GungHaggisFatChoy

"CHINESE VANCOUVER THEN AND NOW: 1972-2010" - Vancouver Opera Speaks

Todd — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:58:59 -0800

"CHINESE VANCOUVER THEN AND NOW: 1972-2010"

Tuesday, March 9, 2010
7-9 pm
Alice MacKay Room, Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch
OPERA SPEAKS @ VPL -

Admission is free.

An eminent panel explores the history of Chinese in Vancouver, with
emphasis on the Chinese communities' emergence and development since
1972, the year of Nixon's momentous trip to China. Discover how our
city has been shaped and transformed by Chinese culture over the past
38 years. This will be a fascinating evening. Speakers include eminent
architect Bing Thom, UBC historian Henry Yu, and filmmaker and writer Colleen Leung.

Presented in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library.
Opera Speaks @ VPL is sponsored by Omni BC Diversity Television.

http://www.vancouveropera.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=255&Itemid=15

Gung Haggis dragon boat team hits the water again on March 7th

Todd — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:16:29 -0800

Gung Haggis dragon boat practices are back in action for 2010

The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team in June 2009. Red team shirts and a variety of kilts. This is a team with a diversity of personalities and ethnicities to match our penchant for promoting cultural diversity through tartans and dragon boat racing.

First timers are welcome - Experienced paddlers are more welcome!

Sundays 11am - starting March 7th.
Tuesdays 6pm - starting March 16 (after the time change)

Meet at False Creek Yacht Club - underneath the North end of the Granville St. Bridge
See map: Click Here

In April - we will move back to Dragon Zone @ Science World/Creekside Park.

After an exciting 2009 season, where we had many exciting races!

Lotus Sports Clubs' Bill Alley Memorial Regatta @ Barnett Marine Park- Fastest time for a Gung Haggis team 2:03.12. It's a fun way to start off the season. Barnett Marine Park is a beautiful location on Burrard Inlet. The race helps raise money for the Bill Alley Scholarship for junior paddlers of Lotus Sports Club.

Dragon Zone Regatta @ Dragon Zone - 1st in B Final. Highest finish for a Gung Haggis Team. This is a good cheap race. 3 races in 3 hours.

Rio Tinto Alcan @ False Creek/Creekside Park, Vancouver - Fastest time for a Gung Haggis team in False Creek at 2:16.33. For our medal race, we heard bagpipes being played and it really pumped us up. It was an army bagpiper, who just happened to be Japanese Canadian. Alas, we didn't medal.

Richmond - 4th overall! This was the first time we entered the Richmond Dragon Boat Festival. We only had 10 Gung Haggis paddlers, but supplemented with friends from other teams. We made the A Final, and missed the bronze medal by 10ths of a second

Vernon Dragon Boat Race @ Kalamalka Lake - Fastest 200 for a Gung Haggis team at 0:53. Our final time was 1 sec behind the A Final Bronze. This is one of our favorite races, and we enjoy spending time on the beach, in the water, in the hot tub, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, dancing, drinking, eating... oh... and... dragon boat racing.

Last Gasp Regatta @ Dragon Zone. The Taiwan Dragon Boat Race was canceled, so we did this regatta. The 200m was the warm up race and we came 3rd, pushing us out of the top half Finals - but we easily won our next two 500m races easily as we . Very exciting for the team to have such big leads.

UBC Day of the Longboat @ Jericho Beach, Vancouver . We ran 2 mixed teams + 1 mens team. Our teams were competitive - getting an early lead on our arch rivals friends. Unfortunately, the Gung Haggis Fat Choy team hit the Gung Haggis Friends team at the beach and was DQed. But we still almost caught our arch rival friends.

Ft. Langley Cranberry Festival Canoe Regatta @ Ft. Langley's Fraser River Arm. is always one of the most fun, that we have entered 2 teams for the past 3 years. 1 team made the A Final - our first time ever! Our other team came 1st in B Final. Everybody had incredible fun.

We are looking forward to another wonderful season of fun, friendships, fitness... and some medals!!! We deserve it!

Sundays 11am - starting March 7th.
Tuesdays 6pm - starting March 16 (after the time change)

Meet at False Creek Yacht Club - underneath the North end of the Granville St. Bridge
In April - we will move back to Dragon Zone @ Science World/Creekside Park.

Please RSVP to confirm you are coming... First timers are welcome.

email: gunghaggisdragon at gmail.com
Todd's cell phone 778-846-7090

Vancouver Olympic Ceremonies: Where was the cultural diversity?

Todd — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:31:53 -0800

Winter Olympics invited countries from around to the world to multicultural Vancouver, but cultural diversity was missing in the Opening and Closing ceremonies.

