GungHaggisFatChoy

John Ralston Saul says Canada is Metis/Aboriginal.... in nature - not English/French/Scottish....

Todd — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:00:00 -0700

John Ralston Saul says Canada is Metis/Aboriginal.... in nature - not English/French/Scottish....

Here is John Ralston Saul's 2008 book about Canada:

SUMMARY OF A FAIR COUNTRY (from his website):

"In this startlingly original vision of Canada, thinker John Ralston Saul unveils 3 founding myths. Saul argues that the famous “peace, order, and good government” that supposedly defines Canada is a distortion of the country’s true nature. Every single document before the BNA Act, he points out, used the phrase “peace, welfare, and good government,” demonstrating that the well-being of its citizenry was paramount.

"He also argues that Canada is a Métis nation, heavily influenced and shaped by aboriginal ideas: egalitarianism, a proper balance between individual and group, and a penchant for negotiation over violence are all aboriginal values that Canada absorbed. Another obstacle to progress, Saul argues, is that Canada has an increasingly ineffective elite, a colonial non-intellectual business elite that doesn’t believe in Canada. It is critical that we recognize these aspects of the country in order to rethink its future."

français

http://www.johnralstonsaul.com/SUM_AFC.html

Canada Day rally for Chinese Head Tax families: 10:30am Chinatown Monument

Todd — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:51:00 -0700

Canada Day rally for Chinese Head Tax families: 10:30am Chinatown Monument

This will be the 4th annual Chinatown Redress Rally, since Prime Minister Harper apologized for the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act - but limited redress packages to only surviving head tax payers and their spouses. This action effectively limited full redress to less than 1% of head tax paying families, as almost all head tax payers had already died. Many head tax payers passed on their certificates to their children, because they believed the government would make a fair and equal redress someday, and because they believed that Canada was a fair and equal country. Chinese Canadians have lobbied against head tax since it was legislated in 1885. After WW2, Chinese Canadian WW2 veterans successfully lobbied for the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1947. In 1988, a Japanese Canadian Redress package was finally achieved after 4 years of negotiations. The Chinese Head Tax Redress package was never openly negotiated with community groups.

Media Advisory – June 30, 2009

Head Tax Families Celebrate Canada Day With Hot Dogs:
Rally at Monument to Chinese Railway Workers and War Veteran

Vancouver, BC – Members of Head Tax Families Society of Canada (HTFSC)
and its supporters will celebrate Canada Day with hot dogs in Chinatown.
The Fourth Annual Chinatown Redress Rally maybe remembered as the one
when the hotdogs appeared and the start of a tradition. Head tax families are
proud Canadians exercising their rights of public assembly and speech. They
will call on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to start good-faith
negotiations with representatives of head tax families for an inclusive just and
honourable redress

Time: 10:30am members call time – program to begin shortly after
Date: Wednesday July 1, 2009 – Canada Day
Place: Memorial to Chinese Railway Workers and War Veterans
Keefer and Columbia (NE corner), Vancouver

The Conservative government's June 22, 2006 Parliamentary apology and
unilaterally imposed redress package excluded most head tax families seeking
direct meaningful symbolic redress. Less than 900 families were eligible for the
ex gratia payments to surviving head tax payers and spouses of deceased head
tax payers. Some 3,000 families have registered with HTFSC and inclusive
redress-seeking groups across Canada calling for justice and honour for
affected elderly sons and daughters whose parents are deceased. Over 82,000
Chinese immigrants paid the head tax from 1885 to 1923, when exclusion
legislation was enacted. Repealed in 1947, the Chinese exclusion laws impoverished and
separated many head tax families for decades.

Members and supporters of Head Tax Families Society of Canada are today's
Canadians on a twenty-six year struggle for an inclusive just and
honourable redress
for affected head tax families.

Go to www.headtaxfamilies.ca for more information.

- 30 -

Contact: Sid Tan – 604-783-1853

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team has a great weekend at Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival

Todd — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:31:00 -0700

Congratulations everybody, you are ALL truly Gung Haggis paddlers! You conveyed a sense of teamship, caring for each other, and for community. You paddled your best, adapted to changing situations, changing rosters, and changing race conditions. You improved with every race, both individually and together. Very little separates you from the teams that we know who finished in Rec C (O2P, Hmmm Sea Monster), Rec B (Pirates, CBC, Strokin' It Hard, Flight Centre, CC Riders) or Rec A (Metro Vancouver, Banana Fusion, Shaggin' Dragons) - except maybe a little bit of testosterone, a little bit of cardio and muscle work, a little more attention to detail such as rotation, reach, entry, paddle angle, etc. 4 seconds faster and you could have medaled in Rec C Final. 10 seconds faster and you could have medaled in Rec B Final. But it is more important to be part of a great group of people, that had fun, did their best, and can be friends together, and share meals together. I am personally very proud of everybody on the team, and I know that everybody each has something special that adds to this team. It was great to have Manfred in the boat with us this weekend. He has been a coaching friend and rival competitor and occasional teammate for many years. He says this is a good team. He likes your attitude, your paddling ability, your friendliness... and sense of fun. Manfred will not take off his pants for "just any team" you know... Special thanks to Commodore Stephen Mirowski, team manager Tzhe Lam for helping to organize the team, roster and leadership. Thanks to Keng and Gerard Graal to step in to drum and be land manager, after spending the past 3 weeks in Holland. I am sorry I couldn't spend more time with everybody over this 2 day weekend of racing... but you had to share with: * my coaching Killarney Cougar Dragons Junior Team * our being filmed for the "Chinatown Canada" tv documentary series * my being interviewed for the "Chinatown Canada" tv documentary series * my steering for out of town teams (I used to be on the Race Committee, so they know I am a good qualifited steers) * my social involvement and networking with ex-paddlers, friends on other teams, race organizers, Festival past-presidents, friends on out of town teams, friends who cheered us on, But these are also qualities that makes Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team and myself, amongst the first choice to be involved in film documentaries and books on dragon boating! How about that "Paddles Up!" book??? The very first picture is the Gung Haggis team, racing Taiwanese Boats to grab a flag..... and a testimonial by me, in a Toronto-centric book. Now about the next race.... June 18th Richmond. We can do it... one day only, put up your hand if you want to beat UniPHARM. July 25/26 Vernon - our FAVORITE! Already confirmed. Aug 8, Cultus Lake Women's regatta - With 16 women on our team... we just need 4 more. As lang's me arm... Todd

We attend the VIP party for te Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival

Todd — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:40:00 -0700

Dragon Boat Festival Chail Jas Kalsi talks about importance of a boat house for dragon boats on False Creek to sponsors, politicians and dragon boat festival organizers.

The VIP tent was packed on the eve to the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival. Politicians and digniteries walked in from the eye-dotting ceremony conducted by Taoist priests. Parks Commissioner and former Gung Haggis dragon boat team paddler Stuart Mackinnon dotted one of the eyes with a paint brush.

Lots of great food was served in the VIP tent. Sockeye Salmon, Tuna on wild rice patties, corn chowder - all provided from the VCC culinary arts program.

But this year's VIP party also had a serious tone. On Tuesday, the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society had sent a letter to Vancouver City Council, stating that because of development on Falser Creek, the 21 year old festival was in jeopardy. Festival Chair Jas Kalsi talked about the issue to the audience.

The VIP party was attended by Mayor Robertson, councilors Ellen Woodsworth, Suzanne Anton, Raymond Louie, George Chow, and Andrea Reimer, as well as Parks Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon, and Sen. Nancy Green Raine who said that the federal government will pledge $100,000 to the RTA Festival.

Mayor Robertson said he supports councilor Raymond Louie's statements, that city council supports dragon boats on False Creek, and things are moving through the planning stage. Robertson also shared that his son is paddling in his first dragon boat race.

Terry Hui, CEO of Concord said that Concord is committed to the Festival.
See Concord's commitment in yesterday's 24 Hours story
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local/2009/06/18/9835626-sun.html

Members of the Festival board and Race Committee talked to the politicians. I also talked with Concord Pacific's senior vice-president of planning - Matt Meehan, who wants to come to the next Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner, as he remembers seeing me perform at Jenny Kwan's scotch tasting parties.

I chatted with Mayor Robertson (who has attended the last 2 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinners), and he told me which team his son is paddling on. I informed him that his son was being coached by one of our Gung Haggis paddlers Gayle Gordon.

Dragon boat coach and former Olympic sprint kayak paddler, Kamini Jain, brought me 5 copies of the new dragon boat book "Paddles Up! Dragon Boat Racing in Canada." You can bet that the other paddlers/organizers/coaches were all jealous when they saw them. Kamini had written the chapter on coaching, and I had asked her to autograph copies for myself and my friends (Gayle and Stuart). And.... I was able to introduce Kamini to Sen. Nancy Green Raine (former Olympic ski gold medalist) - just before Sen. Nancy left the party.

Gung Haggis dragon boat team racing Sat 9:50am Race #11

Todd — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:05:00 -0700

Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
Creekside Park, Science World & False Creek
June 20/21 2009

First race for GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY dragon boat team.
Saturday June 20
9:50am Race #11, lane 6

Look for us in the afternoon in race 30, 40 or 42. between 1:30 to 4pm

On Sunday, times to be determined by Sat 6pm
Semi finals in the morning, Finals in the afternoon.

Look for our kilts and tartan sashes... followed by film crews for IN THE SAME BOAT doc film... or CHINATOWN CANADA - to be seen on Omni TV

Call Coach/Clan Chieftain Todd Wong at 778-846-7090 to find us!

24 Hours and News 11:30: Dragon Boat Festival being forced out of Vancouver?

Todd — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:03:00 -0700

Where is the future Dragon Boat House on False Creek?

For over the past 8 years, the Dragon Boat Community has been trying to ensure a boat house within the False Creek East Bay. This is before Vancouver was awarded the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and committed to the building an athlete's village in SE False Creek. If Vancouver had been awarded a Summer Games, would a rowing course similar to Montreal and Los Angeles Olympics had been created in SE False Creek?

