True patriot Love: North Shore News article on Todd Wong, Betty Wong and Tracey Hinder re: The Chan Legacy

http://www.canada.com/northshorenews/news/live/story.html?id=281951b4-4181-4c68-a39b-5e5855445271

- Generations: The Chan Legacy is re-scheduled for August 19, on CBC Newsworld at 4 p.m. PST / 7pm EST

To say that Todd Wong, a 47-year-old North Vancouver resident, is proud of his roots would be an understatement.

Wong's family is one that has greatly impacted Canada's history and as a result its members continue to celebrate where they come from.

"We're just a Canadian family," says Wong, not downplaying his family's identity, but rather stating, realistically, who they are.

Not only has the Chan family survived, its members are continuing to thrive, exemplifying what it means to truly be "Canadian."

Wong's family's unique story is being brought to life in Generations: The Chan Legacy, a CBC documentary airing today on CBC Newsworld. It's part of a series of documentaries called Generations and was produced by Halya Kuchmij.

Filmmakers approached Wong, known in the Lower Mainland for his unique interest in multiculturalism, community work and activism. He's the founder of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, a website promoting inter-cultural activities.

Wong is also behind a 10-year-old Vancouver tradition, the Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner -- a mix of Chinese and Scottish traditions meant to play against racial stereotypes -- and he's a member of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team that further promotes multiculturalism and community spirit.

Wong's website site also details his adventures, told at times through his alter ego, "Toddish McWong," further celebrating what it is to be Canadian, he says.

The documentary discusses Wong's great, great grandfather Reverend Chan Yu Tan and how he and his wife came to the West Coast in 1896 to "spread the gospel" throughout, he says. Methodist church missionaries, they were tasked with "Westernizing" and "Christianizing" the Chinese pioneers, the majority working in labour-based jobs like the railroad.

Filming and interviews with Wong and his relatives, encompassing a number of generations, happened last fall.

"Before the documentary, I didn't know a lot about my ancestry," says Wong's second generation cousin, West Vancouver resident Tracey Hinder, 15, who's featured in the film. Hinder attends West Vancouver secondary.

"I only knew that I was Chinese-Canadian, that my mother was Chinese and that my father was British-Canadian. With the making of the documentary, I found that my family history started to unfold and I never knew that part of myself. It was absolutely fascinating," Hinder says.

Hinder is a member of her school's multiculturalism club, which organizes activities for students to participate in. She's also learning Mandarin.

Wong says he's proud of her as he believes it's important to ensure the younger generations of his family come to know and recognize their ancestral roots.

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Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team and supporters: standing: Bill Martin (back view) Hillary Wong, Pat martin (peeking), Wendy Lee, Craig Brown, Tzhe Lam, Jim Blatherwick, Todd Wong, Emma Hopkins, Stephen Mirowski, Jonas Ng, Steven Wong, Sandra, Jane Johnson, Dan Seto, Joanne Black, Gerry Black, Richard Montagna sitting: Ashleigh Dalton, Deb Martin (steers), Sarah Wong (Remus' daughter), Rebecca Wong (Remus' daughter), Hyuma, Dave Samis, Remus Wong, Leanne Riding, Cheryl McIntosh, Holly Parsons

Gold medals for Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team in Vernon!

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team won Rec B in Vernon Dragon Boat Races today.

On Saturday - we races two 200m sprints + one 500 m race + a demonstration 1000m race - where we got knocked around by a rogue wave, which resulted in a collision.  Another boat hit our drum broadside.  Nobody was hurt.

We had a wonderfu team BBQ + swimming + canoes at Martin's Nest on Kalamalka Lake.

Sunday, we raced hard in the Rec B semi-finals with a time of 2:26. - securing a place in the final.  Sunday afternoon we placed our best time of 2:23 - good enough for 1st place gold medal



pictures & more details to follow.

Generations: The Chan Legacy on CBC Newsworld.
July 29th - 4pm and midnight

The Chan Legacy is the lead episode in the new documentary series Generations on CBC Newsworld.  It debuted on July 4th - my grandmother's 97th birthday.

