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Wednesday, November 26
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner tickets available SOON
by
Todd
on Wed 26 Nov 2008 08:34 AM PST
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner tickets available SOON.
The BIG dinner is set for:
Sunday
January 25th, 2009
Robbie Burns' 250th Birthday + Chinese New Year's Eve
Floata Restaurant
#400 - 180 Keefer St.
Vancouver Chinatown
Tickets available soon.... through Firehall Arts Centre.
Phone 604-689-0926
Online ticket sales also available
$60 each or $600 per table.
Only pre-booked tables of 10 are included for the "Calling of Clans"
Watch for announcement on this www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com
Lots of surprises in store:
New performers
returning performers
countdown to Chinese New Year....
EXTRA Burns poetry
EXTRA Chinese New Years celebrations.
+ Countdown to Chinese New Year's Eve!
Tuesday, November 25
Vote for "Broken Family" in CBC Radio contest
by
Todd
on Tue 25 Nov 2008 11:58 PM PST
Donna Lee's short documentary film, Broken Family, on the head tax redress movement and my family, is in a CBC Radio Canada contest called Migrations. It's made it to the semi-final rounds of a people's choice online voting competition.
more »
Monday, November 24
Stephen Lewis gives inspiring speech at BC Federation of Labour conference in Vancouver
by
Todd
on Mon 24 Nov 2008 11:55 PM PST
This week I am attending the BC Federation of Labour conference November 24-28, 2008 at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre. There are approximately 1200 delegates. We have 5 delegates from CUPE 391 Vancouver Library Workers. President Jim Sinclair gives a talk about the importance of labour unions. He also emphasizes the challenges that migrant and immigrant workers are faced with, citing the deaths of Vietnamese-Canadians at the Fraser Valley mushroom farm, and workers from Eastern Europe working on the Golden Ears Bridge left in lurch when the contractor moves. Sitting behind Jim, I can see Bill Saunders president of Vancouver & District Labour Council. I met Bill in 2007 when when he gave a talk for the Anniversaries of Change Reconciliation Dinner that commemorated the 1907 riot in Chinatown by Caucasian labourers. Immigrants and migrant workers have never had it easy in British Columbia. Employers still exploit workers for their own personal profit. Workers get killed in vans that don't have seat belts. Regardless of race or ethnicity, this is shameful. Grand Chief Edward John of the Assembly of First Nations was a special speaker for the Joint Statement with First Nations, along with 2 other chiefs. He gave a very insightful talk about the BC 150 celebrations that occurred on Nov.19th at Fort Langley, pointing out that back in 1858, Gov. James Douglas declared the colony of British Columbia without any consultation of First Nations people who were already self-governing their own communities. John called attention to the recent apology by Prime Minister Stephen Harper who used the words that "Survivors were 'kidnapped' from their families" and acknowledged that the purpose of the residential schools was to "...take
the Indian out of the child." Vancouver Mayor-elect Gregor Robertson gave a welcome to delegates, and again pledged his goal to end homelessness in Vancouver by 2015. He spoke about repairing the damage to relations with Vancouver civic unions CUPE 1004 (outside workers), CUPE 15 (inside workers) and "in particular CUPE 391" (Vancouver Library Workers). Robertson talked about the importance of giving more respect to civic unions, but also to the citizens of Vancouver. He said he is is asking all groups he talks with, business, unions, community groups and citizens - to give more to help end homelessness. I believe that the role of labour and the right to work is also fundamentally important to one's self-esteem and self-worth. Having a job will go a long way to helping end homelessness too! Sitting in the visitors gallery, were many newly elected or re-elected politicians in the recent civic elections such as Richmond councilor Harold Steeves. From Vancouver City Council, councilor Raymond Louie and councilors-elect Andrea Reimer, Geoff Meggs and Ellen Woodsworth, Parks commissioner-elect Aaron Jasper and School trustee-elect Jane Bouey. Stephen Lewis' address was the highlight for many conference attendees. My fellow delegate Ed Dickson