Public forums had been attended, and dragon boaters reminded planners to include dragon boating in their plans. I saw early plans that included a boating centre, and room to store boats, under the Cambie St. Bridge.

But now the only parcel of land left is NE False Creek. The planned SE False Creek Community Centre, does not include a Community Boat House.

On Tuesday, the Canadian Interenational Dragon Boat Festival Society sent a letter to Vancouver city council stating that the largest Dragon Boat Festival in North America, and its present Dragon Zone facility which provides year long paddling - is in jeopardy.

In 1986, Dragon Boats were first donated to the City of Vancouver during Expo 86, from the Hong Kong Pavillion, thus kick starting dragon boat festivals all across Vancouver. Vancouver was the first North American city to hold a World Club Crew Championship in 1996. In 2003, the country of Taiwan donated Taiwanese style dragon boats to the City of Vancouver..

DRAGON BOAT RACING

Here are the links to newstories:

24 Hours
Up The Creek
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local/2009/06/17/9821946-sun.html

Vancouver's long-running Dragon Boat Festival is in danger of capsizing without help from City Hall.

Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society chair Jas Kalsi sent a troubling letter to city council yesterday stating the festival will be squeezed out of their iconic False Creek location - where they've been paddling since Expo 86 - by development unless the city approves a permanent boathouse.

"We're running out of time and space," Kalsi told 24 hours. "This is something we've been asking for the last 10 years, but we haven't seen a commitment."

Council is expected to receive a staff report on the future of False Creek in the next few weeks, and Kalsi prays dragon boats will be included. If not, the festival may be forced to relocate to another city.

"There are alternatives but False Creek is the place to be," he said. "We want to be a part of the area. Sponsors are prepared the finance the boathouse, so it's really about getting councillors to make that commitment."
Click here to find out more!

Coun. Raymond Louie called the festival a "mainstay of the city" and assured council is committed to the event.

A facility is under construction to support boating in the creek, although it's not big enough to accommodate the festival's needs.

Read more:
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local/2009/06/17/9821946-sun.html

Here's the story on NEWS 1130
http://www.news1130.com/more.jsp?content=20090617_171321_10092

Dragon Boat Festival needs permanent home to avoid leaving Vancouver
Running out of room at current Science World site

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - This could be the last year for Vancouver's annual Dragon Boat Festival, unless the city steps in and helps give it a permanent home. Festival General Manager Ann Phelps says there is only one piece of property left in False Creek, and she says if the development doesn't include a place for the festival, they will have to go elsewhere.

Phelps says the festival has become a huge economic generator for the city. "We are a million dollar festival...that's what it costs us to put the event on. But we are a big economic development opportunity for the city. We have close to 1,500 people that come into the city from outside Vancouver." Phelps says those visitors spend about $2.4 million over the weekend event.

City Councillor Raymond Louie says there is space planned for dragon boats, but it's up to council to approve it. "Being a former dragon boater myself, I see the value and want to see this continue in our city. My hope--and I know that my colleagues share this sentiment--is that we will look for every opportunity to find some space and keep the Dragon Boat Festival here in Vancouver."

Louie says council is considering several options, including a stretch by Science World, for the event's home base. As that piece of land (currently owned by Concord Pacific) is redeveloped and that creek side park is developed, the plan was to have a non-motorized marina. He says current plans do have space for a dock, but it may have to be re-zoned to fit the thousands who attend the festival.

Phelps says you can support the festival (which runs this weekend) by signing a petition at this year's event. Dragon boating appeared in Vancouver as a demonstration sport at Expo 86. Vancouverites liked it, interest started to grow, and in 1989 the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival was created.

Paddles Up! New book on dragon boating by Torontonians Arlene Chan and Susan Humphries

Todd — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:56:00 -0700

Arlene Chan has written a new book on dragon boating.

Arlene paddles on a Toronto dragon boat team. Susan Humphries is past president of Dragon boat Canada. Arlene wrote a children's book on dragon boating, Awakening the Dragon. This book features chapters on various topics written by top coaches, paddlers, and organizers from across Canada. Vancouver coach Kamini Jain, former Olympic kayaker, has written the chapter on coaching.

Here's a description from Kamini's website

Description: Paddles Up! provides an in-depth look at dragon boating from its beginnings in ancient China to the modern-day prominence of Canadian teams on the international scene, as told in the words of top coaches of men's and women's teams, experts and enthusiasts, and sports health professionals across Canada. Contributing writers include Mike Haslam, executive president International Dragon Boat Federation; Matthew Smith, president Dragon Boat Canada; Kamini Jain, Vancouver; Albert MacDonald, Halifax; Jamie Hollins, Pickering; Matt Robert, Montreal; and Jim Farintosh, Toronto. Through legends, history, and traditions, to paddling tips and mental readiness, and from choosing gear to exceptional achievements, a battery of Canadian dragon-boat notables share their considerable knowledge in one authoritative volume.

Last year in June 2008, the author Arlene Chan contacted me. She wrote:

I found your name on your amazing Gung Haggis Fat Choy website. What interests me is your personal passion for dragon boating. The book project that I am co-editing with Susan Humphries, past President, Dragon Boat Canada, . I'm assembling photos as well as testimonials.

If you're interested, I'd love to get a testimonial from you about what the sport means to you. The idea is to have about 20 testimonials that will be interspersed throughout the book. It's not to promote your team, rather, to let others know how and why dragon boating has been a passion for paddlers and coaches, like you.

This is what I originally sent to Arlene, most of it is printed on page 27:

Dragon boating is about team tribalism. You can join a tribe that you can belong to. It might be a competitive team, a corporate team, a recreational team, a breast cancer team... or a team that promotes multiculturalism. That's our team. We wear kilts, have lucky Chinese coins on our team jersey. We eat Asian foods and Scottish haggis - sometimes combined. It's become more than just being social... It's become a family.

Here's a picture of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team that appears on page 23. This is from the 2007 Vancouver Taiwanese Dragon Boat Race. I am drumming. Emilie is our flag puller learning out over the dragon head. This photo is by my friend VFK whom I introduced to Arlene to be included in the book, as well as photographers Ben Lee and Heather Mclaren - photo VFK

I discovered more about Arlene. She is a librarian with the Toronto Public Library and had written two previous books, The Spirit of the Dragon: The Story of Jean Lumb, a Proud Canadian Citizen and The Moon Festival: A Chinese Mid-autumn festival.

When she told me she also organized a fundraiser dinner for the Jean Lumb Foundation, I had to ask, "Jean Lumb... the first Chinese Canadian woman to recieve the Order of Canada? I know her daughter, Janet Lumb in Montreal... we met in Ottawa for a conference. I introduced Janet to Sen. Vivienne Poy (the first Chinese Canadian senator) "

It's a small world. Arlene told me that Janet is her younger sister. Back in 2002, I was working for the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society. Janet is the founder and organizer of Access Asie, the Montreal version of Asian Heritage Month Festival. Sen. Poy is the patron senator of Asian Heritage Month in Canada, having had it proclaimed in parliament. Sen. Poy's husband Dr. Neville Poy had an aunt in Vancouver... who married my grandmother's eldest brother. "Auntie!" I called her.

You can purchase Paddles Up! on Amazon.ca here:
http://www.amazon.ca/Dragon-Boat-Racing-Canada-Paddles/dp/1554883954
or contact Kamini Jain in Vancouver
http://www.rightangleperformance.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=74

Great practice for Gung Haggis dragon boat team: getting ready for Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival

Todd — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:55:00 -0700

4 days to go, and the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team is ready for the biggest dragon boat festival in North America.

Gung Haggis team, after finishing 1st in Group B, at the June 6th afternoon Dragon Zone regatta.

Wonderful practice tonight on Vancouver's False Creek waters.. we even had 30 paddlers show up for 20 paddling seats in a Gemini boat.

Not everybody is racing Rio Tinto Alcan Festival, so 3 paddlers went out on the GVRD/Metro Vancouver boat... We traded our Gemini for a 6-16 boat with Concord team.

We had 24 paddlers, then rotated drummer and steers throughout the practice.
It's not the best way to build team consistency, but it is a way to share responsibilities, build in flexibility and teach paddlers to adapt. By having our Commodore Stephen Mirowski at both steers and drummer positions, as well as paddling - if gives him a better view of how seating arrangements and paddler abilities will be arranged.

Thank you to Gerard Graal, who will step into our manager position. He and Keng have just returned from 3 weeks in The Netherlands - Gerard's native home. Keng also did a nice short job on the drummers seat, despite being a bit jet-lagged.

We started practice doing some warm-ups, and saw Alissa, Nicole and Devon paddling with the Metro Vancouver Team. Didn't they all look good. I swear the best looking paddler on the left side of the boat was Alissa... With that dazzling new smile of hers!

Video of a race start for a Gung Haggis dragon boat practice a month ago. Tzhe and Jane are lead strokes in this video - photo T.Wong.

We did a race start lined up beside the former Comp team formerly known as Scotia Dragons, now called How Wet Can You Get - which is ranked #24 out of 148 teams that have raced in regattas so far this year. Guess what? Gung Haggis Fat Choy is ranked #31, ahead of #33 CC Riders and #35 Metro Vancouver.
See the rankings here: http://www.dragonboatwest.net/index.php?page=14

We are doing pretty good for our development this year. We hit the waters in March, wore our toque hats and have pushed our veteran paddlers while nurturing brand new rookie paddlers.

Gung Haggis dragon boat team in March, it was still so cold, lots of people dressed with warm hats and windbreakers and gloves for paddling. Tzhe and Nicole in seat 1, Alissa and Wendy in seat 2, Brooke and Ashleigh in 3, Sean Jean and Nancy in 4. Raphael and Marion in 5. - photo T. Wong

Paddling in March - Left side from front: Karen, Steven, Christine, Danielle, Colleen. Right side from front: Joe, (somebody's brother guest paddling), Ernest, Diana, Stephen steering - photo Todd Wong.