Apparently the opening ceremonies did feature performers of cultural diversity. But we missed it.

Only before the televised official opening... ("Miss Jully Black to the back of the bus please")... not "Canadian" enough to be televised.... and February is Black History month in Canada!

Read Vancouver Sun Pete McMartin's review of the opening ceremonieshttp
http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=195883fa-d774-4385-9365-2cda2e55e631

The Closing Ceremonies were promised to include more French content, and to feature Canadian humour and myth-busting of Canadian stereotypes.

Vancouver's cultural diversity was represented in the hundreds of jumping Grade 9ers holding snowboards in the opening sequence. My First Nations 2nd cousin was there - his mother was very proud. But all the featured performers were White - with the exception of K-OS. And most of the volunteer performers of colour were dressed as hip-hop dancers, instead mounties, lumberjacks and hockey players. Because there are no Asian hockey players in the NHL - but that's another Canadian Myth that's been busted since Larry Kwong played one game in the NHL in 1948, 10 years before Willie O'Ree became the first black hockey player in 1958.

A Few days later the same Pete McMartin quoted Tung Chan in an opinion piece -
Opinion - An Olympic Games as white as snow
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Opinion+Olympic+Games+white+snow/2620782/story.html

But read the comments to the above piece, or to Craig Takeuchi's pieces in the Georgia Straight.
2010 Olympic closing ceremony: Why wasn't there any aboriginal content?
or
Vancouver 2010 Olympics: The Great White, er, Multicultural North?

Despite all the crowd cheering, street filling patriotism, when Canada wins a gold medal hockey game, there is still a dark anonymous racism that haunts all the internet comments, and rears its head at any hint of "affirmative action" or ethnic inclusion.

This is the next story. This is the next stage of insight.

The aim of the Closing ceremonies was to have some fun, poking fun at Canadian stereotypes, and doing some "myth busting." But one of the myths that got reinforced is that Canada is White. Despite generations of immigration from all around the world, Canada cannot find a performer of colour good enough to speak at or perform at and during the Closing ceremonies.

Would it have hurt Canadians if one of the chorus line lumberjacks, mounties, or hockey players had been a shade of colour other than white? Would we have heard a chorus of boos, if one of the mounties had worn a turban?

We know that racial discrimination in sports can be cruel to kids growing up, so it can't be a wonder why our top athletes are mostly White. But we have succeeded in the Arts.

Where was Indo-Canadian comedian Russell Peters?
Canadians of multi-ethnicity are cool and sexy. What better examples do we have than actors Kristin Kreuk of Smallville? or Lisa Ray of Bollywood? Even Keanu Reeves primarily grew up in Toronto, despite being born in Lebanon - but we didn't hold Steve Nash's birthplace of South Africa against him.

First Nations actors Graham Green and Tantoo Cardinal were good enough for "Dances with Wolves" but not for the Closing Ceremonies? And Tantoo just received her Order of Canada too...

Our authors Joy Kogawa, Thomas King are amongst the most studied authors in our Canadian high schools, colleges and universities. Wayson Choy and 7th generation descendant of Black Loyalists
George Elliot Clarke are also amongst our most loved - these four authors also are Order of Canada recipients.

We are not saying that Canada should enforce racial inclusivity guidelines for its sports teams. But we are saying that the closing ceremonies lacked the representation of Canada's population, and it reinforced every sad stereotype of Canada. Alongside the Mounties, lumberjacks, beavers and moose was the sad realization that Canada is only populated by White people, despite multi-generations of accepting people from all over the world.

And where are the bagpipes?

Canada's first Prime Minister, BC's first Premier, and Vancouver's first mayor were all born in Scotland. Has the former largest ethnic group of Vancouver so much assimilated into mainstream culture, that they have forgotten their ethnic roots?

The SFU Pipes and Drums is the six time and current World Champion pipe band. There are more bagpipers in Canada then there are in Scotland - or is this a Canadian myth that we are not proud of?

Bagpipers have performed with Uzume Taiko, and Delhi 2 Dublin, - two internationally recognized examples of cultural fusion music happening in Vancouver. To me, these are the examples of performers that should have been featured at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, demonstrating how Canadians have come from all over the world, put aside our racial differences, and blend our cultures, and our shared our histories together.

