Roy Mah's address for the 2002 ACWW Community Buiilder's Award

Special from Sid Tan.  Sid was on the ACWW organizing committee with me, when we helped to create the inaugural ACWW Community Builder's Dinner in September 2002.  Sid filmed the event for his community television program "Saltwater City."

He once jokingly introduced me as "the notorious Sid Tan" to a friend. I joked back, "Not as notorious as you Roy, especially around all those Miss Chinatowns." He smiled and retorted without hesitation, "Occupational hazard. Comes with the job."

Here's hoping you feel the following speech by Roy Mah is worth printing. Roy Mah delivered this speech on September 29, 2002 upon receiving the inaugural Community Builder Award from the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop.

Yours sincerely,

Sid Chow Tan

---

Roy Quock Quon Mah, OBC, was born in Edmonton , schooled in Victoria and died June 22, 2007 in his 89th year. A WWII veteran, he was among the first Chinese Canadian full-time labour organisers and publisher of the Chinatown News (1953-1995), an influential English language magazine based in Vancouver . Following is his acceptance speech upon receiving the inaugural Community Builder Award from the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop on September 29, 2002.

===

Thank you for presenting me with this unique award. I feel greatly humbled and honoured in accepting it. To me, the significance of this award is that it is being presented by the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop.

When the Chinatown News was founded a little more than four decades ago, there was no such fraternity as the Asian Canadian Writers'

Workshop around. Our community then could best be described as a cultural desert. Yet less than a half century later, that desert has been transformed into a blossoming colourful literary garden with authours, novelists and poets popping up everywhere.

Even more gratifying, these writers have been producing fantastic works in tribute to their skills and storytelling. Many of their creative masterpieces have been receiving attention and winning book prizes. This is terrific. At this rate of proliferation of literati in our community, I predict before long, you will see the emergence of many literary stars whose writings will qualify for book of the month club and receiving prestigious awards. And why not?

Free from the racist barriers imposed on earlier generations, today's Asian Canadian writers can compete with anyone on a level playing field. In fact, this is already happening. In today's pluralistic society, the sky's the limit in all areas of national life, including the cultural realm for gifted individuals.

What a change from the time Chinatown News had to implore the corporate world and crown corporations to remove the glass ceiling from job opportunities for ethnic minorities. One of our pet editorial themes in those days was to needle the mainstream media to hire more Chinese Canadian journalists for their staff. Now the profusion of Asian Canadian anchorpersons and reporters in both electronic media and print is a certainly a source of pride and satisfaction to all of us.

Could it be in the not too distant future, the Asian Canadian writer's brigade will decide to drop the designation and just look upon themselves as professional writers like those now working in the mainstream media?

This media advisory is sent to me from Sid Tan and the Head Tax Families Society of Canada.  Last year I took pictures of both the rally and the Canada Day celebrations at Chinese Cultural Centre:
Canada Day in Chinatown: ceremonies + head tax redress march

Media Advisory – June 28, 2007

Second Annual Chinatown Redress Rally on Canada Day:

Head Tax Families to Gather at Chinatown Memorial 

Vancouver, BC –  Head Tax Families Society of Canada will mark this Canada Day with the Second Annual Chinatown Redress Rally. They will call on Prime Minister Stephen Harper for an inclusive just and honourable redress to start with good-faith negotiations with representatives of head tax families. 

Time:  10:30am call time – program to begin shortly after

Date:   Sunday July 1, 2007

Place: Memorial to Railway Workers and War Veterans

            Keefer and Columbia (NE corner), Vancouver

The Head Tax Families Society of Canada is today's Canadians on a twenty-three year struggle for an inclusive redress with justice and honour for affected head tax families. Go to www.headtaxfamilies.org for more information.

- 30 -

Contact:

Sid Tan – 604-783-1853

Vancouver has a brand new police chief. Born in Shanghai, he is locally raised, growing up and playing band and rugby at Charles Tupper High School in Vancouver, graduating in 1978. Gee.... I played band and rugby in my grade 12 year at Carson Graham in North Vancouver in 1978! There used to be a time in Vancouver when the police seemed to be all British descendants with lots of Scots, and they looked at the Chinese with suspicion. In 1924, A Scottish nanny named Janet Smith was killed, a Chinese houseboy was accused, and the Scotland Yard was called in.   more »

This the story the Vancouver Sun published about Roy Mah on Monday, June 25th. Roy's niece Ramona Mar is interviewed.  I have been friends with Ramona since 1986, when we worked together on the Saltwater City exhibit held in the David Lam Multipurpose Hall at the Chinese Cultural Centre.