We worked on some race strategies, and some basic drills. The key thing is to keep a consistent rate. The only improvement you can make as paddlers is to keep reaching a little bit more, get your paddle in a little bit quicker, pull with a full blade in the water, and keep your heads up to stay in time.

Fun surprise of the evening was singing Happy Birthday to Danielle. Today really was her birthday. Great dedication by a rookie paddler to come paddling with us, before going out to dinner with her husband.

Here are rookie paddlers Karen and Katie paddling and looking like veterans (almost) - photo T.Wong

"News" of "In the Same Boat" has finally hit the dragon boat forum at www.dragonboatwest.net Check out this topic:
http://www.dragonboatwest.net/index.php?topic=5581.msg52013;topicseen#new

You can identify a few of our paddlers in a "In the Same Boat" youtube trailer here:
tp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zs0eQp81Mc

Tonight, after practice - the Gung Haggis team had a dinner social at The Clubhouse japanese restaurant.

I showed dvd's of the documentaries we had been involved in previously.
It was great fun to identify the paddlers who were on the teams in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Some are still with us, some are paddling on other teams. We could also compare and contrast our paddling styles. I do believe that our 2009 team is good and strong. We have a group of core paddlers that has improved a lot since 2005. And we have some great rookies and second year paddlers now too!

"Thalassa" is the 2005 TV series produced by France 3, which followed False Creek Women's Team and Gung Haggis Fat Choy - contrasting the premier Women's team with a mixed recreational team. You can see us doing race visualizations, and even our one-finger lift of then coach Bob Brinson who also steered for us.

In 2006, CBC film crew shot us at the Vancouver Taiwanese Dragon Boat Race for the documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy. Basically the story was about my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan and his descendants - 5 generations of Chinese Canadians including Todd Wong. So they interviewed me, and filmed some of my many community activities including dragon boat racing, speaking at Terry Fox Runs, being a cancer survivor, helping to save author Joy Kogawa's Childhood home, and the cross-cultural phenomena of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.

And we also showed footage of the 2007 Dragon Zone Sprint Regatta, captured by ZDF TV (German) for the doc - From Toronto to Vancouver by Train. Not much footage actually made it into the aired edits - but ZDF was kind enough to make me a dvd with all the footage of our team.

See everybody on Saturday
Please arrive early with your wristband... and get lots of sleep the night before!

Cheers, Todd

Gung Haggis Fat Choy team prepares for last practice before the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festiival June 20/21

Todd — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:07:00 -0700

It's the last practice before the race: Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team

Gung Haggis team line up at the Dragon Zone regatta on June 6th - photo Todd Wong

The Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival is the largest in North America. Dragon boat racing began in Vancouver BC, when the Hong Kong pavillion at Expo 86 donated 4 teak boats to the City of Vancouver. I started attending the festivals for the great entertainment and shows. It wasn't until 1993 that I first joined a team and started paddling.

The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team has been racing at Alcan Dragon Boat Festival since 2002. Prior to that I coached and paddled on many different teams at the novice, recreation and competitive levels. The Gung Haggis team emphasizes fun, fitness and multiculturalism. That's why we wear our kilts while paddling a Chinese dragon boat tradition.

We have been asked to participate in two film documentaries. One is a feature film titled "In the Same Boat", directed by Alfonso Chin and produced by Jacqueline Liu for Rosetta Entertainment. Alfonso used to paddle for the CC Riders team, and our paddler/drummer Keng Graal used to be one of his teachers.

Katie, rookie Gung Haggis paddler is interviewed for "In the Same Boat" dragon boat documentary film - photo T.Wong

The second film is a multi-part series called "Chinatown Canada" produced by Kerri Beattie of Image Pacific. They will be interviewing me about Vancouver Chinatown, and filming our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team in action, as one of the cultural off shoots of Chinatown.

We are having our final pre-race practice tonight 5:45 to 7:30pm at Dragon Zone (50 paces south of Science World - at the Green Trailer Building).

We will be working out our final race strategies, and finalizing seating arrangements. Some of the paddlers have been away, but have returned just in time. We have four brand new paddlers who raced their first races ever in May and June. We have two more brand new paddlers who have yet to experience a full race with 7 or more boats.

Our core veterans have been with the team for 4 years or more. We have added some paddlers who have experience with other teams. This could be the best Gung Haggis team ever. But our roles at drummer and steers are not settled yet, and we might be rotating people.

Tonight after a debriefing... we are having a team social at "The Clubhouse Restaurant" on West 2nd - across from City TV, and on the same block as Bazzaar Novelty.

There is a dvd machine in the upstairs party room.
I will be showing documentary footage of the team from
France 3 "Thalassa" 2005
CBC Generations: The Chan Legacy 2006
ZDF "From Toronto to Vancouver by Train" 2007
but not from the 2008 Global News "Best of BC"

Vancouver Storytelling at Main St. Car Free Days - with Toddish McWong

Todd — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:25:00 -0700

Toddish McWong, telling stories at 2008 Celtic Fest for the Battle of the Bards, and reading Robert Burns poetry - photo D. Martin.

Vancouver Storytelling at Main St. Car Free Days, with Todd Wong

I have been asked by Vancouver Storytellers, to give a storytelling performance
Location: located on the West Side at 18th.; on a grassy island set back from Main Street. We are beside a tiny mall with a Pizza Hut.

It is Car Free Days starts at 12 noon at the following locations.
Commercial Drive (between Venables and 1st Ave.)
Denman St. (between Davie and Robson)
Main St. (between 12th and 25th)
Kitsilano (various neighborhood block parties)
http://www.carfreevancouver.org/

I will tell stories of early Chinese & Scottish pioneers in BC,

I will look down Main Street towards Chinatown and tell stories about my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, who came to Canada in 1896 as a lay preacher for the Chinese Methodist Church....

I will tell stories about how James Douglas was born in Guyana to a Scottish father and a Creole mother, and came to BC to become the first governor of BC.

I will look south to the Fraser River, and recount how Simon Fraser was born in the United States, came to Canada with his Loyalist mother, and travelled through Western Canada, to explore this Westernmost land and named it New Caledonia.

I will the origins of Gung Haggis Fat Choy:

in 1993, when I first wore a kilt for the SFU, Robbie Burns Day celebrations
in 1998, with a small private dinner for 16 people in a living room
how it has grown into an annual Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner serving 550 people
and spun off a CBC TV performance special
The SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival, by SFU Recreation department.

3 Asian Canadians appointed to new BC Liberal Cabinet: Ida Chong, John Yap and Naomi Yamamoto

Todd — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:57:00 -0700

Ida Chong, John Yap and Naomi Yamamoto were all appointed to BC Cabinet, creating the largest Asian representation ever, along with Kash Heed who is South Asian.

Naomi Yamamoto, the first Japanese-Canadian, is sworn into the new BC Cabinet on June 10th 2009, by Hon. Steven Point, the first Aboriginal BC Lt. Governor.

Ida Chong (Oak Bay)
Minister of Healthy Living and Sport.
Chong is the first Canadian born Chinese-Canadian BC MLA. Previously she had been minister of small business, technology and economic development and minister responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative in the last term. I first met Ida at the BC Community Achievement Awards last April. In August, Ida and I were two of 16 BCers voted into the BC Royal Museum's "The Party" display for the "Free Spirit" exhibit celebrating the 150th Anniversary of BC. see: Royal BC Museum invites 6 new people to "The Party"

John Yap (Richmond Steveston)
Minister of State for Climate Action.
Yap was born in Singapore. He has been active with many community organizations. Our paths have crossed with his support of the Chinese Canadian veterans of Pacific Unit 280.

Naomi Yamamoto (North Vancouver Lonsdale)
Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.
The first ever Japanese-Canadian MLA in BC. Naomi's parents had been interned during WW2. She beat out Don Bell, the former North Vancouver District Mayor and Member Parliament for the constituency nomination. Active in the North Shore community, she has been president and manager of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce for the past 2 years, and has also previously been chair of the BC Chamber of Commerce. While I've never met Naomi, I have known her sister Donna for many years through her theatre work.

Kash Heed (Vancouver Fraserview)
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Heed is a Simon Fraser University alumnus where he completed his BA and MA at Simon Fraser University part-time. Formerly with the Vancouver Police Department, he was appointed Chief of the West Vancouver Police Department in 2007. While with the Vancouver Police, he was also head of the drug squad, led the Indo-Canadian gang task force and launched the COMPSTAT system, using computer technology to track crime.

Missing cabinet after winning 3 straight election is Richard T. Lee (Burnaby North).

I'll try to identify the Scottish-Canadians appointed to cabinet - but it's a harder task because the while Mac's are usually Scottish and Mc's are usually Irish, they are sometimes interchanged. Many Scottish-Canadians don't necessarily disclose their Scottish ancestry because Scots have long been part of BC's mainstream political culture and history. First BC Governor James Douglas' father was Scottish, even though Douglas himself was born in Guyana to a mother who was a Free Black. Current BC Premier Gordon Campbell claims Scottish ancestry, though I have yet to find a picture of him wearing a kilt.

See links:

Canadian Press: List of BC cabinet ministers

Vancouver Sun: New cabinet to secure BC's economic, fiscal, environmental and ...

North Shore Outlook - Rookie MLA Yamamoto earns seat on cabinet

Georgia Straight: Vancouver tops the charts in Premier Gordon Campbell's cabinet

Mixie and the Half-breeds is coming: A new theatrical play by Neworld Theatre

Todd — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:56:00 -0700

Mixie & the Half-breeds theatrical play tackles the issues of Asian ancestry in a Mixed Race Canada.

Many Canadians are of mixed heritage. The Métis are mostly descended from First Nations and French-Canadian heritage. But what if you are part Asian?

Adrienne Wong and Julie Tamiko Manning might consider themselves Hapa, or Hapa-Canadians, as they count Chinese and Japanese as part of their genetic and cultural heritage.

Many well known actors are Hapa, such as Keanu Reeves, Kristin Kreuk (Smallville), Meg Tilly, Jennifer Tilly, Dean Cain (Adventures of Lois and Clark), Jason Lee - the son of Bruce Lee(The Crow), and even Kate Beckinsale. They all have Asian ancestry.