How fitting!  Because the show is about her grand-father Rev. Chan Yu Tan who came to Canada in 1896 as a Christian missionary.

Feedback has been very positive.  Family members are very proud.  Friends are very supportive.  Historians are enthusiastic. Strangers are thrilled.

Listen to Auntie Helen and Uncle Victor tell stories about Rev. and Mrs. Chan, and about growing up in pre-WW2 BC, and facing racial discrimination.  Uncle Victor Wong also tells about enlisting as a Canadian soldier to go behind enemy lines in the Pacific for suicide squadrons, fighting for Canada, even though Chinese-Canadians could not vote in the country of their birth.

The next generations assimiliated more easily into Canadian culture.  Gary Lee became an actor and singer.  Janice Wong became a visual artist and author of the book CHOW: From China to Canada - memories of food and family, which addressed the history of Rev. Chan coming to Canada, and how Janice's dad started a Chinese restaurant in Prince Albert SK.

Then there is Todd Wong - cultural and community activist who founded Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner - which inspired a CBC Vancouver television performance special.  Todd is shown active in the dragon boat community, and speaking at a Terry Fox Run in the role of a 16 year cancer survivor.  Renowned Japanese-Canadian author Joy Kogawa makes an appearance, as Todd was also involved in helping to save Kogawa's childhood home from demolition and to turn it into a national historic and literary landmark.

July 29th Sunday - repeats at midnight

4:00 p.m.

Generations: The Chan Legacy - Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.

J

Hip, Hapa and Happening:  What to do in intercultural Vancouver this weekend

My computer mother board tanked my computer time yesterday... so articles are down to a bare minimum this week, as I also head up to Vernon for the 3rd Annual Greater Vernon Dragon Boat Races.

Check out:

Enchanted Evenings summer concert series at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Classical Gardens in Vancouver Chinatown.  This is a great way to spend a Friday evening with great musicians in an intimate setting.

Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Classical Gardens.
578 Carrall St. between Pender and Keefer.

July 27

Vancouver Chinese Ensemble

The Ensemble presents to the public an eclectic repertoire that embraces popular and traditional Chinese music as well as Western classical and contemporary compositions.

Go see COWBOY VERSUS SAMURAI at the Firehall Arts Centre

July 20 - August 3, 2007
put on by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre.

I went on opening night with 15 members of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team and we all really enjoyed it.

Cowboy Versus Samaurai is a multicultural re-telling of the Cyrano de Bergerac story, that was retold and reset in Nelson BC, in the Steve Martin movie "Roxanne."  This time prepare for a Western setting of Wyoming - complete with cowboys and samaurais. I will be writing a review from the opening night performance.  Check out the following press releases, and check out the website www.vact.ca

ALL OVER THE MAP

Outdoor dance and music series
Ron Basford Park, Granville Island
Sundays at 2pm
FREE
July 29th

Feel it!   Tango Paradiso and dancers

http://www.newworks.ca/alloverthemap.html

Last week I ended up on stage learning Celtic dancing to Punjabi-Celtic fusion music.
Barbara Clausen of New Works has created a wonderful culturally interesting summer series of dance, music and fun.  Tango Paradiso is exciting... Wish I could be there...  I started learning to play tangos on my accordion when I was 12 years old.