'Gentle' man touched so many people's lives

Chantal Eustace

Vancouver Sun

Monday, June 25, 2007

 

CREDIT: Ian Lindsay, Vancouver Sun Community leader Roy Mah died Friday at the age of 89.

VANCOUVER - Chinatown 's soft-spoken revolutionary, Roy Mah, may be gone, but the freedom fighter's legacy will live on, say his friends and family.

Mah -- publisher, human rights activist and soldier -- was above all a champion of Canadian multiculturalism, said his niece, Ramona Mar.

"He was a passionate, humble man with a strong passion for human rights, particularly vis-a-vis Chinese-Canadians because he grew up in such racist times," said Mar in an interview with The Vancouver Sun on Sunday.

Mah, who suffered from kidney disease, passed away peacefully in a Vancouver hospital Friday at the age of 89.

Mar said he will be dearly missed.

"He was just there for everyone," said Mar, 50, a former CBC journalist. "I'm going to remember him as a role model in the Chinese community."

She said that more than 720 people showed up to celebrate her uncle's last birthday at Chinatown 's Floata Seafood Restaurant, a testiment to many people he touched in the community.

Not that he was showy or loud.

"You would never think that that guy was responsible for bringing multiculturalism and the vote to Chinese-Canadians. I have trouble being able to believe he was able to rally people around issues -- but he did," said Mar. "Quietly."

Mah preferred to do things in a behind-the-scenes manner with a quiet determination, said his long-time pal, Fred Mah, 72, a retired scientist with Environment Canada. (He is no relation to Roy .)

He said his friend was a good communicator. Together, they helped to form the city's Chinese Cultural Association back in 1973.

"He's quite gentle -- not like me," he said. "He's very good with people."

He said he is a better person because of their friendship.

"To me, anyway, he expanded my outlook on life -- especially on multiculturalism on that sort of thing. He was a champion for multiculturalism," said Fred Mah. "I think that throughout his life, equality has been an important thing for him."

Roy Mah was born in Edmonton in 1918 and moved to Victoria when he was six years old. Back then, schools were segregated. He wasn't allowed to swim in the public pool.

It wasn't an easy time to be a Chinese-Canadian.

"Somehow he developed this incredible passion for fighting for the underdog," Mar said. "I never knew him to complain. Not a once."

Instead of griping, Mah turned to action.

He joined the army and became one of the first Chinese-Canadians to fight in the Second World War, encouraging others to join him.

"He really went to fight in two wars, one for the allies and one for Chinese-Canadians," Mar said.

When he returned, Mah lobbied the government for the right to vote, something that was granted to Chinese-Canadians in 1947.

His fight didn't stop there.

Mah became a union organizer when he took a job with the International Woodworkers of America where he worked fighting for Chinese-Canadians' rights.

In 1953, he started the country's first Chinese-Canadian English-language news magazine, The Chinatown News. During the 40 years he operated the News, he also founded the B.C. Ethnic Press Association.

Mar said the publication even caught the eye of then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau, who invited Mah to accompany him on a trip to China .

"He wanted to build strength and have people be proud of their lives here," said Mar.

In an interview with The Vancouver Sun in May, Mah said that throughout his life, he wanted to help transform Canada into a multilingual and multicultural society. Looking back on it all, he said: "Now we're equal."

ceustace@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=3686d5e4-fc00-4af7-82e7-0f9a6c0853da

Roy Mah, founder of Chinatown News dies.  Saltwater City laments the passing of a true local Chinatown hero.


It's a sad day in Vancouver Chinatown today.  Roy Mah died on Friday. He was the WW2 veteran who joined a "suicide squad" to fight for a country called Canada - that wouldn't even let him vote in the land he was born in.  The Edmonton AB born son of a head tax payer was founder and long time editor of Chinatown News, founder of the BC Ethnic Press, 1st Chinese-Canadian admitted to the Canadian Club Vancouver, and recipient of the Order of BC.