Piano performers Jon Kimura Parker, James Parker, and their cousin Ian Parker. Rocker David Usher is Hapa, as is Sean Ono Lennon - the son of John and Yoko.

Adrienne performed an excerpt from Mixie and the Half-Breeds at the 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner. It was an inspired performance, perfect for an event that highlights cultural fusion. She talked about growing up confronting the issues of belonging to this group or that group, but emphasizing her own uniqueness. AND... Adrienne congratulated ALL the "Mixies" in the audience and threw licorice Twizzlers to them!

I've known both Adrienne and Julie for a number of years, and seen them both perform. I am looking forward to this production which opens on June 19th, at the Vancouver East Cultural Lab.

mixie and the halfbreeds

WORLD PREMIERE
By Adrienne Wong and Julie Tamiko Manning
Directed by Maiko Bae Yamamoto
Produced in partnership with the Powell Street Festival Society
June 18-28, 2009
The Vancity Culture Lab at The Cultch 1895 Venables Street.
Tickets available through Ticketmaster: www.ticketmaster.ca 604-280-4444

Eggs, bananas and an aversion to rice.

Two estranged neighbours are not as different as they think. Haunted by peroxide teeth and blondissima hair, Mixie and Trixie tackle a question that has plagued mankind hrough the ages: do blondes really have more fun?

A no-holds-barred identity throw-down, Mixie and the Halfbreeds is an optimistic tale for a remixed nation.

Performances
Wednesday - Saturday, 8:00pm
Free Preview June 18, 8:00pm 
PWYC Matinees Saturday June 20 & Sunday June 28 2:00pm
Tickets $20/$18, plus applicable service charges

Part of See Seven! Pass Holders can reserve through Tickets Tonight: 604-684-2787

Ancillary Events
Post Show Talkback with Adrienne and Julie: Thursday June 25
Stay after the show for a chat with the cast.

Afternoon Discussion: Saturday June 20, after the matinee
Presented in partnership with the Powell Street Festival.
A discussion with mixed race artists of different disciplines about how identity informs artistic practice and creative process. Marcus Youssef moderates with panelists Julie Tamiko Manning (theatre), cellist Cris Derksen and Jay Hirabayashi (Kokoro Dance).

Ukulele Sing-A-Long: Sunday June 28, after the matinee
Guido Heistek leads a post show jam. Novice and experienced strummers welcome. Bring your own ukulele or borrow one of ours.

Silent T shirt auction: local artists and crafters create unique designs inspired by MIXING. Featuring work by Natalie Purschwitz (huntandgather.ca), CBC diva Margaret Gallagher, Adrienne Wong, Ruthie Sumiko Tabata and Kirsty Munro. Shirts are on display in the lobby throughout the run.

“Then Bowie says, ‘Iggy would have loved you my little china girl.’ And I say, ‘shhh...’ and throw my drink in his face. ‘I’m Japanese you moron!’ Then I wake up.”

Standing Up for Community: Readings and presentations by Shirley Chan, Hayne Wai and Larry Wong for Eastside Stories

Todd — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:30:00 -0700

Eastside Stories is an offshoot of the Heart of the City Festival,
3 community leaders will speak at Carnegie Centre June 21st at 3pm.
Shirley Chan, Hayne Wai and Larry Wong

Event 3. Standing up for Community with Shirley Chan, Hayne Wai and Larry Wong, Sun June 21, 3pm Carnegie 3rd floor (see below and http://www.heartofthecityfestival.com/news/eastside-stories/

Shirley, Hayne and Larry are contributors to the book EATING STORIES: A Chinese Canadian and Aboriginal Potluck

All three helped to fight against the freeway proposal that would have knocked a swath through Chinatown in the 1960's.

Shirley and her mother helped lead the protests against freeway development in Vancouver Chintown in the 1960's, and were the topic of the documentary film Mary Lee Chan takes on City Hall. Mother Tongue | chinese community

http://www.mothertongue.ca/community.php?id=1093574665

Hayne has been involved with many anti-racism programs, and has served on the boards of Chinese Cultural Centre and Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens, and Saltwater City Vancouver Centennial Exhibition. He founding member of Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC. Hayne is also my cousin, role model, and one of my inspirations in creating Gung Haggis Fat Choy

Larry Wong is curator of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and Archives. He is also childhood friend of Wayson Choy, and founding member of Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC.

Heather Pawsey performing at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens June 8

Todd — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:19:00 -0700

ON A QUIET NIGHT
Monday, June 8, 2009 at7:30 p.m.
FREE

(Reservations required; 604-662-3207)

The Garden will reverberate ON A QUIET NIGHT with Canadian classical chamber music music to enchant the ears and soothe the soul. Join critically acclaimed musicians Ariel Barnes, cello; Kathryn Cernauskas, flute; Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa, piano; and Heather Pawsey, soprano on a musical stroll through the serene and intimate spaces of this authentic Ming Dynasty garden for a joyful celebration of the rich and ancient culture of China alongside the wealth of Canada's multicultural traditions with works that include Music for Piano (Alexina Louie), Cold Mountain Songs (texts by the 8th century poet Han Shan, translated by Red Pine; music by Rodolf Komorous); On A Quiet Night (Chan Ka Nin); and A Simple Tune Without Words (for china bowl and chopsticks, by Murray Adaskin), among others.

Mayne Island's Japanese Memorial Garden is a place of peace, tranquility and forgiveness

Todd — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:42:00 -0700

Japanese Memorial Garden on Mayne Island:
a tribute and remembrance to the Japanese-Canadian residents who were removed in 1942 because of internment during WW2

It's a beautiful place. We visited the Japanese Memorial Garden twice during our visit in May. Once at dusk, and the next day in the afternoon before leaving the island. Land had first been set aside to create this park in 1987, while negotiations were still happening for Japanese Canadian Redress, and before the parliamentary apology in 1988 by Prime Minister Mulroney.

This park was basically recreated by Don Herbert and community volunteers from 1999 to 2002, after the initial garden suffered from drainage problems, overgrowth of alder trees and neglect.

Today, it is one of the island's most important attractions, and a proud accomplishment of what a community can do.

This plaque identifies the ancestral villages and cities where the Mayne Islanders of Japanese ancestry came from. And lists a map of where each of the families had lived on Mayne Island before they were removed and sent to internment camps in the BC interior.

Todd poses on the bridge to the island - photo D. Martin

A stream trickles down to a water pump, and reeds in the pond.

This is a little resting house, where I discovered a newspaper clipping from the Georgia Straight. It was a Chronicles column from former Mayne Island resident Terry Glavin. This was especially significant for me, because since 2005, I have been an organizer for the "Save Kogawa House Campaign" to save the childhood home of author Joy Kogawa, and since 2007, Terry Glavin and I have become friends. This year in April, he received the Lt. Gov. Award for Literary Achievement, the first time it was awarded to a non-fiction writer. See my article 2009 BC Book Prizes with Terry Glavin

Gung Haggis dragon boat team places 1st in Rec B division, at Dragon Zone Regatta

Todd — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:27:00 -0700

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team raced Saturday afternoon in the Dragon Zone Regatta

Happy Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team paddlers after winning the Recreation B Final (standing l-r) Todd, Steven, Walter, Ernest, Stephen (back), Hillary, Wendy, Karen, Christine, Karen, Joe, Heather, Sean John, Raphael, (sitting l-r) Dennis, Jane, Katie, Tony, Debbie, Ashleigh, Tzhe, (front) Jim.

Every June the Dragon Zone regatta is run 2 weeks prior to the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival. This allows the race officials, race organizers to know that the equipment is working, and that volunteers are trained.

On Saturday morning, the top teams raced. These teams are expected to be in the Competitive and Rec A division during the festival. On Sunday afternoon, teams that have finished in Rec B-E or Novice Divisions raced. Junior teams are raced on Sunday morning, along with teams that couldn't race on Saturday.

Katie is interviewed, after her first-ever dragon boat race, for the film documentary "In The Same Boat" - photo Todd Wong

It was a busy day for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team. We were also filmed for the documentary film "In the Same Boat." This is a film about dragon boating, and is following a few teams that will race at the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival. We were chosen because we specialize in promoting multiculturalism, and the film makers liked the fact that we are the only dragon boat team wearing kilts.

1st Race - lane 3
We were 1st or 2nd in our first race by fractions.
Very good race, trading places with Chilliwack Crusaders right beside us. Good steering by Commodore Mirowski.
Our friend Manfred Preuss, was paddling on the Crusaders. In 2005, Manfred raced with Gung Haggis at the Alcan Festival. He is the founding president of the Fraser Valley Dragon Boat Association, and created the Fraser Valley Dragon Boat Festival at Harrison Hot Springs.
Crusaders 2:39.870
Gung Haggis 2:40.150
That's a difference of 0.280 seconds.

2nd Race - lane 2
We made changes, putting Jane on the drummers seat, moving Todd to steer, and Stephen Mirowski to paddle. The team adjusted to the changes, but our rate was a bit high, and we lagged from the start. Our friends GVRD 44 Cheeks took off from us at the start. Their steers Dave Samis, often paddles with us in races that GVRD doesn't enter.
Gung Haggis - 2:43.190 - 5th place
Crusaders - 2:41.560 - 4th place
GVRD - 2:30.860 - 2nd place

3rd Race B Final - lane 2
We decided to keep Jane on the drummers seat. Devon spared out to go to work, and Debbie Poon came in after spending the morning doing research on the ferries. We had a strong start, and took an early lead. We surged farther by midpoint, and pulled away with a strong finish by TWO BOAT LENGTHS. 1st place in B division - by 2 lengths... It's a good demonstration that the team could actually race well in A Division. This does wonders for the confidence of our paddlers.
1st place Gung Haggis 2:36.110
2nd place Hmmm Sea Monster 2:46.300
3rd place Crusaders 2:46.330

Way to go Gung Haggis...
And everything was captured by the documentary film crew shooting "In the Same Boat."