and I marvelled at Lewis' dramatic delivery and his oratory skill. Lewis was able to address gender equity, global poverty, AIDS, the labour movement, capitalism gone bad, his work as a United Nations envoy, the G-20, the IMF, sexual abuse in the Congo, Obama, Sarah Palin, Bono, and a talk by Desmond Tutu - all as seamless interconnected issues. Lewis recognized the work of his father David Lewis in modeling values for him, and the importance of his wife writer Michelle Landsberg in providing feminist values. He joked that their children were all feminist, because they knew that if they weren't, they'd be disinherited. But this set the stage for addressing the rape and sexual abuse of women in the Congo. He shared that he is working on a piece with Eve Ensler - because she has been addressing the issue in a series of articles and media interviews. http://www.glamour.com/magazine/2007/08/rape-in-the-congoLewis talks about U2 rock singer Bono, who asks why is it possible for the US and other nations to find $700 billion to help bail out Wall St. but not $250 million for the agreed upon Millenium Development goals from the 2000 UN Summit. Lewis then went through each of the Millenium Goals such as child poverty, AIDS, disease control, hunger, and sustainable environmentalism. He said he was disgusted by corporations asking for bail outs during this latest economic disaster which was caused by big business asking for more de-regulation so "they can do what they want." He cited the audacity of big business to fly to meetings with government in their corporate jets asking for hand-outs of taxpayer money. And then Lewis brings it all back to how it is meaningful for his audience at the BC Fed convention, by praising what he loves about trade unions - that they address and give money to social justice causes. He summed up the importance of fair wages, a fair society, and thanked trade unionists for standing up for their country and a world "for human values instead of repugnant corporate behavior." It was a nice
afternoon - great speeches by First Nations chiefs, Gregor Robertson,
and amazing address by Stephen Lewis. Following his address, Lewis was given a gift. He opened the giftwrapped package to reveal a framed print. He described the pastoral scene with clouds, then read the quote from J.S. Woodsworth, dedicated to the Canadian labour movement.
Sunday, November 23
Georgia Straight: a short list for new cultural czar - names Duncan Low, Jim Green, Judith Marcuse, Max Wyman... and Todd Wong
by
Todd
on Sun 23 Nov 2008 11:58 PM PST
Todd Wong - a cultural czar? Georgia Straight gives 50:1 odds.With every new government, be it federal, provincial or municipal - there is sometimes a shake up in administration, as the new government wants to put people in place that will better reflect and carry out their policies. The Georgia Straight's Charlie Smith is speculating there may be changes at Vancouver City Hall. Frances Bula writes Everyone at Vancouver city hall waiting with bated breath suggesting that City Manager Judy Rogers may be gone soon. But the Straight's Matthew Burrows reports City Councilor Raymond Louie stating "she need not fear the axe now that Vision Vancouver will replace the NPA at the helm of City Hall." see City manager Judy Rogers needn't be worried: Raymond LouieMeanwhile Pieta Wooley of the Georgia Straight reported that Vision Vancouver counselor Heather Deal told the Straight the party will be discussing staffing changes in the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs. see: New Vision for Vancouver arts community. This comment let Charlie Smith to speculate what could happen at Vancouver's Office of Cultural Affairs. Would present managing director Sue Harvey stay or go? If so who would replace her. Smith suggested possible names, and then for fun, gave odds for the possibility that such names might get the job. see: Duncan Low, Jim Green, Judith Marcuse: a short list for new cultural czar Nov. 20.Smith named Duncan Low 3:1, Judith Marceuse 5:1, Jim Green 5:1, Sue Harvey 7:1, Heather Redfern 10:1, Max Wyman 20:1, John Mclachlan Gray 100:1.... Todd Wong 50:1 I respect and know many of the names above, and they have all been involved in the arts much longer than I have. I suspect Charlie Smith tossed my name into the ring for some fun, because my profile was significantly raised during the Library civic strike, I am now active on our library workers union