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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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Saturday, March 31
Canadian dragon boater in Australia: when road trips go wrong
by
Todd
on Sat 31 Mar 2007 03:16 PM PDT
Gung Haggis paddler Dave Samis is on his way to Honolulu with a team put together to compete in Sydney Australia. The adventures are already beginning in Honolulu, before the team even landed in the land of Oz. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Accidents and incidents: 14 team members rented scooters and travelled to some beaches east of Waikiki. Travelling along the highway about 20 k east of Honolulu ran into a rain storm. One scooter broke down so w pulled off the highway. My scooter wasn't slowing fast enough with the back brake only (rental guy said to use both front and rear) so I applied the front brake. more »
Dawn Pemberton of The Shirleys is artist in residence at RIME
by
Todd
on Sat 31 Mar 2007 02:47 PM PDT
DAWN PEMBERTON is April’s artist in residence at RIME. That’s right, The Shirleys’ own scintillating diva is taking over the town, and that means that every Sunday night will be Saucy, Sweet and Superb! ~~~~ Here are the details, Now it’s up to you to MAKE IT YOUR MISSION to have Sunday nights with Dawn. Location 1130 Commercial Drive, Vancouver Admission Cover $8 @ the door Contact 604.215.1130 or see www.rime.ca more »
Friday, March 30
Dragon Boating is a Team sport... I love it!
by
Todd
on Fri 30 Mar 2007 10:13 PM PDT
I have coached dragon boat teams since 1994. The Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team originally began 10 years ago as the Celebration dragon boat team - before changing names in 2002 to reflect the Gung Haggis Fat Choy fundraiser dinner, and embrace the Scottish-Chinese-Canadian intercultural theme as an extension of the multicultural theme adopted by so many different dragon boat festivals.... ~~~~~ The "team aspect" is incredible. You can do so many more things at a higher level than as an individual. A team of 20 paddlers can pull a water skier. But you can't do that by yourself. It's fun to bounce ideas off each other, and develop both support for each other as well as friendly competition. But it is also important that everybody is on the same page. If teams can develop a "team culture" and "team philosophy" - then this helps the team go farther. It is important for a recreational team to develop a sense of inclusiveness, and for captains and other group leaders to make sure everybody is feeling included and making a contributtion, AND having fun.
more »
Dave Samis - Gung Haggis dragon boat paddler going to Australian Nationals: The last Canadian practice
by
Todd
on Fri 30 Mar 2007 07:49 PM PDT
The Clearly Canadian dragon boat team on their last BC dragon boat practice on the Fraser River at Ft. Langley, before heading to Hawaii enroute to race in the Australian National dragon boat Races in Sydney Australia. The dragon boat that the team uses to practice... is stolen... found... then later later found cut in half!!! more »
Thursday, March 29
Harper and Conservatives say "No Apology" for First Nations residential schools.
by
Todd
on Thu 29 Mar 2007 11:58 PM PDT
The New Government of Canada is breaking a promise that was made to First Nations peoples by the former Liberal government of Canada. Gee.... I would hate to say that the Canadian government speaks with a forked tongue, or that the Canadian government is an "indian giver." But aside from falling into ironic derogatory stereotypes, I think it's a mistake if Harper and the Conservatives must really think that it isn't worth wooing First Nations votes for the next election, at the cost of losing votes from all Canadians who actually believe in truth, honour and good government.
~~~ Toronto Star: Opinion - "One More Apology" more »
Wednesday, March 28
Joseph Wu, origami expert extraordinaire! on page 1 Vancouver Sun
by
Todd
on Wed 28 Mar 2007 11:57 PM PDT
It was a wonderful surprise to see Joseph Wu's smiling face on today's (Thursday, March 28, 2007) front page. Joseph is an amazing origami folder. He actually quit his full-time job a few years ago, as he was able to make a living from his creative original paper folded creations.