CUPE local 391 (City of Vancouver Library Workers) is on strike for the first time in it's union history! Bad city management!!!  Why don't they return to the bargaining table?  Why don't they acknowledge union concerns instead of asking for concessions! This morning, I attended a CUPE 391 study session, with my fellow library workers, and learned why Vancouver City library workers are taking job action.  The meeting was lead by union president Alex Youngberg, whom I have known for many years.  She has always been supportive of my Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner events, and other community efforts.  Today Alex and the bargaining committee explained why they are frustrated that the Library management has not acknowledged union concerns and issues, nor made counter offers.  Instead they try to impose a contract with concessions.  see: http://www.cupe391.ca Why has high priced PR firm from Toronto, Wilcox Group, (the one that handled SARS) been hired to give an "Olympic spin" and deflect the real issues, such as job equity, job wage disparity, etc. see http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/news Why is Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan (who has been a big supporter of Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner events) continually saying that the issue is about preventing a strike during the Olympics when the unions state "We have never said, will never say and have no intention of shutting the city down during the Olympics."  I thought the strike was for wage equity, fairness and other labour issues.  Who cares about the Olympics?  It will last for 2 weeks.  Vancouver civic workers will continue to be here long after.  But in the meantime, can we have a fair wage please?  Gee... BC finance minister Carole Taylor gave unions financial bonuses if they signed prior to a certain date, and to keep contract disputes from disrupting the Olympics. I have been a CUPE 391 member since 1975, and received my 30 year pin last year.  I have loved working at the library, and enjoy giving library patrons the best possible service, as do my co-workers.  Here's an article about Pay Equity: [PDF] Overdue: Pay Equity for Library Workers The following press release is from the CUPE website:  http://www.cupe.ca/media/Library_workers_seek Library workers seek positive resolution to avert full strike [July 25, 2007 05:44 PM] City encouraged to return to table immediately VANCOUVER – In a final effort to avoid a full blown strike at Vancouver’s libraries, CUPE 391 public library workers are encouraging their employer, the City of Vancouver, to return to the bargaining table to negotiate. Public library workers are cautiously encouraged by Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan’s move away from his ongoing demand for a 39-month contract earlier today, admitting the first step is returning to the bargaining table and seeing their local issues addressed, like pay equity, improvements for part-time and auxiliary workers, benefit improvements, and job security. Tonight (Wednesday) at 5:30 p.m. CUPE 391 will be making a presentation on pay equity, the library workers’ primary bargaining issue, to the Vancouver Public Library Board at the Central Library (350 West Georgia Street). "Finding a way to start addressing pay equity in Vancouver libraries is a high priority for our members in this round of bargaining," said CUPE 391 president Alex Youngberg. "We need to make sure that the Library Board understands why pay equity is such a significant issue for us." A recent pay equity report released in July 2007 by CUPE researchers affirmed that regardless of the equally valuable work that library workers contribute to society, traditionally female jobs in the library sector are typically lower paying than traditionally male jobs in the municipal sector. Vancouver Public Library workers are paid $7 an hour less than library workers in Toronto. Despite the City’s persistent refusal to return to the bargaining table, CUPE 391 remains open to meet and prepared to bargain. However it is anticipated that job action will escalate to a full strike by the end of the week if a fair agreement is not forthcoming. CUPE 391 represents the 790 employees of the Vancouver Public Library. Contact: Alex Youngberg, CUPE 391 President (Vancouver Public Library workers), 604-322-4879 cell: 604-908-6095. Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 778-229-0258

Toddish McWong learns Irish Step Dancing on Granville Island

I went paddling in a marathon canoe with Gung Haggis paddler Art Calderwood. We heard celtic fiddle music as we paddled into Alder Bay behind Granville Island. And of course I had to check it out.

Imagine our surprise to discover the Violet Moore Irish Dancers on stage with Delhi 2 Dublin - with Kytami fiddling away!  

I had attended the first Delhi 2 Dublin event at the 2006 Celtic Festival, and loved the energy that Kytami brought to the stage. Delhi 2 Dublin blends celtic fiddle tunes with bhangra beats, and they performed at the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival in 2006.  Here's my story about my first Kytami/Delhi 2 Dublin experience: my first Kytami/Delhi 2 Dublin experience on St. Paddy's Eve.

When they asked for audience volunteers to learn ceil dancing for Bridge of Athlone.... I was there! So was Gung Haggis paddlers Steven Wong who had been sitting in the audience. It was great fun, learning to Irish step dance. We shall have to organize a ceil dance party for Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team, food and social club.