local CUPE 391, and I am a person of colour. My community work has also painted a broad strokes covering heritage with the Historic Joy Kogawa House; literary connections through the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop, library, One Book One Vancouver; my many music, opera and theatre reviews on my website www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com Certainly arts manger Diane Kadota and dance choreographer Jay Hirabayashi of Kokoro Dance come to mind. Kadota has also been involved with the Powell St. Festival, while Hirabayashi founded the Vancouver International Dance Festival, and is a former board member for the Vancouver Arts Alliance. While it is fun to speculate, I can't take Smith's suggestion of me seriously. I am currently focused on making sure that the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner set for January 25th, 2009, will be the best Gung Haggis dinner yet. There are plans to expand the dinner to other locations outside of Vancouver, as well as to be involved with other related projects. It's been a big year of recognition for me already with receiving the BC Community Achievement Award in April, as well as having my full-size picture included in "The Party" exhibit at the Royal BC Museum. See the Georgia Straights's article for the full list of names and reasons: Duncan Low, Jim Green, Judith Marcuse: a short list for new cultural czarHere's the excerpt for Todd Wong
Todd Wong 50:1 Vision politicians like Wong, a
cultural activist who has helped them build bridges with multicultural
communities. Wong, a library assistant, was also a vocal advocate for
fellow library staff during the 2007 city strike. This won him some
points with the bigshots at CUPE, who have influence over Vision
Vancouver. Wong probably doesn't have enough management experience to
parachute into the top position, but stranger things have happened. He
could end up working in the Office of Cultural Affairs at a lower-level
post, which might help the City do more outreach. The fact of the
matter is the senior bureaucracy at City Hall is pretty damn white, and
that's going to change over time under Vision Vancouver. Whether Wong
will be part of that change is anyone's guess.
Saturday, November 22
Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra performs this Sunday: Imagined Worlds
by
Todd
on Sat 22 Nov 2008 11:09 AM PST
The Vancouver Inter-Cultual Orchestra is an incredible meeting place of highly trained musicians from many cultural disciplines from around the world. Unique to Canada, and the world.... they specifically perform original and adapted works for an intercultural setting and audience. They are performing this Sunday Nov. 23 - 8pm UBC School of Music Recital Hall Check out their website: www.vi-co.org/Here's a message from Myriam Steinberg --------------------
Subject: VICO concert this Sunday: Imagined Worlds: Past & Futures
On
November 23rd, The Vancouver Inter-cultural Orchestra presents our
first “gala” concert of the season: Imagined Worlds: Past & Futures
The concert will feature the world premiere of a pioneering
inter-cultural work by renowned composer/ethnomusicologist Elliot
Weisgarber (1919-2001). Songs of a Thousand Autumns, a choral piece
based on classical texts from the 8th century Manyoshu Anthology of the
Imperial Court of Japan, was commissioned in 1984 but has never yet
been performed in its entirety. The VICO will present it in a new
arrangement by Mark Armanini, as the centrepiece of an exciting
programme that also includes The Inner Light (by another pioneer of
inter-cultural music, George Harrison of Beatles fame), the world
premiere of Habitaculum – Dwelling Place, a new commission for choir
and inter-cultural orchestra by Vancouver composer Larry Nickel, and
Nasime Shiraaz (from Dreams of the Wanderer) by Moshe Denburg,
featuring astounding Iranian tenor Amir Haghighi.
Date: Sunday November 23, 2008
Time: 8 pm
Tickets: $20 / $10 (students, seniors, VICO members, groups of 10+).
Tickets can be bought on-line at www.vi-co.org or at the door.
Address: UBC School of Music Recital Hall
UBC Music Building, 6361 Memorial Road
We look forward to seeing you there!
Aboriginal Poetry at the Chinese Cultural Centre on Sunday noon until 9pm
by
Todd
on Sat 22 Nov 2008 11:02 AM PST
I've always liked the words of Chief Dan George known as " Lament for Confederation" How long have I known you, Oh Canada? A hundred years?