Please post pictures to Flickr and join the Gung Haggis dragon boat team flickr group.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/584030@N22/

Flower Drum Song hits all the right notes: Vancouverites should see it and demand more!

Todd — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:07:00 -0700

Flower Drum Song makes you laugh and sing...
It's Rogers and Hammerstein in 1950's San Francisco Chinatown!

May 29-June 14
Waterfront Theatre
Directed by Rick Tae
Produced by Joyce Lam
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre
www.vact.ca

This VACT production is amazing, it should become a Vancouver regular. Who knew Asian Canadians could put on such a good song and dance musical, worthy of being included into "Theatre Under the Stars" or at any of Metro Vancouver's stages.

Actor Jimmy Yi is a knockout! He plays Sammy Fong the night club owner who might or might not get married to Linda Low, played coquettishly by Lannette New. But Linda might also marry Wang Ta, played by Isaac Kwok. Or Ta might marry Mei Li (Rosie Simon). And somebody else also has a crush on Ta. Sound confused? You should be. It's a classic Love triangle times 2 with some great songs and dance numbers thrown in.

But then there is also Ta's father Wang Chi Yang, played by BC Lee (now known as the former Vancouver City Councilor), who wants to lay down the family law as he insists that Ta should be married, and sets out to set up a traditional Chinese style arranged marriage. Gee... Sammy Fong has a picture order bride just arrived into town... how convenient.

Jimmy Yi as Sammy Fong with Lannette New as Linda Low - photo courtesy of VACT

Okay... forget that the characters and the setting are Asians in San Francisco's Chinatown. This could be a plot similar to Shakespeare's As You Like It, or Gershwin's Girl Crazy, or Lerner and Lowe's Brigadoon, or Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. Love, trying to find the right person, and the ensuing moral dilemmas are universal themes in every language and culture.

Flower Drum Song originally debuted in 1958 on Broadway with dance great Gene Kelly choreographing the moves. This Rogers and & Hammerstein musical has everything. Dancing, singing, corny jokes, love stories... and controversy! It's a classic tale of old traditions versus assimilation into the New World. Addressing social issues within the Broadway musical format is the legacy of Rogers and Hammerstein. They aptly addressed racism, sexism and classism with their hits Oklahoma, Carousel, The King and I, South Pacific and The Sound of Music. In particular, The Sound of Music addressed how some Austrians objected to Nazi Germany taking over their country prior to WW2. The King & I addressed how the kingdom of Siam dealt with and resisted the growing colonialism of Asia by European nations.

Set in 1950's era San Francisco, this VACT production addresses the nostalgia of the era. Director Rick Tae has found the balance for the show in a post-modern politically correct environment, by willingly playing up the campiness of the 50's beatnik era language.

It is the older brother Ta (Isaac Kwok), the first born son, that is caught in the middle. He wants to please his father, but he also wants to forge his own identity. Kwok is a recent graduate from Capilano University's Musical Theatre program and does a good job in the lead role, singing and acting his way between the show's generation and love match issues. His strong voice and good looks should could easily find him cast in leads for Brigadoon and other shows.

Lannette New has a tough job, living up to the role of Linda Low played so excellently by Nancy Kwan in the 1961 movie. The Low character is flamboyant role of a night club performer - sexy and independent - not your typical Chinese daughter-in-law material. New reigns in the energy with sweetness and presence.

With Vancouver's huge Chinese population, you would think ethnic Chinese actors would get tired of the perennial stereotypecasting playing Chinese waiters, kung fu baddies, chinadolls and gangsters. But where do people get the chance to expand their horizons and resume lists?

For the past 10 years, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre has been producing plays to showcase Asian Canadian talent, and feature works by North American Asian playwrights such as David Henry Hwang. Asian comedy nights have become annual features that grew into sketch comedy contests. The Sex in Vancouver series was adapted from the Sex in Seattle series originated by Kathy Hsieh and Serin Ngai's

Producer and president, Joyce Lam also had a vision to put on Rogers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song as a full production in Vancouver. Incredibly, it had never happened before. Two years ago she saw Jimmy Yi, in the staged reading by APPLAUSE! Musical Society, and in that moment, she knew she had her casting for Sammy Fong.

Amazingly, the original 1958 production got six Tony Award nominations, and spun off some national tours and the popular 1961 musical film version. It also marked the first time in musical history that a mostly Asian cast appeared on the Broadway stage.

But the work and film fell out of favour in the late 1960's due to criticism of the gender and racial stereotyping of the era, in the wake of the rising civil rights movement.

In 2002, playwright David Henry Hwang reworked the original music and storyline for a Broadway revival that received multiple Tony nominations, a Grammy nomination for the soundtrack.

More later

Another Magical Evening for final event of Historic Joy Kogawa House's inaugural writer-in-residence program

Todd — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:15:00 -0700

Another Magical Evening for final event of Historic Joy Kogawa House's inaugural writer-in-residence program with John Asfour, Gary Geddes and Ann Erikson.

Old friends and new friends, friends now forever at Historic Joy Kogawa House. Gary Geddes, John Asfour, "Joy Kogawa" life size photo, and Ann-Eriksson on the final event for John Asfour's inaugural writer-in-residence program. - photo Todd Wong

"John Asfour was the perfect choice to be the inaugural writer-in-residence for Kogawa House" said Richard Hopkins, board member of the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society.

Asfour, a Montreal poet, blind since the age of 13 because of the injuries from the Lebanese civil war, hosted an over-flowing audience on May 30th for a final event reading with special guests Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson. Shelagh Rogers was a surprise guest emcee for this event which took place on a beautiful late spring evening in the backyard of author Joy Kogawa's childhood home.

"It was another magical evening" said Shelagh Rogers who had previously hosted the "Al Purdy Party" at Kogawa House on April 20th. Shelagh had initially planned to come to the event as a guest, partially because "Falsework" by Gary Geddes, was one of Shelagh's favorite books of 2008. She gladly accepted the invitation to host from John Asfour.

Ann Erikson reads underneath the cherry and apple trees in the back yard of Historic Joy Kogawa House.

Ann Eriksson describes her new novel "In the Hands of Anubis" to Shelagh Rogers.

Gary read from his many works, and shared stories of traveling in the Middle East with John Asfour, describing the incident as "the lame leading the blind" because Gary had hurt his leg, and John would have his hand on Gary's arm, as they walked.

Two old chums share a smile and a glass of wine.

More to come....

Final event for Montreal poet John Asfour at Kogawa House, with Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson

Todd — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:40:00 -0700

MONTREAL POET WRAPS UP RESIDENCY THIS WEEKEND

Historic Joy Kogawa House celebrates success of its first writer-in-residence

On April 20, inaugural Kogawa House writer-in-residence John Afour welcomed Shelagh Rogers, Jean Baird, George Bowering and George Stanley to Kogawa House for a joint Purdy Party with three BC Book Prize Poetry nominees Daphne Marlatt, George Stanly and Nilofar Shidmehr - photo Todd Wong

Kogawa House writer-in-residence John Asfour leaves a trail of inspiration behind as he packs his bags to return to Montreal on Sunday, May 31.

Final reading with Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson on Saturday, May 30th.

During his residency in Vancouver Asfour has hosted a number of writers for readings at the house, including Judy Rebick, Ann Diamond, and Daphne Marlatt, George Stanley, and Nilofar Shidmehr—three poets nominated for this year’s Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. On Saturday, May 30, Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson join him for a final reading.

Asfour has also welcomed visits from writing classes and he has coached numerous individual writers. Following an evening class at the house, SFU Writers’ Studio lyric poetry instructor Rachel Rose wrote: “John has been so generous with his time, meeting many students for individual consults.” Another writer said: “I had a very good, productive meeting with John and learned more in meeting with him than I had learned in a whole year studying creative writing at university. He taught me how to edit.”

Asfour’s frequent writing consultations did not keep him completing a book of poems entitled Blindfold, which is partly autobiographical—born in Lebanon, Asfour was blinded at age 13 during the Civil War in 1958. His poems explore feelings of loss and displacement and suggest that the disabled often feel like foreigners in their own land, hampered by prejudice (sometimes well-meaning), communications barriers and the sense of “limited personality” that characterizes the immigrant experience.

John Asfour was featured at the Vancouver Public Library on May 19th with Neworld Theatre's Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong read his poems in English - photo Todd Wong

While in Vancouver Asfour also presented poetry readings to a variety of audiences, including the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Christianne’s Lyceum of Art and Literature, the BC Muslim School and in collaboration with Neworld Theatre at the Vancouver Public Library. On Thursday, 58 students from Killarney Secondary School will practice their creative writing while scattered over the lawns, patio, and deck at Kogawa house.

Asfour is the author of four books of poetry in English and two in Arabic. He translated the poetry of Muhammad al-Maghut into English under the title Joy Is Not My Profession (Véhicule Press), and he selected, edited and introduced the landmark anthology When the Words Burn: An Anthology of Modern Arabic Poetry, 1945–1987 (Cormorant Books).

Further information can be found on the website of the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society at www.kogawahouse.com or by calling (604) 263-6586.

ends/more

Contacts:

Kogawa House Society: Ann-Marie Metten (604) 263-6586

Notes to Editors:

1. Information on Historic Joy Kogawa House

Historic Joy Kogawa House is the former home of the Canadian author Joy Kogawa (born 1935). It stands as a cultural and historical reminder of the expropriation of property that all Canadians of Japanese descent experienced after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Between 2003 and 2006, a grassroots committee fund raised in a well-publicized national campaign, and with the help of The Land Conservancy of BC, a non-profit land trust, managed to purchase the house in 2006.

Together with Joy Kogawa, the various groups decided that the wisest and best use of the property would be to establish it as a place where writers could live and work. Following the models of the writer-in-residence programs in place at the Berton House Writers’ Retreat in Dawson City , Yukon , and Roderick Haig-Brown House in Campbell River , BC , the Historic Joy Kogawa House writer-in-residence program brings well-regarded professional writers in touch with a local community of writers, readers, editors, and librarians. While in residence, the writer works to enrich the literary community around him or her and to foster an appreciation for Canadian writing through programs that involve students, other writers and members of the general public.