After I stepped off the stage and outside the Performance Works building, I met the New Works producer Barbara Clausen, who had hired dancer/choreographer Andrea Nann to do some workshops in Vancouver last year.  I love Andrea...  She worked with author Michael Ondaatje and choreographed some dances based on his works for explorASIAN in 2003.  Andrea came and performed a dance for the Save Kogawa House Nov 12 Special Concert awareness event at the Vancouver Public Library in 2005.  I think it would be fun to work together with Barbara Clausen on a Gung Haggis Fat Choy type of project.

Barabra hasput together and incredible array of Sunday events at Ron Basford Park on Granville Island as part of New Works "All Over the Map" Dance and music series.  Two weeks ago our dragon boat team paddled by Granville Island and hear the Japanese Taiko drums of Uzume Taiko.

Next up for "All Over the Map":

July 29th - Feel It!
- Tango Paradiso Ensemble with Dancers
August 12th - Shake it!
- Guinean Dance and Music with Kocassale Dioubate and friends
August 19th - Hit it!
- Traditional Indonesian Dance and Music in partnership with the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia.

Gung Haggis dragon boat team races Harrison.... cancels Sunday practice

Hi everybody....

Gung Haggis paddlers agreed to cancel Sunday's practice for July 22nd.

If people would still like to do something... such as paddle canoes... or watch a movie, or rollerblade or go for lunch.... - I will be there.  1pm Sunday as normal.

We raced today July 21st at the Fraser Valley Dragon Boat Races, at beautiful Harrison Lake, set beside the town of Harrison Hot Springs.  Everybody had lots of fun.  Good cameraderie all around.  Lots of compliments from team paddlers, and other teams.

We are very tired from a very long day at Harrison.
We raced 4 hard paddled races.
We were up early by 4am to arrive by 7am
There were long delays and the races weren't finished by 7:30 when we had left.

We made it to Rec B division Mixed

There was Comp, Rec A, Rec B, Rec C

We had some great races.
first race - came 1st against lower Rec teams
2nd race - came 4th against higher Rec + Comp teams
3rd race - very solid race in Rec B semi ( we were 4th in our race) tough competition - good compliments from people watching the race.
4th race - very tired race in Rec B consolation - we came 3rd.... and have the ribbons to prove it!

Must go to bed now...
See you tomorrow...
We will prepare roster for Vernon July 28/29
and car pools for Vernon etc.

 
Cowboy Versus Samurai:
Vancouver Asian Theatre is the winner as play beats up on Asian stereotypes

Lots of laughs in the right places greeted the opening night for Cowboy Versus Samurai.  It is a witty and funny play that explores Asian stereotypes... and stereotypes of Caucasians who date Asians!

We had a group of 15 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boaters go out to dinner at Wild Ginger restaurant then attend the "Cowboy Versus Samurai" play, produced by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre.  The play is performed at Firehall Arts Centre, due to the impending City of Vancouver civic workers strike. Our group really enjoyed the play - which itself is multi-cultural, full of Chinese-Canadians, Caucasian-Canadians, Mixed Race couples and politically and community active individuals - All topics related to the play's content.

Cowboy Versus Samurai places three Asian-Americans in a small town in Wyoming, forced to deal with the racism of being a non-white minority.  They explore their identities, through a Love Quadrangle where the two Asians must compete with a White Cowboy for the affections of the only Asian woman in town.  Hilarious situations occur, because one of the Asian fellows secretly aids the letter writing campaign of the White cowboy, a la Cyranode Bergerac or the Steve Martin movie "Roxanne."  It's a great situational set-up that allows identities to hide each other like costumes or envelopes.  Well... actually they are like love letters or "scratch and win" cards that hint of hope and pleasure while unopened, but can only reveal truth of happiness or disappointment when opened or scratched.

A more comprehensive review to follow.... with pictures!

I have to go to sleep now, because I have to wake up early to go to dragon boat races at Harrison Lake.

Photos from opening night reception party!

Kilts and family history abound during two episodes of the 6-part Generations series on CBC Newsworld

Find out what a 250 year old Anglophone family in Quebec City and a 120 year old Chinese-Canadian family in Vancouver have in common.