Yes, a hundred years. And many, many seelanum more. And today,
when you celebrate your hundred years, Oh Canada, I am sad for
all the Indian people throughout the land.
For I have known you when your forests were mine; when they gave
me my meat and my clothing. I have known you in your streams
and rivers where your fish flashed and danced in the sun, where
the waters said 'come, come and eat of my abundance.' I have
known you in the freedom of the winds. And my spirit, like the
winds, once roamed your good lands.....Will these words be repeated? Saturday Nov 22 Chinese Cultural Centre 50 East Pender Street Check out: Strong Words -a free celebration of
aboriginal poetry is taking place from noon till 9 p.m. The words of
Chief Dan George (shown here), George Clutesi, and Pauline Johnson will
be celebrated with readings, alongside appearances by Lee Maracle, Greg
Scofield, and others.
Friday, November 21
Last weekend to catch flight with Damon Calderwood in Billy Bishop Goes to War
by
Todd
on Fri 21 Nov 2008 11:32 PM PST
 Actor Damon Calderwood plays Captain Billy Bishop. He shows Todd Wong his model airplane that he "flies" during his energetic performance - photo T. Wong collectionDamon Calderwood is FANTASTIC in his peformance of "Billy Bishop Goes to War": at the Deep Cove Shaw Theatre.
Moments of applause burst throughout the performance at all the right places.
There have been standing ovations every night, except once "when we turned the houselights up too early," producer Jack Smith told me.
This is a show you wished you had seen earlier, so you could tell all your friends about.
Billy Bishop is a remarkable piece of written theatre. And Damon
really makes each of the 18 different characters he plays distinct and
real. Playwright John McLachlan Gray attended the opening night performance and said "it's a very clear production," pleased that Damon really undoubtedly "becomes" each character... instead of merely playing them.
It is a showcase for:
Canadian WW1 history
Canadian theatre
playwright John McLachlan Gray
Damon’s talent
I only met Damon earlier this year, we we played against each other in the Celtic Fest’s “Battle of the Bards”
see my blog article and pictures:
Toddish McWong’s “Robert Burns” wins Battle of the Bards at Celtic Fest
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/3/13/3579503.html Here are some of Damon's own words he sent to me in an email: I just wanted to send out a final reminder about Billy Bishop Goes to War (my long-awaited and finally-realized dream role!).
Gordon
Roberts and I have had a wonderful time doing it, and some sellouts
already, but it must come to an end on Sat Nov 22. I've attached a few
pictures from our invited dress rehearsal.
We have four shows
left, and it will likely sell out towards the end, so do phone for
tickets right away if you can (call Eileen at 604-929-9456). As of this
e-mail, we have tickets left for all four shows, so hopefully everyone
that wants to can get a ticket! $18/$15.
The shows are Wed Nov
19, Thur Nov 20, Fri Nov 21, and Sat Nov 22 at 8pm each night. Deep
Cove's Shaw Theatre in North Van. 4360 Gallant Avenue just a few
minutes from the second narrows bridge.
I am so grateful for all
those people who have already come to see the show...in this case, I
truly believe the audience is as much a part of the show as are the
actors, and the great audiences we've had have made each show an
amazing ride for Gordon and I.