Beginning in March 2009, as a partner with TLC, the Historic Joy Kogawa Society will begin hosting writers to live and work in the house on a paid basis. Funding is provided through the Michael Audain Foundation for the Arts, the BC Arts Council, the Canada Council and through donations from the general public.

Eating on Mayne Island... 4 eateries... all delicious!

Todd — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:57:00 -0700

Holidays and good food go together.

Menu board on the patio of the Wild Fennel restaurant on Mayne Island - photo Todd Wong

On Mayne Island we visited the Wild Fennel Restaurant, Springwater Lodge, the newly renovated "Brickworks Restaurant on the Bay" at the Mayne Inn Resorts, and I even had breakfast at the Sunny Mayne Bakery Café. So I did indeed visit all four restaurants listed in the Mayne Island brochure found on the BC Ferry, and also listed on the Mayne Island Chamber website:
http://www.mayneislandchamber.ca/restaurants.htm

We had caught the 7:20 ferry from Tsawwassen, so I ate dinner in the BC Ferry Restaurant, which is basically a mini White Spot. I had the bacon & cheese burger with fries... but substituted a soft drink for the frozen coffee drink that had a lot of mocha in it! Definitely better than Tim Hortons!

At 7am, Friday, I woke up early and wanted to find a place for coffee and breakfast. Where do the locals go? It's the Sunny Mayne Bakery Café where I found delicious fried potatoes and scrambled eggs, which I ate with ketchup and HP Sauce. Perfect! They even make cappucinos and mochas too. I opted for plain coffee to which I added some chocolate, honey, and cream. Located in the town centre on 472 Village Bay Road, beside Tru Value Foods.

View of Bennett Bay from Bricksworks restaurant at Mayne Inn Resorts - photo Todd Wong

We went kayaking on Friday, and was very tempted to try to buy fresh crabs from the boat hauling up their crab traps in Bennett Bay - but I didn't bring my wallet on our 2 1/2 hour kayak excursion. :-(

Oh well, after burning up an appetite kayaking and hiking to Campbell Point, we headed to "Brickworks Restaurant on the Bay" at the Mayne Inn Resorts. The Resort is undergoing some rennovations, so it looks like it is closed from the street. But we drove in and found a lovely upscale setting. With a stunning view of Bennett Bay, we sat down and quickly ordered the special of the day, "Seafood Wellington" - salmon, haddock and prawns baked in puff pastry. At $18, it was large and reasonably priced. We cut it in two and shared it, along with the vegetables and rice pilaf. We sat on the remaining sun on the patio and enjoyed our dinner along with Strongbow and cider. If we hadn't already planned to spend the sunset hours on the other side of the island, we might have stayed longer. I was tempted by the $3.99 pub special of a chocolate shooter cup, filled with "your choice" of liquer....

Haddock, Salmon and Prawns stuffed into something called Seafood Wellington. It's a good thing I like to eat my rice and brocolli.- photo Todd Wong

We next drove to the other side of the island, back to the town centre at Miner's Bay. At 6pm, there was still a lot of time to fill before darkness fell, and on a small island there isn't a lot to do. Best thing is go to the pub! The good ol' hockey game was on the tv set, next to the pool tables. Detroit 3, Chicago 1. We went and sat on the patio, enjoying the wonderful view of Active Pass where we had seen orcas from the ferry only 24 hours earlier. The 3 people at the table beside us all ordered the $18 chipotle prawn special, and said it was very good. The other table had ordered 2 piece Fish & Chips and that looked good and was much cheaper at $11.99 We ordered the 3 piece for about $1.50 more and shared. We also ordered the Mission Hill white and red wines. What a wonderful way to spend a summer evening... restaurant hopping and having wonderful food. No Killer Whales were spotted, but the BC Ferries tooted their horns and passed each other in Active Pass.

The Historic Springwater Lodge was originally built in 1892, and is the oldest continuously operated hotel in BC. It was stopping point for miners headed to the Fraser River and Caribou Gold Rush.

View from Springwater Lodge patio. BC Ferries in the distance - photo Todd Wong

Peter smiles after telling us that he is the one (of the partners) that is responsible for the art work. - photo Todd Wong

After driving past the Wild Fennell 4 times on Friday, we went back on Saturday specifically for lunch. It was the restaurant recommended by our kayaking guide, and we also remembered it the book "Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest - a romantic travel guide." It's a cosy little place filled with art created by one of the owners - Peter. The food was very good, and not out of line with any of the "west coast bistros" throughout Metro Vancouver - but it had that special Gulf Island charm, and the prices are quite reasonable. The shrimp soup with wild mushrooms was very nice, and our sandwiches were delicious. I had the smoked tuna clubhouse with shrimp and avocado aoeli. Deb had the vegetarian hoagy with ceasar salad. I think they were about $12 or $14 each. The restaurant is located at the Fernhill Plaza next to the Tree Frog Gallery, the Mackenzie Gallery of Fine Art and the nice store with all the glass work and pottery.

Smoked tuna Clubhouse sandwich with shrimp and avocado aoeli, and with the Shrimp and Wild Mushroom soup of the day. Yum!

Deb had the vegetarian hoagie with a caesar salad. Lots of red and orange peppers, mushrooms, and greens. Double yum!

Tailor Made documentary about Wong family tailor shop is re-broadcast on Knowledge Network

Todd — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:34:00 -0700

Watch "Tailor Made - the last Chinese tailor shop in Vancouver Chinatown"

'Tailor Made' is being broadcast again in BC on Knowledge Network on the following dates:

May 26/2009 10:00PM
May 27/2009 2:00AM
May 27/2009 7:00PM

http://tvschedule.knowledgenetwork.ca/knsch/KNSeriesPage.jsp?seriesID=101539&seriesTitle=tailormade

"Tailor Made"is a wonderful documentary about the last tailor shop in Vancouver Chinatown. It opened in 1913. It made most of the zoot suits in Vancouver during the 1940's. Sean Connery's picture is there with the tailors Bill and Jack Wong. It's a Chinatown success story, that mirrors the history of Vancouver Chinatown, as the original tailor had to pay a head tax to come to Vancouver, as his two sons fought for Canada during WW2 when Chinese weren't allowed to vote, as his sons were unabled to get hired as UBC graduated engineers due to still prevailing racist sentiments, and how the youngest son became one of Vancouver's leading philanthropists and cultural leaders.

Bill Wong the tailor loves to attended the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner. His son Steven paddles on our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team. This is a wonderful documentary that received a standing ovation at the Whistler Film Festival.

Bill and Jack's younger brother Milton Wong is one of Vancouver's important figures, and former chancellor of SFU, and known as the "grandfather of dragon boat racing" in Vancouver. Both Milton and Steven were interviewed for a German public television documentary addressing multiculturalism in Vancouver. The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team was featured too!
Check out: http://wstreaming.zdf.de/zdf/veryhigh/071219_toronto_vancouver.asx

My own family has known the Wongs for many year, my aunts and uncles went to school with many of the Wong family members. My uncle Laddie works as a tailor at Modernize Tailors.

In 2004, both the "Wong Way" dragon boat team and the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team participated in a workshop to carve dragon boat heads at the Round House Community Centre.

"Carvin' the Wong Way" Stephen Wong and nieceKaren from "Paddlin' the Wong Way" dragon boat team - photo Todd Wong

Check the Modernize Tailors Website:
http://www.modernizetailors.blogspot.com/

Tuesday February 12, 2008 at 10pm ET/PT on CBC Newsworld

TAILOR MADE
A naïve apprentice and a hot, young master tailor are both interested in taking over a legendary tailor shop in Vancouver's Chinatown, but they'll have a hard time convincing the hard-working Wong brothers to retire.

Modernize Tailors opened in 1913, and in the 1950s Bill and Jack Wong took over from their father. Over the years, they've created suits for all occasions and for customers from all walks of life-from lumberjacks and new immigrants to movie stars like Sean Connery and politicians like Sam Sullivan, then Mayor of Vancouver.

Now, a newer generation is looking to make their mark and take over the Modernize Tailors legacy. But will the 85-year-old Wong Brothers ever stop working?

Tailor Made was directed by Len Lee and Marsha Newbery, and produced by Marsha Newbery of Realize Entertainment Inc. It was commissioned by CBC Newsworld.

Knowledge Network: Tailor Made http://tvschedule.knowledgenetwork.ca/knsch/KNSeriesPage.jsp?seriesID=101539&seriesTitle=tailormade

'Tailor Made' is being broadcast again in BC on Knowledge Network on the following dates:

May 26/2009 10:00PM
May 27/2009 2:00AM
May 27/2009 7:00PM

Kayaking in the Gulf Islands: we visit Belle Islets Chain

Todd — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:28:00 -0700

Mayne Island is well known for its' sandstone formations which delight kayakers!

Todd and Deb paddle past Little Samuelson Island off Mayne Island. It was time for a mini-vacation. We caught the last Thursday night ferry from Vancouver on May 21st, and returned on the 5:05pm from Mayne to Galiano to Tsawassen. We even saw orca/killer whales in Active Pass on the ferry from Galiano to Mayne Island.

Deb paddles past some of the fantastic sandstone carved by the wave action of the Georgia Strait.

We paddled with Mayne Island Kayaking, located at Blue Vista Resorts. Owner Doug Peers was our guide, and he led us through the currents so we could see lots of harbour seals, a sea lion, oyster catchers, guillemots, and eagles.

See Gulf Islands National Park
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/gulf/carte-map-fl_e.asp

See more pictures at:

Mayne Island kayaking at...