Both have:
bagpipes and kilts
+ accordion music
+ canoe/dragon boat racing
+ immigration as a topic
+ Church music
+ archival photos/newsreels of an ex-premier
+ cultural/racial discrimination stories
+ prominent Canadian historical events to show how
   the families embraced them or were challenged by them
+ both featured saving a historical literary landmark.
+ younger generation learning the non-English language

Generations: The Chan Legacy features Todd Wong, founder of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, a quirky Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, which inspired a CBC Vancouver television performance special.  Todd's involvements with Terry Fox Run, Joy Kogawa House campaign and dragon boat racing are also shown.

July 29th 4pm PST / July 30th 12am

4:00 p.m.

Generations: The Chan Legacy - Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.

August 5th 4pm PST

4:00 p.m.

Generations: The Blairs of Quebec - An Anglophone family with 250 years of history in Quebec City struggles to maintain it's heritage.

Produced by Halya Kuchmij, narrated by Michelle Cheung.

Work took Ronnie Blair and his family to England in the 1960’s but his children longed to return to Canada, and to Quebec City. Alison Blair was the first to return, as a student, in 1972. Her brother David followed in 1974. Both were excited by the political and social changes that had taken place during the Quiet Revolution in Quebec and threw themselves into everything Francophone. David learned to speak French, married a French Canadian and settled into a law practice.

More than 200 Canadian educators will fly to China today to pay homage to fellow countryman Dr. Norman Bethune, who is considered a national hero and martyr.

The 222 educators, teachers and administrators will follow in the footsteps of Bethune -- all the way to his tomb in Shijiazhuang, where a statue, museum and hospital are dedicated to him.

The Canadian-born Bethune, who died from an infection in China in 1939, aided the Chinese against the Japanese invasion in 1938 and became a Communist.

"I'm getting very excited," said Stuart Mackinnon, a teacher at Vancouver's Killarney secondary. "I like the idea of a Canadian hero away from home; that really tickles me.

"Everyone in China knows Bethune. Even the lowest of the lowest peasants who aren't well educated say, 'Oh Canada -- Bethune.'"

The visit to the tomb is part of a 19-day trek to China, which starts with the second annual Sino-Canada International Educational Exchange Forum in Beijing.

Mackinnon, a speaker at the forum, said honouring Bethune, a "selfless contributor to society," fits well with the theme of this year's forum: what role does civic and social responsibility play in our education system?

"We're trying to tie in Norman Bethune and other heroes; people who had a strong conscience and sense of responsibility," he said.

"I believe we can strengthen our ties with China by celebrating this historical figure, common to both of our histories."

The forum is aimed at bringing Canadian and Chinese educators together to discuss issues in public education and sign friendship and exchange agreements. Mackinnon said the Chinese are interested in modernizing their education system and want to learn some techniques in place here to churn out more critical thinkers.

The trip will include stops in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Lhasa, Tibet, along with visits to rural villages and schools.

"This is a way of meeting with the people and sharing with them," Mackinnon said.

The educators are paying their own way, with Mackinnon paying about $5,000 for the trip.

The Tianjiao International Education Group, a private Canadian-based company specializing in travel for education and exchange between China and Canada, is sponsoring the forum and has negotiated discounts for hotels and flights.

Company spokesman James Zhan said Tianjiao has spent about $10,000 on renting the forum space. The Chinese Education Bureau is also spending $10,000 for the Chinese participants, he said.

Zhan said Chinese choirs will sing in Beijing and at the memorial in tribute to Bethune, who is "the great pride of friendship between the two countries."

"He is a Canadian who is so much respected in China," he said. "His spirit is really good."

ksinoski@png.canwest.com

Collisions happen in dragon boats. 