Joyfully yours,
Damon
(in the skies as "Billy" for one more week)
Thursday, November 20
Be a voyeur into Vancouver condo living - Check out "The 21st Floor" theatrical production at PAL
by
Todd
on Thu 20 Nov 2008 12:34 PM PST
What really goes on behind Vancouver's pricey Coal Harbour condominium closed doors? The cast from "The 21st Floor" at the after-party following a performance. - photo Todd Wong Michèle Lonsdale Smith has written The 21st Floor. It is a voyeurist look into the mundane, sordid lives of Vancouver condo dwellers who don't know their neighbors on the same floor of until something happens. We discover what brings them together and keeps them apart. It's ironic that people can live so close together but never know their neighbors. Smith explores this and gives the performers the freedom to creatively explore their emotional and physical ranges each night. The set is lucious. It opens into windows that reveal the surrounding Coal Harbour buildings. You can actually look into the rooms of surrounding condos. But the real action takes place in each of the 8 little rooms surrounding the PAL theatre space. Each character represents typical but exotic stereotypes of Vancouver condo dwellers: The yuppie developer's son; the cold yuppie lawyer; the drug user model; the hick from Alberta; the podcaster; the gay couple; the sexaholic. Stir and mix... taste the results. Tangy. Sweet. Bitter. Staged by Presented by Lyric Stage Project Nov 11-22, PAL theatre, Coal Harbour www.the21stfloor.ca Check out these links:
Wednesday, November 19
HAPPY 150th BIRTHDAY B.C. Douglas Day 2008 at Ft. Langley
by
Todd
on Wed 19 Nov 2008 11:45 PM PST
HAPPY 150th BIRTHDAY B.C.
Douglas Day 2008 at Ft. Langley
This is the birthday cake given out at the Ft. Langley Community Library. I sneaked a peek, while everybody else was having the cupcakes following the opening of Spirit Square. - photo Todd Wong
James Douglas and his wife Amelia, follow a bagpiper from the newly opened "Spirit Square" to historic Ft. Langley - photo Todd Wong
 Royal Engineer greets visitors to Historic Ft. Langley - photo Todd Wong
 Todd Wong with Jean Barman, author of British Columbia: Spirit of the People, and Judy, president of the Friends of Historic Ft. Langley.
All proceeds of the book sales went to Friends of Fort Langley National Historic Site. I've known Jean for a number of years, she is one of BC's most prolific authors of history. It's always great to see her. Yes, I finally bought a copy of the book, British Columbia: Spirit of the People, published by Howard White's Harbour Publishing. It's a beautiful coffee table book, filled with incredible pictures and stories.
 Lisa Pepin volunteers at Fort Langley, and counts her ancestors back 160 years back to the Fort's beginnings. - photo Todd Wong
Lisa is part of the Royal Engineers. I first met her when they took part in the ill-fated SeaVancouver Festival in 2005. She tells fascinating stories about Fort Langley's history which includes her own ancestors. Check out the webpage
 Kwantlen drummers perform on stage for the evening concert - photo Todd Wong
 The Higgins performed during the evening concert
 I really liked this picture. It was evening, the concert was going, the stars were out. You can see the old style Union Jack flag on top of the flag pole, The banner tells the event for Douglas Day and BC 150 Celebrations. You can see the Big House behind the banner and the flag. - photo Todd Wong
See more photos:
Visit Ft. Langley on Douglas Day....
by
Todd
on Wed 19 Nov 2008 10:29 AM PST
It's Douglas Day in BC.BC's first governor Sir James Douglas was raised in Scotland, after
being born in British Guyana to a Scottish father and a Creole mother.
And then there are rivers named after Scottish-Canadian explores
Alexander Mackenzie and Simon Fraser.I think I will go visit the event to ensure a Chinese presence.... hee hee... there was no head tax or exclusion act in effect back in 1858. 2008 is also the 120th anniversary of the arrival in Canada of Rev. Chan Sing Kai who came to help start the Chinese Methodist Church. Hi younger brother, my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan followed in 1896. CBC made a television documentary in 2007 titled Generations: The Chan Legacy
For more information on the provincial celebration, including evening concert details, visit the BC 150 website.
Douglas Day
Wednesday, November 19th
from 10:00 am – 8:30pm
James Douglas
© Parks Canada
Our big day! BC turns 150 years old today, and it all started right
here. On November 19th, 1858 Governor James Douglas read a proclamation
in Fort Langley’s Big House declaring the territory a British Colony.
Parks Canada is offering free admission for the day, so celebrate the
birth of British Columbia at Fort Langley. Enjoy the BC 150 theatre
presentation, tours, and more! Our costumed staff and volunteers will
be out in force providing activities and fun for the whole family.