Just after noon I was contacted by a Georgia Straight reporter asking about my thoughts and relationship with Roy Mah.  I told him that Roy was one of my iconic role models.  I used to read Chinatown News at my Great-Grandmother's house when I was a child.  I used to see Roy in Chinatown during the 1970's and knew where his office was.  During the 1980's I approached Roy, and submitted some arts reviews for Rosie's Cafe, and Cats - including my developing social commentary about Asian Canadian arts and history and racism.  Roy even gave me a letter when I travelled to New York City, to request a review pass for M. Butterfly on Broadway.

In 2002, with my involvement with Asian Canadian Writer's Workshop, we honoured Roy with the inaugural Community Builder's Award. Roy also enjoyed attending the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner.  He last attended in 2005, and when I acknowledged him to the 570 strong audience, he was given a spontaneous standing ovation.

In recent years, he would always wave hello to me when he walked past me working at the Vancouver Public Library information desk.  Roy always liked to come into the library to read the newspapers.  It was harder for him because he was on kidney dialysis.  But we usually managed to have some nice chats, and occasionally some coffee together.

I last saw Roy on May 12th at the 60th Anniversary dinner for Canadian Citizenship, sponsored by Pacific Unit 280.  I was sorry I had to miss his "90th Birthday party" on Easter Weekend. This was the first time I had seen Roy in a wheelchair.  His health had taken a downturn a couple of years ago, and I had missed him hobbling into the library with a big smile on his face whenever he saw me.  At the dinner, the Chinese Canadian Military Museum gave out dvd's containing interviews with many of the veterans.  Claudia Ferris was the documentary producer.  Roy's niece Ramona Mar was one of the interviewers.  Gloria Leung is Claudia's sister-in-law, and also heloed out on the project.  And we all adore Roy Mah!
 



There will be a public Celebration of Life for Roy Mah on Thursday, July 12 at 2:00 pm at the Chinese Cultural Centre in the David Lam Hall. 

Vancouver Sun published a story Monday on Roy with interviews with his nice Ramona Mar.
CBC Radio interviewed Ramona and Wesley Lowe on Monday, and Larry Wong was interviewed for Channel M.

Here are some links about Roy Mah:

O.B.C. Biography - Name

Roy Quock Quon Mah - Vancouver. Click on image for full-size version Roy Mah was ... He sat on the board of the Vancouver Sun Yat-Sen Garden Society when it ...

GungHaggisFatChoy :: Vancouver Sun: Chinatown's 'quiet ...

It is always great to see a story about Roy Mah in the media. ... Roy Mah has left his imprint on almost every major event in Vancouver 's Chinese community ...

Chinatown Monument

When Chinese veterans like Roy Mah & Daniel Lee



Roy Mah and Jim Wong-Chu at the 2002 ACWW dinner where we honoured Roy with the inaugural ACWW Community Builder's Award.

50 Years of Chinatown Stories Dinner Sept. 2002

Tonight's dinner honoured Roy Mah by presenting him with the first ever Asian ... Here's a picture of Roy Mah (on the left) receiving his award from ACWW ...

Welcome to the Vancouver Courier - On Line - News

Their faces, lit by the afternoon sun, bear the lines of years of hardship and sorrow. .... Roy

Roy Mah - Veterans Affairs Canada

Did you know that Roy Mah led an emotional debate arguing that Chinese-Canadians should go to war before they received the right to vote? ...

The SoMa (South Main) or Riley Park area at Main St. and King Edward / 25th Avenue, is definitely one of my many Vancouver neighborhood hang-outs. Sometimes I can be found working at the Riley Park Branch library. I have attended and hosted writing events at The Grind coffee shop for Asian Canadian Writer's Workshop. This is a great coffee shop for studying in, hanging out, or using for meetings. I have also attended performances by friends at the Montmarte Restaurant or the Legion. It's an incredible two block strip that I particularly like from 24th to 26th Avenue along Main St, and includes one of Vancouver's best Chinese restaurants, Sun Sui Wah.   more »

It's been 60 long years since Canadians born of Chinese ancestry were given full franchise voting privileges in the country they were born in. Prior to that they were called "resident aliens." It took their willingness to fight for their country during WW2 and to continue campaigning to recall the "Chinese Exclusion Act" which had followed the Chinese Head Tax. And still they campaigned for an apology.   more »

Produced by Halya Kuchmij, narrated by Michele Cheung.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team
@ Alcan Dragon Boat Festival 2007


Paddles go deep on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team, steered steadily by Stephen Mirowski with drummer Deb Martin.  front to back along the right side are: Wendy Lee, Sarah Glazzard, Hilary Wong, Marlene Chamberlain, Jim Blatherwick, Joe Easton, Dan Seto, Art Calderwood, Sean John Kingsley, Tzhe Lam. - photo vfk.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team had a full weekend of racing and cameraderie. We raced in the Novice semis on Saturday with a 2nd place, then Sunday morning we got bumped out of the Novice Championship with a 6th place finish - but finished strong in the Novice A consolation round missing 1st place by about 3/4 second.

