Todd
on Thu 15 Jun 2006 11:40 AM PDT
 More Chinese Head Tax Stories in Media for June 15 More medial stories as everything heats up. Sid Tan is saying that the compensation package IS a tax refund, and that "governement should not be allowed to profit from racism." Hmmm.... Symbolic Tax Refund for Chinese Head Tax.... retroactive... or to make it fair... retroactive charge all non-Chinese immigrants since 1885. Mary Woo Sims says: "Chinese descendants don't just want an apology for the head tax,
they also want an apology for the Chinese Exclusion Act that stopped
all immigration from China for 30 years starting in 1923.
They took away all choice for families to reunite when they imposed the Chinese Exclusion Act" Gim Wong says:
"Our parents were slaves," the 83-year-old Wong said yesterday as he
talked about why the descendants of those who paid a head tax should
receive compensation from government.
"Do not the children of slaves suffer?" he asked. "It's not easy to talk about, OK?"Technially.... many of the Chinese pioneers were indentured labourers, as they had borrowed money to come to Canada, then had to work it off. Many of the pioneers who signed up to build the railroad were also indentured labourers - but the CPR reneged on the promise to provide passage back to China, leaving many to further work to try to raise more money. - Todd June 15, 2006 Chinese ride rails to accept apologyBy SHARON HO, SUN MEDIA
Chinese head tax payers are set to ride the rails to Ottawa to finally
get an apology for having to pay a racist a tax in order to immigrate
to Canada. Surviving payers and widows will leave
Vancouver tomorrow on a "redress train" with the last spike used to
make Canada's railroad. About 100 people will travel from Toronto to Ottawa for the apology from the Canadian government on June 22.
The Chinese were pivotal in building the railroad, completed in 1885.
The government, however, rewarded Chinese immigrants by imposing the
head tax of $50. The tax was later increased to $100 in 1900 and $500
in 1903. It was abolished in 1923 and replaced by Exclusion Act, which ended in 1947.
"We will bring the last spike to the railway committee room where the
decision to build the railway was made," said Susan Eng, co-chairman of
the Ontario Coalition of Chinese Head Tax Payers and Families.
About 20 head tax payers, 270 widows and a few thousand of their
children are alive. Most of the payers and widows are unable to travel
to Ottawa. http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/National/2006/06/15/pf-1633729.htmlhttp://torontosun.com/News/Canada/2006/06/15/1633562-sun.html Apology must come with redress Jun. 15, 2006. 01:00 AM Harper will apologize for head tax on Chinese June 14.As the son of a Chinese head tax payer, I completely agree with MP Olivia Chow that compensation must accompany the apology. Without compensation there is no justice and no reconciliation. The Prime Minister must deliver on the promised redress of the head tax.In addition, redress must be fair, substantial and just. Whole families were affected — husbands, wives as well as their children. The head tax financially disadvantaged families and with the Chinese Exclusion Act, many families were separated and even torn apart. The redress package must recognize these hardships and financially compensate the families in a fair and just manner. Doug Hum, Toronto http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1150321811405&call_pageid=970599119419 June 15, 2006 Head-tax apology on its way By JOHN PIGEON, 24 HOURS
What is an apology worth?
If you ask Sid Tan, president of the Chinese Canadians for Equality and
Solidarity Society, he says the June 22 apology to Chinese head-tax
payers their spouses and descendants is about restoring justice and
honour. But he will also tell you that the apology is more
than words being said, it's about righting the wrongs that led to Prime
Minister Stephen Harper's apology. "This is a tax refund,
this is not compensation," Tan said. "No organization and no individual
in Canada should be able to profit from racism and keep the proceeds."
For 83-year-old head tax descendant Gim Wong, redress is important
because it was the tax that was the harshest of racist Canadian
policies which lasted until the 1940s. "Out of 100
nationalities, ethnic groups and religious groups from the separate
world, Chinese were the only ones that had to pay a head tax," Wong
said. "Slaves were worth something you could sell a slave if you didn't
want them, they [Chinese Canadians during the exclusion act] were not
even a dime a dozen." Gim Wong will ride the VIA train to Ottawa tomorrow to hear the prime minister apologize in the House of Commons. http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/2006/06/15/1633456-sun.htmlChinese seeking compensation By CPVANCOUVER
-- Gim Wong wasn't alive in 1906 when his father paid a $500 head tax
to get into Canada, but his voice is raw with emotion when he talks
about the work it took and the discrimination his family faced to
survive in Canada. Wong and several Chinese Canadian
groups are expecting Prime Minister Stephen Harper will apologize for
the head tax during a speech in the House of Commons next Thursday, but
they want to know the apology will come with compensation. The federal government hasn't made any commitment to that.