- Photograph yourself into history: bring your camera, don
one of our costumes and have your picture taken with the mural
depicting the famous moment
- Sign a certificate with a fountain pen stating you were at BC's birthplace ON the big day! (150 years later)
- Visit the theatre to “Build” British Columbia with a huge soft-sculpture map of the province
- Ongoing blacksmithing and barrel-making demonstrations
- Kids can try their hand stringing cranberries, rolling a barrel or tackling an obstacle course!
Be a part of your provincial history on November 19th at Fort Langley NHS!
For more information on the provincial celebration, including evening concert details, visit the BC 150 website.
Monday, November 17
Documentary film producer Halya Kuchmij thanked by Rev. Chan Yu Tan family.
by
Todd
on Mon 17 Nov 2008 10:47 AM PST
120 years ago in 1888, Rev. Chan Sing Kai arrived in Canada. He was later followed by his younger brother Rev. Chan Yu Tan in 1896. Their sisters Phoebe and Naomi followed afterwards. The family helped to found and support the Chinese Methodist Church in BC, and also spread to the American states of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Illinois and the Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Alberta. Generations: The Chan Legacy aired all across Canada on CBC Newsworld on July 4th, 2007 and repeated throughout July and August as the lead episode in a 7 part series of Canadian families called Generations.
 Halya happily holds up her award for "Best Picture" - photo Todd Wong NOVEMBER 16th
SUNDAY
11am - 1pm
Floata Seafood Chinese Restaurant
#400 - 180 Keefer St.
Vancouver Chinatown
Halya Kuchmij returned to Vancouver for the first time since filming for The Chan Legacy in October 2006, and members of the Rev. Chan Legacy committee aggreed to:
- Give Halya a gift of appreciation for the wonderful work that she did in creating
and telling the story of Rev. Chan Yu Tan and his family descendants.
- Have
a family get together (not a reunion) to celebrate the television documentary
- Celebrate
120th anniversary of Rev. Chan Sing Kai's arrival to Canada in 1888.
7
family members were interviewed for the documentary.
- Victor Wong WWII veteran
- Helen Lee - lived in Nanaimo as a child with Rev & Mrs. Chan Yu
Tan
- Gary Lee - actor/singer
- Janice Wong - artist and author of CHOW
- Todd Wong - multicultural activist
- Tracy Hinder P
- 2005 BC Canspell Champion
- Rhonda Larrabee - Chief of Qayqayt First Nations
 98 year old Mabel Mar looks over family pictures with Janice Wong, daughter of her cousin, and Mabel's youngest daughter Sylvia. - photo Todd Wong.
Halya Kuchmij, Todd Wong and Col. Howe Lee. All have played roles in helping to tell the stories of pioneer Chinese-Canadians.
Sunday, November 16
Stuart Mackinnon elected to Vancouver Parks Board
by
Todd
on Sun 16 Nov 2008 08:27 PM PST
 MACKINNON, Stuart | GRN | 48415 |
 Good friends rejoice: Andrea Reimer, Stuart Mackinnon and Andrea's daughter - photo Todd Wong"You beat Andrea's numbers!" exclaimed Andy Miller - Andrea's husband and Stuart Mackinnon's sign man. In the 2002 Vancouver civic election, Andrea Reimer grabbed the final 9th spot for Vancouver School Board with 44951 votes - the highest vote count for an elected civic Green. Stuart's 48415 for 2008 Vancouver Parks Board beat that number by 3464. For the 2008 election, Andrea ran as a council candidate for Vision Vancouver and received 59148.