On Saturday afternoon, we put together a composite 50+ team officially called Gung Haggis Fat Choy & Friends nicknamed "Old Haggis Fat Boy." It was an incredible race the missed a bronze medal by less than 3/4 second to Wasbi. Wow!

Gung Haggis also added to the steering pool, Steven Wong, Stephen Mirowski and myself to help out Junior teams Killaryney, Strathcona, Lotus Junios II, plus women's team Hydromaniacs.

Gung Haggis paddler Stuart Mackinnon's junior team, (which I coached) Killarney Cougar Dragons won 2nd place medal in Junior D. I am proud of them and Gung Haggis and UA Power Dragons (which I also coached) a brand new team that made it to the Rec D Championship Finals

check out http://www.flickr.com/gp/24064901@N00/1g51yv
Pictures are taken by Christine chin's cousin - Nick Lum - please credit if you post

Big Big thanks to Jim Blatherwick for stepping into the Captain's role and being responsible for the race roster rotations.  I heard lots of complements for Jim, for being fair, keeping it fun, making sure we had perspective and encouraging us to do our best.

Lots of gratitude and thanks to steers Stephen Mirowski and drummer Deb Martin, who kept us focussed and straight on the water.

Great thank yous to Stephen Wong and Stephen Mirowski for going into the steering pool along with myself.  Steven W steered 2 races with Killarney as well as during the practice sessions.  Stephen M steers one race for Killarney, one for Strathcona + 2 for Hydrosonics a women's team from Sechelt.  I steered 1 each for Anniemaniacs, Lotus Junior II, Strathcona.

Big big contratulations to Stuart Mackinnon - one of our Rookie of the Year contenders.  Stuart had the vision to create a junior team for Killarney High School -the Cougar Dragons won Silver Medals in Junior D.

Thanks to everybody who attended our after-party at Doolin's Irish Pub.  Great to meet new dragon boat friends and celebrate with old dragon boat friends like Ian Paul of The Pirates..  Joe Easton won the 50/50...  Dale of Shibumi (Portland) won the "Up Your Kilt t-shirt).

Gung Haggis Fat Choy and UA Power Dragons - both coached by Todd Wong, faced off as the 7th and 8th seeds in their first race of the day. It was a close race - but UA beat Gung Haggis, sending GHFC into the novice division and UA into the rec division. Gung Haggis organized a 50+ Race and brought on paddlers from other teams to join with them to create oneness, despite their different styles and identities   more »

Tix available from Gung Haggis team members find us Saturday and Sunday @ Alcan Dragon Boat Festival FREE admission to the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival this year   more »

Alcan Dragon Boat Festival Friday: Blessing Ceremony + we crash the VIP Party


The blessing ceremony for the 19th annual Alcan Dragon Boat Festival went well.. except for Todd being slowed by North Shore traffic.  Channel M had just called me and was asking if our honourary drummer James Erlandsen, leukemia patient, would be on the boat...

"Nope" I said, "his white blood count is too depleted." 
"But James' spirit will be with us when we are on the boat, and our spirit is with his, in his recovery back to health." We are helping to find a matching Eurasian bone marrow for James.  3 of our paddlers are Eurasian, and we have 3 inter-racial couples on the team! Hapa is s-o-o-o in!

Hmmm.... I arrived late and the team was already on the dock.  I brought down the kilts which paddler Stuart Mackinnon and Drummer Deb each quickly put on. Team Captain Jim Blatherwick already had his kilt on.

We loaded up the boat, and Taoist priests were already chanting and dotting the eyes of the dragons...   then we paddled away from the Dragon Zone dock.  Usually it is this time that drummer Deb does her introductions of new guest paddlers on the boat - but in the 1st seat - the female priest was singing/chanting.  Hillary's mother Bev Wong (James Erlandsen's Aunt), and currently inactive paddlers Jeremy and Jen - took pictures of us and waved to us from the Dragon Zone deck.