Joseph has folded the original creations for Stolichnaya vodka ads such as the swan, eagle, butterfly and more. You can view them in the "Illustration" category of his website. www.origami.as ~~~~ read article more »
Kadoya Sushi on Davie St. Try the specialty rolls
by
Todd
on Wed 28 Mar 2007 11:52 PM PDT
I went to Kadoya for the first time on Friday night, March 23... and I LIKED it! On the walls are many compliments to the restaurant, staff and the food. It is entertaining just reading all of the different place mat sized drawings and compliments. There is even a sign up on both sides of the restaurant stating if you are allergic to something, please tell the serving staff. The specialty sushi rolls are REALLY SPECIAL. They are truly creations of culinary art. They are named Rainbow (each piece a different colour), Cinderalla, Snow White, Queenie, Princess, Canuck. They are large, eight pieces and cost $7.95. They almost fill you if you are going for dinner. more »
Tuesday, March 27
Did the "slanted eyes" comment defeat Boisclair in Quebec election or was it because of other judgments and gaffes?
by
Todd
on Tue 27 Mar 2007 05:19 PM PDT
Andre Boisclair has led the Parti Quebecois to one of it's most stunning defeats. Boisclair recently won the anger of Asian-Quebeccers for refusing to apologize for "slanting eyes" comment aimed at Asians.
Did it make a difference in exposing the poor judgements of a man who wanted to become the next separatist leader of Quebec? Did it demonstrate the problems of misunderstanding multiculturalism when the man wanted to create a sovereigntist monoculture? Prior to the election, a coalition of Asian Canadians in Quebec sent out the following letter on Saturday afternoon, March 24, 2007, in both English and French. The strategy was to focus on the voices of Asian Quebecers. The signatories were those who responded before today's media release. more »
Vancouver Sun: Where Harper Falls Short - article about failed promises
by
Todd
on Tue 27 Mar 2007 04:57 PM PDT
The Vancouver Sun published a story on Saturday, March 24th titled Where Harper Falls Short. Peter O'Neil's article is aimed primarily at how the Harper governent has not addressed the party's election promises. In particular, the article also focusses on the ethnic issues of Chinese head tax, First Nations fisheries and Air India inquiry, as well as leaky condos and BC's under-representation in Parliament. Octogenarian WW2 veteran Gim Wong is quoted as saying that the "Harper government's apology and redress package involving $20,000 cheques which went to surviving head tax payers or their surviving widows of payers, was a 'huge' breakthrough." more »
Sunday, March 25
Jen Sookfong Lee's new novel "The End of East" is profiled in Vancouver Sun, G&M + More
by
Todd
on Sun 25 Mar 2007 12:50 PM PDT
Jen Sookfong Lee is celebrating the book launch of her novel The End of East, today at 2pm at the Salt Tasting Room in Blood Alley, located in Vancouver's Gastown. Her novel tells the story of the early Chinese pioneers to Vancouver during the time of head tax (895-1923) and the 1923 exclusion act. She also parallels a contemporary story of present day Samantha Chan who tries to run away from Vancouver to Montreal to escape her "Chinese-ness" but ends up returning when she discovers her grandfather's head tax certificate.... Time will tell.... But for now, good reviews are coming for Jen Sookfong Lee. The Vancouver Sun profiled her in Saturday's March 24th Arts & Review. The Globe and Mail's Joe Weibe profiled her in Friday's March 23rd edition. I especially liked George Fetherling's March 17th Globe & Mail's review of "The End of East." more »
Saturday, March 24
Tartan Day for Canada? Should Scots' contributions to Canada be recognized?