"I'm overwhelmed," said Mackinnon on Sunday afternoon. He was spending some time visiting his father when I called him by cellphone. "My father is very happy for me," he shared. Stuart's paternal grandfather George Ernest Lawson Mackinnon had been the Kootenay East member of parliament for the National Government party (Conservatives) from 1940-45. "I never expected to win," Stuart admitted, even though advance polls had the COPE/Vision/Green slate leading in races for council, parks board and school board. Mackinnon was the only Green party member on the combined slate. He is only the 3rd ever Green Party member elected in the Metro Vancouver area. During the campaign when I had asked him who his campaign manager was, "You're looking at him." was his reply. Mackinnon had a very small but dedicated campaign team of volunteers consisting of friends and team members from the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team. There had been no party headquarters or staffers for the civic Green Party. Mackinnon ran his campaign from his newly bought formerly owned small condominium which he shares with his faithful Shiba Inu dog friend named Kiku. In 2005 Stuart Mackinnon received 37824 votes for 14th place, 6738 votes behind COPE's Spencer Herbert who received 44562 votes. The previous highest vote count for a Green Party Parksboard candidate was 32613 in 2002 for Catherine Carter who finished 4 places out of winning in 11th spot - but she still beat two NPA parks candidates. In 1999, Roslyn Cassells was elected to the Vancouver Parks Board for the Green Party with 31, 694 votes. When the COPE / Vision / Green slate was released on September 9th, I predicted that the Green Party was the big winner. Read my article: Vision/COPE/Greens make a civic slate deal... Stuart Mackinnon of the Green Party is the real winner! In the 08 Election, COPE's Bill Bargeman, Alvin Singh and Anita Romaniuk were the only COPE members' of the slate not to be elected, while councilor David Cadman, school trustees Alan Wong, Alan Blakely, and parks commissioner Loretta Woodcock were re-elected, with the addition of former councilor Ellen Woodsworth and former school trustee Jane Bouey. COPE was 6 for 9. Vision went 15 for 16, with all candidates elected except for councilor candidate Kashmir Dhaliwal. To capture the public's imagination, Stuart was the only candidate seen in a kilt during campaigning.  Stuart knocks on doors and delivers pamphlets - photo courtesty S. Mackinnon.
 Stuart wore his "full dress" formal outfit to the Vision Vancouver dinner at Floata Restaurant: Todd Wong, Sharon Gregson (Vision candidate for School Board), Stuart Mackinnon. Stuart is an avid participant on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team and Kilts Night. He also is the teacher sponsor for the Killarney Cougar Dragons junior dragon boat team. Stuart was featured in the German public television program "From Toronto to Vancovuer by Train" with the Gung Haggis dragon boat team. He has appeared many times in pictures and articles on www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com.
Gregor Robertson and Vision/COPE/Greens win Vancouver elections!
by
Todd
on Sun 16 Nov 2008 10:28 AM PST
I go to the DTES to hand out voting
pamphlets at Oppenheimer Park along
Hastings St. to Strathcona Community
Centre.
COPE victory party at COPE headquarters
Vision Vancouver party at Hotel
Vancouver
Gregor Robertson wins Mayor
Andy Miller, Stuart Mackinnon, Andrea Reimer and Kerry Jang - photo Todd Wong
Raymond Louie, Heather Deal, George
Chow, Kerry Jang, Andrea Reimer, Tim
Stevenson, David Cadman, Suzanne Anton,
Geoff Meggs and Ellen Woodworth are on
council
Stuart Mackinnon on Parks with
Constance Barnes, Aaron Jasper, Raj
Hundal, Sarah Blyth, Loretta Woodcock,
and Ian Robertson
Todd Wong (CUPE 391) Geoff Meggs councilor-elect, Sarah Blyth Parks Board-elect, Joe Smith Vancouver fire fighters)
Saturday, November 15
Nov 15th Civic Election Day:
by
Todd
on Sat 15 Nov 2008 01:22 PM PST
Last days of campaigning in Vancouver
It's the last day of campaigning for the Vancouver civic election. There have been lots of surprises. There have been lots of meet and greets. I even delivered a few pamphlets for Stuart Mackinnon, our Gung Haggis paddler who is running for Vancouver Parks Board. Here are some of the candidates I have bumped into this past week. Alan Wong hands out flyers at Champlain Square with his mother. Alan is running for his 3rd term on Vancouver School Board. I first met him in 2002 with Andrea Reimer, Alan Blakely and Jane Bouey when I did a presentation to the VSB for Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society. - photo Todd Wong
COPE school board incumbent/candidate Sharon Gregson met Corporal Lashambe at the Billy Bishop Legion on Remembrance Day - photo Todd Wong
 Ellen Woodsworth former city councilor and current COPE council candiate shares an umbrella with Jenny Kwan at the Chinatown Remembrance Day ceremonies. - photo Todd Wong
Ping Pong Playa opens in Vancouver: imagine a hip hop speaking basketball playing NBA wannabe - but he is Chinese?