We paddled over to a float set up on the North side of Dragon Zone - within good viewing of the VIP lounge on the North West side of the Science World deck.  We let off the priest + a VIP + Captain Jim... the priests did blessings.  Captain Jim stood during the ceremonies, and chatted with the captains of Concord dragon boat team - Fred Roman, and captain of Cathay Pacific - May.   Jim says the priests gave him a "lucky coin".  While we waited the 20 minutes while the priests did their equipment takedown - We paddled some figure 8's and Deb introduced our guest paddlers.  2 youngsters from Kitsilano Water Demons junior team, and their coach Chek Tay - whom I have known since 1999.

We paddled back to the Dragon Zone dock - We started saying our goodbyes because Deb & Todd were heading off to the ADBF VIP party, and our paddlers were deciding what to do next when they were immediately asked to help carrying things down to the dock, as Water's Edge was setting up the race course.  While our paddlers helped out, and Todd bumped into ADBF general manager Ann Phelps who said that she had to go help out her volunteers at the VIP party.  Todd asked if she needed more volunteers, and offered the GHFC paddlers. So we all did get to go to the VIP party afterall.... but as volunteers. 

It was easy... we served drinks, bused the used dishes, and Todd helped out at the reception desk.  We were told that we could relieve the current volunteer staff, switch off and enjoy the party.  We did...   Free wine, beer, drinks and food, food, food. 

Steven Wong saw his brother Peter who is past-president for ADBF.  Georgia and I talked with Marlene's very good friend Patrick Couling - who is an ADBF race advisor.  Vancouver City Councillor George Chow asked me to help out with the 100th anniversary dinner for the 1907 Chinatown Riots.  I chatted up the Rogers VIP representatives we had paddled over to the float - potential sponsorship maybe?  Deb even got her father into the VIP party, by putting a GHFC shirt over his t-shirt.  We schmoozed, we ate, we drank, and volunteered hard. 

Hillary, our rookie paddler is amazing... This is her first Alcan Dragon Boat Festival, and she is both a paddler and a volunteer. Tonight, she bused hard, following a previous night when she did a First Aid course for ADBF volunteers.  Two weeks ago she volunteered at the ADBF regatta, when Gung Haggis wasn't paddling.  And she will do so again during the festival.  Thank You Hillary.

Gung Haggis really helped out the ADBF tonight - both during the blessing ceremony and for the VIP party. ADBF Communications director Anita Webster, also said I saved her bacon this morning when I interviewed for 2 spots during the City TV Breakfast TV morning show- and especially for coming up for a tour of the DZ clubhouse, when the heavens let loose the rains at 9am this morning.

Thank You everybody.  This is a FANTASTIC team, because of the high quality of the people on the team.  It is a group that I and its team members really enjoy being around.

Slainte, Toddish

This morning I was interviewed by Tasha Chiu of CityTV's Breakfast Television. She asked me about the symbology of Chinese dragons, and how the early origins of dragon boat racing have changed from wooden dragon boat heads to foam heads, and from wooden teak boats to fibreglass - bringing this ancient ritual into the 21st Century.   more »

We have a good strong core with 7 rookies who raced their first dragon boat races this year. We have 5 second year paddlers. We have 14 paddlers who have raced for 2+ years. We have built flexibility into the team, and have 3 people who can drum, 4 people who can steer, 5 people who can do lead stroke.   more »

June 10th, 2007 marks the 50thanniversary of the election of Douglas Jung, Canada's 1st Member of Parliament. I met Mr. Jung on two occasions - the first was at a community meeting for redress for Chinese Head Tax back around 1984 or so. Recently Wesley Jung launched his film documentary about Douglas Jung titled "I am the Canadian Delegate" which aired in February 18thon Channel M. Jung received many honours during his lifetime, including both the Order of BC, and the Order of Canada.   more »

There were two statements in the House of Commons about Douglas Jung: on June 8th by Jim Abbott (Conservative) and June 11th by Meili Faille (BLOC). " Mr. Speaker, yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the election of Douglas Jung, the first Canadian of Chinese origin to be elected to the House of Commons for the riding of Vancouver Centre. Every step of Mr. Jung's career set a precedent in relations to improve racial tension. Mr. Jung was the first member of Chinese origin to sit in the House of Commons and to represent Canada at the United Nations and he was also the first Chinese lawyer to argue before the British Columbia Court of Appeals."   more »