John Asfour, Kogawa House writer-in-residence gives reading at Vancouver Public Library with Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong of Neworld Theatre

Todd — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:17:00 -0700

John Asfour, Kogawa House writer-in-residence gives reading at Vancouver Public Library with Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong of Neworld Theatre

John Asfour strums his oud (arabic lute), while Neworld Theatre's Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong read his poems - photo Todd Wong

John Asfour @ VPL
Tuesday May 19th
7:30 pm - 9pm FREE

Vancouver Public Library, Alma VanDusen & Peter Kaye Rooms, Lower Level
Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street

Tuesday night was wonderful. Marcus and Adrienne dimmed the lights to create an intimate setting. Kirsty set up the book table. I put out copies of Ricepaper beside them... I made the official VPL announcements because VPL Community Librarian Sophie Middleton called me at 4pm, asking me, because she had an allergy issue.

Richard Hopkins corrected me on my announcement of the June 9th event for VPL when the George Woodcock Award will be presented to W.P. Kinsella (I had said Patrick Kinsella)... and I did say that last year the award went to Joy Kogawa.

I gave brief intros and welcomes to John, Adrienne and Marcus and Sahaib. Acknowledging their upcoming events... such as May 30th at Kogawa House, Mixie & the Halfbreeds, as well as to Ariadne Sawyer of World Poetry, with her Gala anniversary at the Roundhouse next Monday,

Joh Asfour makes a brief introduction and acknowledges Neworld Theatre, Historic Joy Kogawa House Society, Vancouver Public Library and Sahaib - photo Todd Wong

John gave a short introduction, and explained how the evening would work. First the translations read in English by Marcus and Adrienne, then in Arabic by Sahaib. Then followed by John's works.

We actually started at 7:40, and continued non-stop to 8:40.

It was a special magical evening.

The audience paid rapt attention.

The "performance" flowed.... without the usual interruptions, explanations, flippings of pages... etc that are at most poetry readings.

Sahaib reads the original poems in Arabic language, while translator John Asfour plays his oud - photo Todd Wong

The readings were all well done. Marcus and Adrienne brought life and drama to the words, as did Sahaib. I didn't understand Arabic words, but the rhythm, the rhyme, the meaning, and the presence were all projected strongly. The audience listened. The audience paid attention listening to words they didn't understand... listening to sounds they understood... like music.

John Asfour plays oud, while Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong read his poetry works - photo Todd Wong

The duo voices of Marcus and Adrienne were matched in perfect timing, with a warm chemistry. Marcus' reading during "Beirut" emphasized the "drunkeness" of the character, while Adrienne grounded the poem with her narration. "Gaza" was incredibly timely and insightful. With recent happenings in Gaza, I wished that we could have sent it out to the media, or asked Adrienne how if felt having played "My Name is Rachel Corrie."

John Asfour plays oud - photo Todd Wong

John's playing of the oud, was soft or loud, slow or fast... accompanying the poems like a musical soundtrack. Afterwards, he told me he had played 12 songs, as well as improvisation.

Marcus Youssef lead Q&A with John Asfour - photo Todd Wong

After the reading... Marcus led a Q&A for the final 20 minutes. But I had to interrupt him briefly just to remind the audience of the May 30th Kogawa House event, and the Mixies event... and to share that Marcus had just been nominated that day for a Jessies Awards... for artistic achievement. Lots of audience applause.

This successful event reminder me of when we paired actors up to read poetry" similar to our April 25th 2006 "Joy of Canadian Words" event that had featured:

Joy Coghill reading "Klee Wyck",
Bill Dow, Maiko Bae Yamamoto, Manami Hara and Hiro Kanagawa reading Dorothy Livesay's "Call My People Home"
Sheryl Mackay reading "Ann of Green Gables",
Doris Chilcott reading Alden Nowlan,
Chief Rhonda Larrabee reading Thomas King's "Coyote and the Enemy Aliens"
jazz singer Leora Cashe singing Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love."

Wow... definitely a wonderful collaboration of Neworld Theatre and Historic Joy Kogawa House Society...

Kirsty, Marcus, John and Adrienne - photo Todd Wong

Afterwards we went for snacks at Subeez restaurant down the street, where we all joked and told stories, and complimented each other, and deepened our friendships.

It was one of the best poetry performances I have witnessed in years.

Next reading at Kogawa House with Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson:
By reservation and donation only.

Telephone: 604-263-6586
Email: kogawahouse@yahoo.ca

Gung Haggis Fat Choy, a scholarly take as alternative to the "Scottish Discursive Unconsious"

Todd — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:16:00 -0700

Gung Haggis Fat Choy making it's way into the lexicon of journals about Scottish culture:
Dr. Leith Davis writes about Toddish McWong for Scottish on-line journal - The Bottle Imp

A New Perspective on the Scottish Diaspora

Source: www.arts.gla.ac.uk

Dr. Leith Davis of SFU Centre of Scottish Studies, writes that "Gung Haggis Fat Choy" bucks the trend of "Scottish Discursive Unconscious."

She writes: "In his contribution to the recent volume on Transatlantic Scots, Colin McArthur comments on what he calls the "Scottish Discursive Unconscious," a restricted range of "images, tones, rhetorical tropes, and ideological tendencies, often within utterances promulgated decades (sometimes even a century or more) apart"...

"Vancouver, British Columbia, serves as a good test case for McArthur's comments. Like so many Canadian cities, it has been home over the years to a large population of Scottish immigrants....

"There are indeed traces of the Scottish Discursive Unconscious at work in Vancouver....

"Gung Haggis Fat Choy takes many of the features of traditional Burns nights and gives them a non-traditional twist...The "Address to the Haggis" morphs into the "Rap to the Haggis," featuring Joe MacDonald and Todd Wong with a synthesized beat maker in the background. The "Toast to the Lassies" in 2009 was a rap-poem delivered by a lassie with an all-male chorus. In addition, Asian elements are added, such as a "bamboo clappertale" about Robert Burns and his teacher by Jan Walls and music by the Silk Road Music Ensemble. Haggis wontons and other delicacies suggest a culinary as well as cultural fusion. Gung Haggis Fat Choy does not stop at mixing together those of Chinese and Scottish heritage. Rather, its aim is to provide a celebratory venue in which those from all cultures can be comfortable. The 2009 dinner opened, for example, with a blessing from Musqueam elder Larry Grant, a reminder, perhaps, that we are all immigrants here at some time in the past.

Where traditional Burns suppers of today include very little poetry, apart from snippets of the bard's most famous works, Gung Haggis Fat Choy keeps the spirit of Burns's creativity alive by featuring readings from Asian-Canadian poets and donating money to the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop, Ricepaper magazine and the Joy Kogawa House. Kogawa was one of the first Asian-Canadian writers to reach a national popular audience with her 1981 novel Obasan.

Read the entire article at:

http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/ScotLit/ASLS/SWE/TBI/TBIIssue5/Diaspora.html

A New Perspective on the Scottish Diaspora

Source: www.arts.gla.ac.uk

Happy Birthday Dinner at Hapa Izakaya

Todd — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:55:00 -0700

Hapa Izakaya in Kitslano is one of my favorite restaurants.

It was a 3 restaurant Kitsilano weekend, last week for my birthday. On Friday we went to Sunset Grill, 2204 York Ave. On Saturday we watched the hockey game and had Slum Dog Pizza at Hell's Kitchen 2041 4th Ave. West. But for the "Big Day" we suggested some names... and eagrely decided to go to Hapa Izakaya 1416 Yew St.

Everytime we go there, the first bite of each dish is either "Wow" or "yummmmmm." A few months ago, we took a friend from Ottawa to Hapa Izakaya in Kitsilano for his birthday. Good choice! It's a cozy atmosphere with lots of wood, as opposed to the more high-tech "clubby" feel of the Robson St. location. Modeled after Japanese bistros in Tokyo, owner Jason Ault returned from Japan to open up Hapa Izakaya with a fusion twist. As sushi was supposedly invented as finger food to eat while playing games, Izakaya bistros appeared as cheap places to eat and drink after work - but Hapa Izakaya takes it to another level. It creates a tapas style menu, with a cultural fusion twist, and sets in a glossy upscale setting. The Robson Street location is always buzzing, while the Kitsilano location is more laid back - but the food is great in both locations.

We started with King Crab roll. "Yum" - Deb's favorite!

Smoked Tuna Macaroni with Ume/Seiso sauce. "Wow!"

Dynamite roll with spicy mango sauce "Yow!"

Creme Brule topped off the evening!

VACT CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY OF RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN MUSICAL WITH AN ALL-ASIAN CAST

Todd — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:47:00 -0700

Is "Flower Drum Song" an Asian-American version of "Sound of Music" by Rodgers & Hammerstein?

Just as the Von Trapp family hiked over the mountains for a chance of freedom from Nazi tyranny, the characters of Flower Drum Song find happiness in the pursuit of the "American Dream" both as immigrants coming to a new country, and as Americans finding their place. The Flower Drum Wong musical (1958) was based on the book by C.Y. Lee (1957), and a movie version directed by Gene Kelly came out in 1961.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein had previously written musicals with Asian themes such as South Pacific (1949) and The King & I (1951). Watching the movie versions as I grew up, I was always interested because they had Asian characters and actors. The original musical and movie of Flower Drum Song became considered full of racist stereotypes during the American Civil Rights movement, but like the 1910 song "Chinatown My Chinatown" penned by Jerome & Schartz, it has an affectionate place in the hearts of many North American Asians.

About year ago, I watched the movie version on dvd, and was amazed by the commentary from playwright David Henry Hwang, who re-wrote Flower Drum Song for a post-colonial America and stated, "I tried to write the book that Oscar Hammerstein would have written if he were Asian-American."

Check out Nancy Kwan's "I Enjoy Being a Girl" on youtube

I really enjoyed watching the original movie. There are great highlights such as Nancy Kwan singing "I Enjoy Being a Girl", "A Hundred Million Miracles" performed by Miyoshi Umeki. Most fantastic is the jazz dance sequence of the song "Chop Suey" is addresses the melting pot/cultural fusion of Asian America. My friend Dan Seto always says that the song "Grant Avenue" is famous, and was very happy on his first visit to San Francisco to actually stand on Grant Avenue in Chinatown. It would be as if Rodgers & Hammerstein had set the story in Vancouver Chinatown and wrote a song about "Pender Street."