This is the Canada that I am proud of - not the beer swigging garage band party music that was featured - without any relevance to the historic Olympic successes that we witnessed over the past 17 days

Gung Haggis Fat Choy SEATTLE!!! Feb 21, 2010

Todd — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 12:18:58 -0800

Gung Haggis Fat Choy in the USA

Sunday, February 21st 2010 5-9pm
Ocean City Restaurant
609 S. Weller St.
Seattle Chinatown, WA

Ticket Price US$35
Reservations required

Scottish Troubadour Red McWilliams

Belltown Martial Arts Lion Dance Troop
Master, David Leong

Pipers Don Scobie & Paul Vegers
Drummers Thane Mitchell & Steven Wheel

Kenmore and District Pipeband
Pipe Major, Jim McGillivray

The Asian Youth Orchestra
Director, Warren Chang

Scottish Highland Fiddler Susan Burke with Bill Boyd

Here's the information from the Caledonians Website

Gung Haggis Fat Choy! Huh?! In 2007 Bill McFadden, President of the Caledonian & St. Andrew's Society, introduced Todd Wong's trademarked production of "Gung Haggis Fat Choy" to Seattle. Billed as "A Celebration of Chinese New Year and Robert Burns' Dinner", the laughter-filled evening included haggis, a delicious Chinese dinner, Pipes & Drums (traditional and fusion style), sing-alongs (including "When Asian/Scottish Eyes are Smiling" and "My Haggis/Chow Mein Lies Over the Ocean"), Poems, The Address tae the Haggis (delivered in rap to an enthusiastic and responsive crowd) and Auld Lang Syne sung in both Mandarin Chinese and English.

For February 21st, 2010 BIll has worked out improvements, and Gung Haggis Fat Choy IV will be the best year! We will celebrated the 251st Birthday of Robert Burns and Chinese Lunar New Year Year of the Tiger with an 8 Course Chinese Dinner, Haggis, Raffle/Door Prize, and musical entertainment featuring: Emcee "Toddish McWong" and his inimitable "Address tae the Haggis Rap", "Red" McWilliams, Sifu David F. Leong's Belltown Martial Arts, Kenmore & District Pipe Band, Piper Don Scobie and Asian Youth Orchestra - Warren Chang, Director


  Toddish McWong's
2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy IV (Seattle style)
Produced by Bill McFadden

The fourth annual event has been scheduled for
Sunday, February 21st 2010    5-9pm
Ocean City Restaurant
609 S. Weller St.
Seattle, WA

Ticket Price US$35
Reservations required

For tickets and additional information
please contact
Bill McFadden
(206) 364-6025
bill@gunghaggisfatchoy-seattle.com

Please click here to go to the gunghaggisfatchoy-seattle.com web site.

Todd Wong (aka "Toddish McWong") of Vancouver, B.C., creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy. Recognized in the Scottish Parliament's exhibition: "This is Who We Are: Scots in Canada". Photo taken in Edinburgh, October of 2009.

Please click here to view photos in our Gallery from the '07 event in Seattle.

Please click here for a sample of "Toddish McWong's" Haggis Rap!

Please click here for additional information on Todd Wong's annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy held in Vancouver, BC.

Contact Info for some of our past, present, and future Featured Entertainers:

Todd "Toddish McWong" Wong
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/

Red McWilliams, "America's Celt"

http://home.flash.net/~celtsong/

Master David Leong's Martial Arts & Lion Dance School
http://www.belltownmartialarts.com

Kenmore & District Pipe Band
http://www.kdpipeband.com

Karen Shelton Highland Dancers
sheltonhighlanddancers.com

Washington Chinese Youth Orchestra, Director Warren Chang via chinamusic@comcast.net

Don Scobie

http://www.bagpiperdon.com

Melody Dance Group

Melody Xie, Director

http://www.melodyinstitute.org

Northwest Junior Pipe Band
http://www.nwjpb.org

Ben Rudd
Lensey Namioka
http://www.lensey.com

Susan Burk
http://susanburkeonline.com

Vancouver 2010 Olympics: The Great White, er, Multicultural North?

Georgia Straight By Craig Takeuchi

Olympic organizers told French at Opening Ceremonies ‘wasn’t sufficient’

February 15, 2010 Petti Fong

Much is continuing to be written about the Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremonies that took place with great hoop-lah on Friday February 12th, in BC Place Stadium. Yes, there were the Four Host Nations welcoming the world to their ancestral (and unceded) lands. Yes, there were Canadian Aboriginal peoples from all across the nation, dancing and drumming, while Bryan Adams and and Nelly Furtado took the spotlight and sang a new Adams' song "Beat the Drum."

And then.... a show that has brought complaints from across the country, as Federal Minister James Moore has said "there wasn't enough French-Canadian content."

Even Quebec Permier Jean Charest, as he sat next to VANOC CEO John Furlong at a news conference Monday said, “Not at the level we were expecting,” said “It wasn’t sufficient.”