by
Todd
on Sat 24 Mar 2007 09:21 AM PDT
A Bill for Tartan Day is before the House of Commons right now. This is to recognize that the Scots have made important contributions to the building of Canada as a nation. Afterall Canada's first prime minister, John A. MacDonald was born in Scotland, as was the second - Alexander Mackenzie. British Columbia's first governor James Douglas was born in Guyana to a Scottish father and Creole mother and sent to Scotland to be schooled. But it was also the Scots who played a big role in creating and supporting the Chinese head tax, when it was feared that incoming Chinese were taking jobs away from whites. When Scottish nanny Janet Smith was murdered in Vancouver, there was an "ethnic war" between Scots and Chinese, when a Chinese house boy was accused, then aquitted... described in the book Canadian Holy War A Story of Clans, Tongs, Murder, and Bigotry by Ian Macdonald and Betty O'Keefe. ~~~~~ Ahhh.... such was the early conflict between Scots and Chinese in BC's early pioneer life, before they started falling in love with each other and having babies together. This is what makes organizing Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Days so satisfying. Nothing like a little "Romeo and Juliet" to make everybody a little gushy. Hmmm.... maybe I should write a story about a Scottish-Canadian maiden falling in love with a Chinese-Canadian male and set in in pioneer BC? more »
Wednesday, March 21
Head Tax cheque finally ready for Mrs. Der; PM & Kenney to apologize to family
by
Todd
on Wed 21 Mar 2007 02:04 PM PDT
It's sad to think that it took the death of the oldest surviving head tax spouse to galvinize the Conservative Government and Heritage Canada into action over the long-delayed ex-gratia payments to head tax spouses.
I know that many of my colleagues in the head tax redress movement are greatly saddened this past week by the passing of both Mrs Quon Chung Shee Der in Vancouver and Mr. Ralph Lee in Toronto. From coast to coast, people have been recalling stories of Mrs. Der climbing 2 flights of stairs to attend an information meeting back in November 2005, or of Mr. Lee wheeling around parliament in his wheelchair on June 22, 2006 - the of the parliamentary apology. more »
Tuesday, March 20
Mrs. Der, oldest living head tax spouse, dies without head tax refund
by
Todd
on Tue 20 Mar 2007 09:48 AM PDT
Mrs Quon Chung Shee Der (謝關仲樹), 102, died last Friday, Daniel Lee, fellow head tax activist told me on Sunday morning. Daniel and his wife Cynthia were family friends and had visited her earlier in the week. Mrs. Der had by default, become the oldest living head tax spouse. She had been an active senior in the redress campaign. ~~~~ statement from Sid Tan + pictures and news story. more »
Monday, March 19
"Slanted Eyes?" Does Parti Quebecis leader Andre Boisclair have a "slanted" view of Asian-Canadians?
by
Todd
on Mon 19 Mar 2007 11:53 PM PDT
PQ leader Andre Boisclair has called Asians "yeux bridés" which translates as "slanted eyes." He is not making an apology for this racist slur. He says it is an acceptable term in french language. The Chinese-Canadian National Council has called on Boisclair to apologize. He is refusing. Even May Chiu the Chinese-Canadian born in Quebec who ran as a Bloc Quebecois candidate in the 2006 federal election against Paul Martin has said that ""yeux bridés" is a derogatory term and she will review her membership in the PQ party. Is Boisclair living in the dark ages? There used to be a time when the term "coloured person" was acceptable in society... or "chink"... or "blackie"... Communication is about people understanding the message you are trying to convey, not telling people they are wrong for misunderstanding you. This is why racism is wrong and hurtful. Imagine telling somebody that because they don't like the term you call them, you are not wrong - they are! more »
Vancouver Heritage Award of Honour given by Mayor Sam Sullivan to Save Kogawa House Committee and TLC
by
Todd
on Mon 19 Mar 2007 11:48 PM PDT
It was one month ago that the Vancouver Heritage Award of Honour was given to Save Kogawa House and TLC The Land Conservancy of BC. Now I have a picture from the event.
You can check out the stories and press releases below
GungHaggisFatChoy.com :: TLC and Save Joy Kogawa House committee both ... PICTURE of BILL TURNER & TODD WONG with Vancouver Mayor SAM SULLIVAN. more »
John Rutherford’s
Check Your Chart, for the Week of 19 March, 2007
by
Todd
on Mon 19 Mar 2007 11:38 PM PDT
Well, let’s see. Spring has ris’. Mother Gaia has gone through the warmest Winter on record… again. Osama turned 50. The Iraq debacle turns 4.
It comes out that “KSM”, the 9/11 mastermind, admitted to everything done by Al Qaeda, all under torture, of course. If true, Osama must really miss him.