Collisions happen in dragon boats.  Protect your self, and your hands.  In 2003, Gung Haggis raced in Portland.  A team from LA, had an inexperienced steersperson that couldn't handle the power of competitve level paddlers, and she lost control of steering, and turned sharply in front of us.  We called "Hold the boat" and they called "let it run" - but we still hit them with a "bump"
Often I will coach teams to keep paddling - even if boats come so close that paddles are hitting each other.  Sometimes we practice these situations with other teams.  If the paddlers on the "near-collision" side all stop paddling and all the paddlers on the "clear" side keep paddling - then the boat will be over-powered to turn towards the "impending collision". 

In 1999, Unipharm went head to head, side by side with another team in the Novice B finals at Alcan.  Paddles collided at the beginning and the start... but the boats never did.  The race referees in the chase boat watched them carefully, and told them after the race not to  protest, because no collisions occured and the teams finished 1st and 2nd.  It was an exciting race.  Having another team beside you can push you to give more, or make you over excited and forget your technique.

Above all... watch out for your safety.  One dragon boat race isn't worth a broken hand or finger. It's been 2 months since my right baby finger was hurt (smashed on the boat gunnel and requiring 5 stitches), and the pain can still be sharp at times.  Definitely cramped my musical performing life.

Gung Haggis had what looks like near collisions at the 2007 Alcan Dragon Boat Festival... but it was only steering challenges.  The water had some strange currents and it was difficult for everybody to control their boats on Saturday afternoon.  We chased the CC Dragons, nipping at their tail... then we were asked to let it run... we did a running start, and still finished in third place.  One of our paddlers Sarah posted this video of our Saturday afternoon race:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZaJL84YWhg

Check out this Youtube video:
Here's what happens in a collision between two dragon boats...  and nobody holds their boat to stop the impending collision.  Gee... it's a mens' boat loaded with testosterone...
And the side that gets hit sits up straight - or leans into the middle to yell at the other boat or to avoid the crash... and the non-collision side keeps paddling and leaning out...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZDXWcH3rd9E

This video from the 2007 CDBA Sprint Dragon Boat Regatta Men's Final - that were held last weekend.  CDBA organizes the San Francisco Dragon Boat Races held at the end of September.  I have raced there in 1999 and 2001.  Our Gung Hagg paddlers Dan Seto, Pam Huey and Kristine Shum raced there in 2005.  And we all have medals from those races!

Gung Haggis dragon boat team getting ready for Fraser Valley races at Harrison Lake


Harrison Lake is a beautiful mountain lake with a hot spring rumoured to be somewhere in the middle of the lake.  There is a hot spring pool for the public, and a more luxurious one for hotel resort guests.  There is a lovely sandy beach, with a lagoon.  It's a great place to visit.

In 2005, we were the team with the fastest posted times going into the Recreation Finals at the at inaugural Fraser Valley Dragon Boat Races.  We were pumped.  We felt we had a date with destiny.  We were anticipating medals.  Only 4 boats in the finals.  75% chance of winning a medal.  And we had the fastest posted times.  But it didn't happen.  We fell behind at the midpoint, and chased the other boats in to collect a 4th place ribbon.

Last year, we passed on the FVDBR in favor of the Greater Vernon Dragon Boat Races at Kalamalka Lake. But this year we are returning to Harrison Lake  on July 21st., and will head to Vernon for July 28th and 29th.

We had our final two practices before the race on Sunday July 15th and Tuesday July 17th.  Both practices felt good.  24 paddlers on the boat Sunday - but not everybody is going to races in Harrison or Vernon.  Some will just join us for Vancouver Taiwanese races on Sept 1 & 2.

Each month we are rotating captains for our team.  Stephen Mirowski will captain our team for the two races in July.  He joined the team early last year, and also quickly began learning to steer.  Due to an injury that prevented him from paddling at the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival, Stephen steered for the team.  This time he is our drummer. It's good to learn all the different roles on a dragon boat team, as I help mentor him into a coaching role for our team. 

We are also integrating some new paddlers onto the team.  Gerry and Joanne have 10 years of experience and paddled on seniors teams.  I have known them for many years, and am happy to have them join Gung Haggis.  Andrew and Emma are brand new paddlers and have been making steady improvements with the 2 or 3 practices they have had so far.  I always ask new paddlers to simply focus on the timing, and to keep the paddle stroke short.  After they get the timing down, the next step is to work on their reach and rotation.  Get the paddle in early, then deep, and the power comes naturally.