I admit that enjoyed watching the show. And my girlfriend and I watched it twice... but we were also playing video and computer games during the second time.

But we cannot ignore that so many people are speaking out, and to so is to risk great peril. Clearly there is a schism in the understanding of what make's us Canadian... as understood by new immigrants of both Asian and Celtic origins, as well as multi-generational Canadians of First Nations, Asian, Celtic, Gaelic, British, French and European heritage.

Maybe like at Expo 67, we are discovering the point of how we see ourselves in the world, and in our own country.

I especially liked Shane Koyczan's poem. He is indeed addressing the values that push us to do better, to be more inclusive, and to always try harder - just like my personal hero Terry Fox, who is very dear to me, as I hold the SFU Terry Fox gold medal, as a recipient "for courage in adversity and dedication to society."

Remember what happened after the Closing Ceremonies in Turin?
Even Premier Gordon Campbell criticized Turin closing ceremony display by saying, “I thought there were lots of stereotypes that are not what the new Canada is.” http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=8a6a6c72-05f7-4a8d-91a1-60f2ebe27219&k=96687

Yes, I too understand that we cannot please everybody all the time, and that some cultural groups will cry foul. But my experiences are also tainted by growing up in a deliberate exclusion of systemic racism, where my born-in-Canada grandmother could not vote in this country until after her brothers and cousin had been reluctantly accepted into the Canadian Forces due to pressure from Great Britain, and then sent on "Suicide Missions" to be behind enemy lines in Burma.

For these reasons I knew it was important to help save Joy Kogawa's childhood home from demolition, where she was forced to leave at age 6 due to internment of Japanese-Canadians.

For these reasons, I know it is important to support my cousin Chief Rhonda Larrabee whose mother's people had their ancestral lands taken away from them, to create BC's first capital city of New Westminster. And then to add insult, had their reservation taken away, and their band name of Qayqayt was said to not exist, because the people didn't live there anymore.

If we don't speak out on these issues, now - then it is like the silence that watches the Japanese Canadians put on trains and sent away, or like knowing that First Nations children are in Residential schools. We know something is wrong, but dare not speak.

I have tried to embrace this country and it's foibles, despite hating the bagpipes when I was little because it represented Colonialism. I speak better french, then I do Chinese.

I understand the the Ceremonies wanted to emphasize "The Land" rather than the cultural diversity. Even Margaret Atwood's great book "Survival" argues that there is indeed a distinct Canadian literature, with its own preoccupations, themes, and ideas specific to its history, geopolitics, and landscape.

But that was so 20th Century... Now in the 21st Century, it is about the geopolitics, our cultural diversity, and our place in the global world.

Yes John Furlong has done and amazing job with VANOC. It is a very challenging, almost impossible task - But John Furlong's terrible french pronounciation seems to be an apt metaphor for VANOC's ceremonies team of understanding and including Canada's multicultural history and culture.

But come on VANOC.... We Are More!!!!

Furlong doesn't get it. I doubt Closing Ceremonies will be more inclusive of Vancouver's Multicultural Diversity

Todd — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:08:05 -0800

I don't think Furlong "gets it".

Reflecting multicultural diversity isn't about presenting stereotypes to the world or having "token heads of state" - It's about how we as generations of so-called "visible minorities" live our lives and make ourselves included in the mainstream.

My God... even bagpipes weren't includ...ed somewhere in the opening ceremonies, and our first Canadian Prime Minister, first BC Premier and first Vancouver mayor were born in Scotland. We have more bagpipers in Canada than there are in Scotland. And the Chinese immigrants played major roles in BC history including the railway, the head tax and chinese food restaurants.

Furlong assures closing ceremony will reflect everyone

Visible-minority groups, francophone leaders complained of opening ceremony snub

By Randy Shore , with files from Lindsay Kines, Vancouver Sun; with files from Canwest News ServiceFebruary 18, 2010

Vancouver Olympic CEO John Furlong will not make changes to the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games despite complaints from leaders of the city's ethnic groups about the content of the opening ceremony.

High-profile members of some ethnic communities -- including Sukhi Sandhu and S.U.C.C.E. S.S. chairman Peter Kwok -- had complained that the opening ceremony omitted a crucial aspect of Canadian life, the culture mosaic and the role of immigrants in Canadian society.

Sandhu, an anti-racism activist and community volunteer who lives in Surrey , wrote to Furlong seeking a meeting with the Vancouver Organizing Committee to air their concerns, but four days later Sandhu has no reply.

Sandhu and others had hoped that visible minorities could be better showcased in the closing ceremony.

Furlong stressed Wednesday that the closing ceremony is already planned and that it will leave little doubt about "who we are and who is here."