"Our parents were slaves," the 83-year-old Wong said yesterday as he
talked about why the descendants of those who paid a head tax should
receive compensation from government. "Do not the children of slaves suffer?" he asked. "It's not easy to talk about, OK?" http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/National/2006/06/15/pf-1633324.htmlChinese groups say money should come with federal government head-tax apology at 19:38 on June 14, 2006, EST.
VANCOUVER (CP) - Gim Wong wasn't alive in 1906 when his father paid a
$500 head tax to get into Canada, but his voice is raw with emotion
when he talks about the work it took and the discrimination his family
faced to survive in Canada. Wong and several Chinese Canadian groups are expecting Prime Minister Stephen Harper will apologize for the head tax
during a speech in the House of Commons next Thursday, but they want to know the apology will come with compensation. The federal government hasn't made any commitment to that. "Our
parents were slaves," the 83-year-old Wong said Wednesday as he talked
about why the descendants of those who paid a head tax should receive
compensation from government. "Do not the children of slaves suffer?" he asked. "It's not easy to talk about, OK." Sid
Tan from ACCESS - the Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and
Solidarity Society - told a news conference Wednesday the redress issue
isn't about money, it's about justice and honour. "This is
a tax refund, this is not compensation," he stressed. "We are asking
the Harper government for our rightful return of head-tax money because
no government. . .should be able to profit from racism." More than 81,000 Chinese paid the head tax ranging from $50
and $500 between 1885 and 1923. But just 20 of those who directly paid and another 260 of their spouses are still alive. About 4,000 descendants of the head tax payers have registered with advocacy groups.
Mary-Woo Sims from the B.C. Coalition of Head Taxpayers says there are
thousands more who have lost the head-tax certificate from their
fathers or grandfathers. "We've heard a lot of very sad
stories from individuals who come with a tattered photograph of their
ancestor, but no more documentation." Sims said several
groups have made compensation suggestions to the federal government of
between $20,000 to $39,000 per individual. "I think anything that is less than that would probably cause us to question the sincerity of the government." She
added Chinese descendants don't just want an apology for the head tax,
they also want an apology for the Chinese Exclusion Act that stopped
all immigration from China for 30 years starting in 1923. "They took away all choice for families to reunite when they imposed the Chinese Exclusion Act," she said. http://www.940news.com/nouvelles.php?cat=23&id=61491http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=f2b0825e-6080-4036-90c3-befc7099effc&k=82520
Vancouver Sun: Cold water poured on redress train + Karin Lee comments
by
Todd
on Thu 15 Jun 2006 11:26 AM PDT
Vancouver Sun: Cold water poured on redress train
+ Karin Lee comments. Hmmm.... the Vancouver Sun writers have taken a strange turn with this article. Guess they were looking for a unique angle that nobody else has written. Karin Lee says "It's unfortunate that
the reporter misquoted me yesterday speaking about the logistics of the
train ride for the most elderly of the head tax payers and spouses
residing in Vancouver. I do support the train ride,
and believe it will be historic, and meaningful for those who will ride
across the country for the apology and announcement in Ottawa. Thank
you Susan for bringing it all together. I know it took a lot of
work on your part. We will be
there on Friday with lion dancers and many others to see the group
off. It will be first day towards the end of a long, long journey
and it will culminate in Ottawa with the apology and redress.
I believe we have all fought
hard, and have done our best. Sometimes we make mistakes, but
mostly we've been impassioned to bring about justice for our head tax
families. When the small group of elderly head tax payers,
spouses and descendants met with Prime Minister Harper in Vancouver,
one could feel the honour, respect and sincerity in that
room. We hope this will carry over into the Prime Minister's
apology and the redress package will give honour and dignity to our
head tax families. By the way, the head tax certificate I am holding is not my mother, it is my grandmother. The reporter got that wrong too." But many of our leaders from BC will be joining the "Redress Train." Foon and her husban and have been active on the committee since the November 25th protest agains the ACE program. Gim Wong, who last year rode his motorcycle from Victoria to Ottawa with his son Jeffrey, will be on the Redress Train with his wife. This is the first time his wife is coming to a Redress event - significant and symbolic, just like the Redress Train to Ottawa. There will be music and lion dancers at the 4:00pm celebration and send off at Thornton Park - Main and Terminal St. in front of the VIA Rail train station. The train departs at 5:30pm. My suggestions for a new story angle? Find Head Tax descendants who are multi-racial, like filmaker Karen Cho, or any of the 6th generation descendants from my Rev. Chan Yu Tan family. There are Canadians today, who can claim ethnic ancestry from China, England, Scottish, French and First Nations. That's the story! It's for our future, about our past, and it's happening NOW!
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