For Sunday practices we warmed up and moved into working on our starts.  Stephen next had us working on endurance pieces... During the middle of the practice, I moved from paddling lead stroke to a coaching role and helping people improve their paddling technique.  After we finished a final 500m race piece, people felt good.  The boat was moving well, people paddled in time.

As we paddled towards the dock, I asked Stephen to ask each team member to call out their favorite ice cream flavor.  "Chocolate!" I yelled... other flavours soon followed.  Vanilla, Strawberry, Mango, sorbetto, were called out.  "Tequila!" yelled Wendy, followed by quizzical comments and laughs. 

"Hold the boat!" Stephen yelled.  I told the team, that I wanted one more practice start. We were now relaxed and happy.  Thinking about ice cream does that to a person.  I told the the team, I wanted an explosive start, with a big yell, deep paddles, and the best start of our day.  The team readied itself, and on Stephen's call the boat jumped forward, leaping with each stroke, lifting with our faster "Up" strokes.

"Hold the boat!" Stephen called... before we raced past the barge at the entrance to the South East harbour area.  We all patted each other for a job well done.  It was a really good start.  We were tired, but we pulled it off.

On Tuesday, we had another good practice.  Stephen was sick, so steersperson Deb Martin came up to drum to start off our practice (Deb drummed for us at Alcan, and for the two previous years and wants to steer this year).  Steven Wong steered and I did lead stroke as we worked on starts and a practice race.  I moved to the back and coached paddlers there to help build more cohesion, as our timing was off.  We did some group drills with paddlers working in groups of 4 or 6 at at time, to build timing cohesion and for resistance training.  It all came together for a final race piece.  It felt good. 

After practice we went for dinner at Congee House Restaurant where our team prides itself on fitting as many people around a single table as possible.  Tuesday the count was 15.  We ordered about 10 different dishes including sweet & sour pork, buddha's feast, salt and chili dry ribs, chicken chow mein, and cantonese steak.  Our bill came to less than $10 per person with tip.  Our team likes to eat.  Hopefully we won't be too fat to paddle dragon boat races for two weekends in a row.

Here's directions to get to Harrison Lake
http://www.fraservalleydragonboatclub.com/location.html

What do do in Kitsilano on a Sunday?
Farmer's Market? Folkfest? Spanish Banks?

Sundays can be lazy...  I haven't been rushing to go off to Church since January.  I first blamed it on being busy organizing the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner and related events... then dragon boat paddling started... and I had to prepare my coaching lessons before going out on the boats... and then the weather got too nice to spend indoors... or maybe it's because my girlfriend makes such good tasty breakfasts on Sunday mornings?

Sunday mornings in Kitsilano... walks along the beach... shopping along 4th or Broadway... But now there is something brand new and "very Kitsilano-ish."  After having lovely french toasts with my favorite "lazy maple" bacon, we headed over to the Kitsilano Community Centre after noon, to attend the inaugural West Side Farmer's Market.  The market is held on the Eastside parking lot behind the community centre and adjacent to the playing field.  Just East of Larch and between 12th and 11th Avenues.

I hadn't even been there 3 minutes, when I bumped into organizer Mel Lehan.  He was surveying how everything was going... acting as a good will ambassador.  He told me that the Farmer's Market had been doing well at Trout Lake Community Centre, and it was time for one on the West Side.  Mel lives close by, just over on MacDonald St.  Mel is an incredible community organizer in Kitsilano.  He helped Mel co-founded St. James Community Square, helped organize the Kitsilano sign at the south end of Burrard Bridge, plus so much more.  The Vancouver Courier interviewed Mel for this story: Mel Lehan instigated the Kitsilano Farmers Market to give West Siders a ...