Check out this press release from Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre and buy your tickets!

VACT CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY OF RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN MUSICAL

WITH AN ALL-ASIAN CAST

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s FLOWER DRUM SONG * May 29 to June 14, 2009

VANCOUVER, BC (April 2, 2009) – Continuing to celebrate 10 successful years as the city’s premiere Asian Canadian theatre company, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (VACT) is excited to announce that it will be staging Rodgers & Hammerstein’s FLOWER DRUM SONG from May 29 to June 14 at The Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island.

This is the very first time that this Tony award-winning Broadway musical will be presented in Vancouver as a full production, during this, the 50thanniversary of the play. Another milestone for Vancouver theatre will be the all-Asian-Canadian cast, along with an Asian Canadian production team that includes director Rick Tae, choreographer Raphael Wong, set designer Janice Chiu, costumer designers Joyce Chung, Jeannine Sheares-Moon and producer Joyce Lam. Rounding out the team will include musical director Christopher King and lighting designer Darren Hales.

Other notable highlights include actor and former Vancouver city councillor BC Lee and local Asian comedian Tom Chin, in a cast of eighteen that stars Issac Kwok as young and impressionable Wang Ta, Rosie Simon as shy pre-arranged bride Mei Li, Jimmy Yi as hipster nightclub owner Sammy Fong and Lannette New as ready-for-the-altar showgirl Linda Low.

And adding to the experience, VACT will include the use of sur-titles – Chinese text that’s displayed above the stage so that non-English speaking Chinese members of the audience will be able to follow along with the lyrics and the dialogue. This is the second time that VACT has decided to use this visual aid to welcome as many members of the local Asian community as possible – the first time being VACT’s successful run last summer of the Asian version of Neil Simon’s THE ODD COUPLE.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s FLOWER DRUM SONG, set in San Francisco’s Chinatown of the late 50’s, takes a “colourful” approach to the age-old conflict that affects even the traditional immigrant family – the Generation Gap. Sammy’s folks have arranged a bride for him from China, hoping to sever his relationship with showgirl Linda. Mei Li arrives shy and naive – totally wrong for the modernized Sammy. But, she just may be the ticket for Sammy’s buddy Ta, whose dad is trying to prevent his kids from discovering rock ‘n roll, baseball, sports cars – a losing battle. However, Ta is smitten with the sexy Linda – because she “enjoys being a girl.” Suddenly Sammy has to figure out how to get Ta and Mei together so he can be with Linda. Of course, singing and dancing ensues.

FLOWER DRUM SONG, first performed on Broadway in 1958, is seeing a revival lately. It had fallen out of favour over the years as diversity awareness redefined how minorities should be portrayed in the media. However, VACT’s production will keep all of the original language of the play and attitudes of the day intact. “Doing this, our audience will be able to see the distinction in how far we’ve come and also be able to reminisce about the past with a satirical sense of humour, “ says director Rick Tae. “It’s just amazing how far we’ve come,” adds producer and VACT founder Joyce Lam. “We have 18 terrific actors and singers in this cast. I remember clearly 10 years ago how we struggled to find 3 experienced Asian actors in all of Vancouver for our first play.”

For more information, including cast and crew bios, please visit http://www.vact.ca.

Event Details

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s FLOWER DRUM SONG

@ The Waterfront Theatre

1412 Cartwright Street, Granville Island, Vancouver

May 28: Preview

May 29, 30, 31, June 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Tickets Details

Purchase in Advance:

By phone (604) 684-2787 with a $2.50 service charge

By online www.vact.ca or wwww.ticketstonight.ca

Group Rates, please call (778) 885-1973

*Preview performance Thursday May 28 at 8pm - $20

(only available online at www.vact.ca or cash-only at door)

*All Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday evening performances at 8pm –

$29 in advance/$35 cash-only at door

*Saturday/Sunday matinees at 2pm (except Wednesday June 3 matinee at 1pm) –

$24 in advance/$30 cash-only at door

*Limited Rush Tickets: $17.50 cash-only at the door (max 2 per person)

*Students and Seniors (65+): $20 cash-only at door

(not available Friday or Saturday evening performances)

Poet John Asfour, Kogawa House writer-in-residence joins Neworld Theatre May 19th at Vancouver Public Library

Todd — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:24:00 -0700

John Asfour with "Joy Kogawa" and Judy Rebick at the April event for Historic Joy Kogawa House inaugural writer-in-residence programming. - photo Todd Wong

Two more events with John Asfour will round out his third and final month in residence.

Tuesday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m., John presents an evening of Arabic poetry in translation. John performs on the oud, or Arabic lute, as actors Adrienne Wong and Marcus Youssef of Neworld Theatre read his poems and those of Syrian poet Muhammad al-Maghut and Mahmoud Darwish, Palestine’s national poet. This event will take place in the Alma VanDusen and Peter Kaye rooms on the Lower Level of the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street. Admission is free.

Back at Kogawa house on Saturday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m.—the final evening of John's residency with us—he welcomes Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson for readings in celebration of John's residency. Gary Geddes has written and edited more than 35 books and won a dozen national and international literary awards, including the Gabriela Mistral Prize and, most recently, the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence in BC. He will read from Falsework about the collapse of the Second Narrows Bridge in Vancouver. Ann Eriksson’s new novel, In the Hands of Anubis, has been described by the critics as wise, wicked, touching and funny. It ranges from Cairo to Calgary to Ucluelet and has a cast of coyotes, tractors and dog-headed gods. Her novel, Decomposing Maggie, appeared on bestseller lists in 2003. This event takes place at Kogawa house and seating is limited. To reserve a seat, please respond to this message.

Mabel Elmore and Naomi Yamamoto: First Canadians of Filipino and Japanese ancestry elected to BC Legislature

Todd — Wed, 13 May 2009 09:54:00 -0700

Mabel Elmore and Naomi Yamamoto elected to BC Legislature!

Filipinos were the first Asians to come to North America. Japanese Canadians were interned during WW2. Both are now represented in BC Legislature. The election of Mabel Elmore and Naomi Yamamoto will hopefully bring more diversity and inclusion to BC's Legislature, as Filipino and Japanese Canadians citizens have often been at the brunt of some of BC's legislation regarding racism and immigration. Let us hope that the WW2 internment of Canadians of Japanese ancestry, after their valiant fighting for Canada during WW1, will never happen again, nor affect other Canadians of ethnic ancestry.

Mabel Elmore is proud to bring Filipino-Canadian representation to Victoria. Elmore won Vancouver Kensington last night. When Mabel gave her short speech, her mother and cousins were standing nearby. They were all very proud and happy that she was elected.

Naomi Yamamoto won North Vancouver Lonsdale for the Liberal Party, and will hopefully be in BC Cabinet. Yamamoto has been chair of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. She is also the daughter of Japanese-Canadian internment survivors. Her father Mas Yamamoto celebrated her historic win with her on election night.
See: North Shore Outlook: Yamamoto becomes B.C.'s first-ever Japanese-Canadian MLA

Jenny Kwan, BC's first Chinese-Canadian Cabinet Minister in 1988, was easily re-elected in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant.

Sharing a hug with friends Mel Lehan, who ran in Vancouver-Point Grey, and Meena Wong, who worked on Adrian Dix campaign in Vancouver-Kingsway.

Check out my pictures from last nights NDP party in Burnaby:

2009 BC Election: NDP party...

Kitsilano: I visit Bon Ton Patisserie and Mel Lehan's campaign office

Todd — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:39:00 -0700

My favorite cake shop in Vancouver is Bon Ton Patisserie.

I started my addition to Bon Ton as a young child. My parents would usually purchase a Bon Ton diplomat or a Mexican Hat Cake for birthdays and special events. Sometimes my grandmother would take me there for tea and pastries... decades later, I would take her.

The butter icing is light, and the wafer pastries are heavenly.

Mel Lehan's campaign office is on Broadway

Mel Lehan's daughter Shaena was standing outside encouraging passer-bys to vote. It was great to finally meet Shaena after hearing so much about her. She had been in Japan, when the St. James Hall Society honoured her father with a Tribute last October, and when he was acclaimed for his nomination as the NDP candidate in January. Shaena had also heard about me... I played accordion, when her father walked into the Tribute event, and I was a seconder at the nomination meeting.

pictures in the window at the Mel Lehan campaign office.

Mel is known as "The Mayor of Kitsilano" for so much of the community work he has done in the neighborhood. He founded the Kitsilano Farmer's Market, he helped save the Tatlow Salmon Stream, he helped save St James Hall and turn it into a community centre, he is campaigning to save the UBC Farm, as well as to prevent a Sky Train tunnel construction disaster for Kitsilano merchants that befell the Cambie St. Village... and so much more. Mel is a wonderful community activist and community leader. Any neighborhood or community group would be lucky to have Mel on their team.

Inside the office, I discover another thing Mel and I have in common! Besides being both cancer survivors, community leaders, leading the campaigns to save important sites from demolition (St. James Hall, Joy Kogawa House).... we are both born in May. My birthday is May 11th. Mel's birthday is May 22. (hum the Twilight Zone theme....).

Jericho to Kitsilano... Lots to do on a sunny day... motor boat, fly kites, or bike!

Todd — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:59:00 -0700

May 9th... finally the weather is warming up.
Saturday was a beautiful day, so we went biking from Kitsilano to Spanish Banks. We saw a convoy of motor-yachts stretching from Kits Point to the Vancouver Yacht Club. A very strange site! We quickly discovered it was the opening day for the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club so the exercise for the day was a "sail past" with everybody dressed in their navy blue blazers and white pants to salute the commodore.

Deb and I parked our bikes to watch the sail past.

It's a very cool dragon kite - I want one!

The tide is really really low, and the sand Spanish Banks sand flats are revealed. Lots of people went walking on the sand... to boogie board, bicycle, wind-surf or just to explore.

Lots of kites were in action. This is a stunt kite!

Deb pauses at the salmon stream by Locarno Beach.

It's a shark kite!!!

Kayaking lesson off Jericho Beach.

Another dragon kite!