by
Todd
on Sat 15 Nov 2008 01:11 PM PST
Ping Pong Player: Imagine a Chinese Will Smith playing table tennis with attitude"C-Dub Wang" - the hippest hoppest ping pong player ever to wear a basketball jersey - in the movie Ping Pong Playa.I just checked out the on-line preview of Ping Pong Playa. Forget James Bond and Quantuum of Solace - I want to see THIS movie now!!! http://www.pingpongplaya.com/us/index.htmlGirl meets Boy, doesn't like Boy - Boy finds a way to win Girl. Smith Cho plays Jennifer and Jimmy Tsai plays C-Dub Wang.Here's a message from my friend Joyce Lam of Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre
Dear Friends
I saw this movie at the Vancouver Asian Film
Festival and it is the BEST movie I've seen all year... if I could
nominate this movie for Best Picture and Best Male Lead Actor, I would.
Check it out yourself and Enjoy.
Joyce
Here is a message from Jimmy Tsai and Jessica Wu, members of the PING PONG PLAYA Production....
We
are extremely thrilled to write to you about the upcoming release of
our movie PING PONG PLAYA beginning November 14th! It's an exciting
time--but here's where we need your help. We'll let the movie speak for
itself (if the reactions of people who have seen the movie is any
indication, we firmly believe you won't be disappointed), but we need
your help to spread the word about the release of the movie.
Independent movies don't have the marketing budget to compete against
the mammoth studio movies, but what we do have is intense, strong
word-of-mouth (just check out any of a number of our reviews--from
outlets large and small, from critics, bloggers, and chat room posters
alike).
Please help us continue to spread the word and come
check out the movie opening weekend (Nov. 14th at the CINEMARK
TINSELTOWN VANCOUVER. 88 West Pender, V6B6N9).
Our website: www.pingpongplaya.com
See you at the theaters soon,
Jimmy Tsai - Writer/Co-Producer/2nd Assistant Production Accountant
Jessica Yu - Director-Writer
Joan Huang - Producer
Anne Clements - Producer
Jeffrey Gou - Executive Producer
Friday, November 14
Why haven't the NPA talked about last year's civic strike? Even while it was happening they ignored it!
by
Todd
on Fri 14 Nov 2008 06:01 PM PST
"The NPA will not talk about the strike. They refuse to talk about the issues we believe are important to Vancouverites," said Andrea Reimer at last night's general meeting for Vancouver Library Workers CUPE 391.CUPE 15 workers came down to the CUPE 391 Library Square strike line in a support of solidarity on August 17th.Andrea Reimer - Vision Vancouver council candidate, Loretta Woodcock - COPE incumbent parks commissioner, and Stuart Mackinnon - Green Party parks board candidate, all were special guests addressing civic issues for the Nov. 15th Vancouver civic election. "The civic strike affected our parks, our community centres, our libraries. It is an important issue. But the NPA have not been addressing it." said Stuart Mackinnon. "It is important for our civic workers to be treated fairly." "The NPA has a total disrespect for unionized workers," said Woodcock. "I see that as a parks commissioner." "The City just made many managerial staff exempt staff, by re-classifiying them at a cost of about $10,000 increased salary for doing basically the same job," sai |