And then we bumped into former city councillor Fred Bass, who lives close by on Larch St. Fred was wearing his biking gear, as he bikes almost everywhere.  Last summer, I introduced Fred to dragon boat paddling, so now he introduces me to people as his "dragon boat coach." 

There was lots of fresh produce.  I loved the smell of fresh basil... and wanted to buy some, but knew anything would be sitting in a hot car while we had dragon boat practice in the afternoon.  I checked over the freshly frozen lox... all the fresh raspberries, cherries and blueberries... I even considered buying some ostrich leather to make a new sporran.  In the end we settled on some mango jam.  $10 for a large jar.  I used to love this mango grill sauce - but now I can't find it anywhere.  I plan to mix the mango jam with other sauces to create some special marinades... yum yum!

After dragon boat practice, our team congregated at Mario's Gelato.  It's a new team tradition - go have gelato after practice.  As we were paddling back to the dock, I asked our drummer Stephen Mirowski to ask each paddler to shout out their favorite ice cream flavour.  Back came the enthusiastic answers, "Chocolate," "Mango," "Strawberry," "Sorbetto," "Durian" (I don't think they were serious...), but then neither was Wendy, when I prompted her to shout "Tequila!" to lots of cheers.  Our dragon boat team is a foodie team and it loves its ice cream.

The afternoon was coming to an end. After relaxing a bit, we decided to bicycle out to Jericho and check out the Folk Festival.  We both remarked that we hadn't seen so many vendors along the walkway before.  I was last at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival two years ago. It's a great place to find some real exciting intercultural music. People still talk about the workshops that featured Silk Road Music and Pepe Danza a few years ago.  Musicians meet... and music happens... it doesn't matter what  instrument, style, race, or culture.  Musicians come together, meet and make music.  Why can't politicians do the same thing?  Music is something that always finds ways to transcends racial and cultural boundaries.

Speaking of transcending racial boundaries... we bumped into friends Margaret Gallagher and Omar Kassis.  Margaret was taking a break from introducing acts in her role as a media host from CBC.  I told Margaret that I had caught the promos and her first show for "Flavour of the Week" the new cooking show she is doing with Fred Lee.  Blueberries are featured this week. gonna have to listen Wednesday 3:30 or Friday 7:30pm on CBC 690AM Radio... blueberries are my favorite.  I love the blueberry sorbetto at Casa Gelato.

We cycled all the way out to Spanish Banks. We checked out Spanish Banks Creek, where a salmon creek had been reconstructed with a holding pool.  Very nice... the tall trees kept the area cool.  We cycled past people having barbeques, people swimming in the water, people playing bocce, badminton and volleyball.  I remembered the sites where we held barbeques parties for the Gung Haggis dragon boat team on Canada Day weekends for the past 3 years.  Hmm... I think it's time for a BC Day weekend bbq for the team.

We watched the sun setting from the farthest point, past the last parking lot - just before Marine Drive starts to go uphill.  It's a lovely view with Georgia Straight to the West, Howe Sound with Lighthouse Park to the North, and Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver to the East.  It is peaceful and reminds me of all my family summer weekends in our little 17 foot power boat, fishing Howe Sound and Sechelt.  My dad used to launch our boat from Kitsilano's Vanier Park. 

We cycled back and to my dismay I discovered all the concession stands had closed.  It was not event 8:30 yet!  No fish & chips!  Darn.  We mosied past all the vendors again, listening to somebody singing Janis Joplin songs from the Folk Festival main stage.  Then I  saw the large video screen.  Wow!  Folk Festival finally goes 21st Century.  The images changed from performers, front view... back view... audience members... mothers holding toddlers... very cool... very folkfest!  And to top off my evening... I bought a straw cowboy hat for $5.

Alvin Tolentino is one of Vancouver's (and Canada's) most interesting and exciting dance choreographers. I've known Alvin for a number of years... ever since he first walked into the Vancouver Public Library computer lab to do some word processing, when he first started up his company. Wow! years ago. His new performance "BODYGlass" has been getting good press. It is playing at Centre A, International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, as part of the Dancing on the Edge Festival.   more »