Iraqi government-sponsored death squads rule the streets. That country’s biggest (civil?) war contractor, Halliburton, bails out of close scrutiny to the regulation-free zone called Dubai. And, the Donald calls Bush a liar, the worst Pres in history.... Closer to home, primitive bigotries pervade the Quebec election, what with gay-bashing and charges of racism. As prep for a federal election, enviro-guy Dion comes on strong for law and order, while the law and order guy turns a shade of green, mostly as in greenback, what with all the promises and spending. What budget? Where’s the conservation? Already, the sense of urgency about Global Warming is getting a chill.
And, where’s the focus on the giant ape in the room? We wouldn’t have such eco-desolation, such consumption, such pollution if there weren’t so darned many of us. more »
Ralph Lee, 107, was oldest to pay head tax - passes away 5 days after receiving cheque
by
Todd
on Mon 19 Mar 2007 07:11 PM PDT
Ralph Kung Kee Lee passed away only five days after receiving his ex-gratia payment from the Canadian government. In 2006, Lee was the oldest activist asking the government to make a sympbolic return of head tax money charged only to immigrants of Chinese ancestry. It seemed like only days ago, that the Conservative government had a photo op with Mr. Lee.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Mrs. Der - the oldest living head tax spouse who passed away in Vancouver on Friday evening. Back in December 2005, the 101-year old Mrs. Der climbed 2 flights of stairs to attend a meeting organized by the BC Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Families. In early 2006, Mrs. Der met with both MP Jason Kenney, and Prime Minister Steven Harper - who both promised her quick action for giving immediate symbolic repayment for surviving head tax payers and spouses. + links to news stories more »
Sunday, March 18
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team March 18 practice
by
Todd
on Sun 18 Mar 2007 10:44 PM PDT
It's dragon boat time again. Cherry blossoms are blooming and dragon boat teams are paddling on the waters of False Creek. The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team practices on Sunday afternoons at 1pm, and Tuesdays at 6pm. We practice from Dragon Zone, run by the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival, located just south of Science World. more »
Monday, March 12
Oldest Surviving Chinese Head Tax Subject Gets Compensation
by
Todd
on Mon 12 Mar 2007 10:42 PM PDT
The oldest surviving head tax payer received his ex-gratia payment on Saturday March 10th. Ralph Lung Kee Lee is 107 years old. Amazing that he was able to live this long despite the hardships faced by Chinese pioneers in Canada, as well as the systemic racism which included denial of citizenship, naturalization and voting rights. Account from CCNC + CITYNEWS story more »
Friday, March 9
Our History is Still Being Written: The Story of Three Chinese-Cuban Generals
by
Todd
on Fri 09 Mar 2007 03:15 PM PST
Preview for Sunday, March 11 meeting at the Vancouver Public Library's largest venue, the Alice McKay Room, to hear Mary-Alice Waters, the editor of Our History is Still Being Written: the Story of Three Chinese Cuban Generals in the Cuban Revolution and a panel of speakers. Waters conducted interviews with the three generatls over a period of four years to prepare the book..
Speakers at Vancouver Public Library, Sunday, March 11, 2:30 pm
G r a c e S c h e n k e v e l d: co-chair Head Tax Families Society of Canada
T r e v S u e - A - Q u a n: author, Cane Reapers, Chinese Indentured Immigrants in Guyana
S i d T a n: Chairperson, Chinese Canadian National Council
M a r y – A l i c e W a t e r s: editor, Our History; president, Pathfinder Press
more »
Saturday, March 3
Dragon Boat season again: Gung Haggis Fat Choy team hits the water on Sunday March 4th
by
Todd
on Sat 03 Mar 2007 03:29 PM PST
The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat had an incredible season in 2006, and we look forward to an even better season with so many returning paddlers. We welcome recreational and beginner paddlers... and if we have enough beginner paddlers we will spin off a 2nd team for beginners....
Our team emphasizes fun, food, and fitness and multiculturalism... in that order. Sometimes we say we have a foodie team that likes to paddle. But our paddlers have also decided to unleash their competitive nature for 2007 and really want to improve for this season... while still accomplishing fun, food and fitness and multiculturalism. more »
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