He said telling the story of a country made up of people from all over the world is a complex task, but the opening ceremony did a good job of reflecting Canada .

"We feel like having a good cry," said Sandhu. "We are surprised that it takes this much energy to bring some common sense to people."

"I'm not going to call any more, I'm not going to beg," Sandhu said.

The opening ceremony included strong first nations participation both in the show and the dignitaries box. Four local first nations chiefs sat as heads of state to welcome the world along with Canada 's Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean and Premier Gordon Campbell.

But the show contained little to represent the country's other major ethnic groups, critics said.

Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Minister James Moore, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and Quebec Premier Jean Charest complained that the ceremony didn't include enough French language content.

Canada's Commissioner of Official Languages Graham Fraser will be investigating the complaints, but because his mandate only allows him to probe federal institutions, he will confine his investigation to Moore 's heritage ministry, according to an e-mail sent to Canwest News Service by Fraser's office.

Fraser will release a preliminary report on the level of bilingualism at the Games following their conclusion.

The complaints hinge on the $20 million in funding that Heritage Canada gave to the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the opening ceremony, the most-watched televised event in Canadian history.

"There is an agreement between the federal government ... and Vanoc that came with a certain amount of funding," said Robin Cantin, a spokesman for the language commissioner's office. "And that agreement came with some language provisions."

Langara College sociologist Indira Prahst will watch the closing ceremony carefully for signs of respect to Canada 's visible minorities, but she is not satisfied with Vanoc's response to complaints.

"I want to be blunt: This should have been addressed at the very outset," she said. "We should have showcased our diversity. Is this just a quick response meant to pacify the community?"

"That's really not enough," she said. "I told Sukhi and the others that they were unrealistic to expect major changes [to the ceremony] because there is so much work, planning and technology that goes into it."

"But they could have a person from a visible minority speak."

rshore@vancouversun.com

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Furlong+assures+closing+ceremony+will+reflect+everyone/2579637/story.html

More visible minorities at closing, VANOC hints

Last Updated: Thursday, February 18, 2010 | 9:26 AM PT Comments14 Recommend22

CBC News

VANOC CEO John Furlong is hinting Canada 's racial diversity may be better represented in the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics after criticism that ethnic minorities were mostly missing from the opening.

With its large South Asian and Chinese communities, Metro Vancouver is one of Canada 's most diverse regions. Forty-one per cent of residents are part of visible minorities. But none of that diversity appeared in the big show that opened the 2010 Winter Games on Feb 12, critics say.

'We can't force ourselves on VANOC if they don't welcome us.' — Charan Gill, CEO of Progressive Intercultural Community Services

Canadian-born Sukhi Sandhu wrote a letter to Furlong, saying Olympic organizers missed an opportunity during the final torch-lighting ceremony "to represent our nation's diversity."

Sandhu said he and his family are proud Canadians and excited to attend events at the Games, but he was disappointed visible minorities were excluded from key roles during the opening ceremony.

"If I look at the eight individuals who carried the Olympic flag and the final torchbearers, who are all rightfully outstanding Canadians — no one is disputing that — however, out of 13 people there isn't one outstanding visible minority that you could think of — David Suzuki, Donovan Bailey, Jerome Iginla or Daniel Igali," Sandu said.

Closing ceremony could offer more

It is not the first time the opening ceremony has been criticized for its lack of diversity. Federal Heritage Minister James Moore said earlier this week that "there should have been more French."

On Wednesday, Furlong defended the opening ceremony but hinted the closing on Feb. 28 will be different.

"We did a very good job of showing Canada and we had a goal to tell a story, and at the closing ceremony … we will have a very certain kind of celebration, and I don't think you'll have any doubt when the ceremonies are over who we are and who's here."

Sandhu said he doesn't want to just see bhangra dancers or hear drumbeats. He wants to see accomplished visible minorities represented in the closing ceremony.

"Our nation is a cultural mosaic, and our diversity is our strength and frankly I am surprised in 2010 we need to continue educating our leaders on this Canadian value," he wrote. "There is no shame or justifiable reason to not showcase this significant part of our nation’s identity."

His concerns are echoed by Peter Kwok, the chairman of the immigrant services organization SUCCESS, which provides services for new Chinese Canadians.

"You know we have Chinese New Year, just a few days ago and when attending all those New Year's celebrations I have been chatting with people and I've heard from quite a few people that they, too, feel that it was a spectacular show," Kwok said. "And they only wish that they had a bit more portrayal of the multiculturalism in Canada ."

Charan Gill, the CEO of the Progressive Intercultural Community Services, an immigrant organization based in Surrey , B.C., said he tried to reach out to VANOC to encourage more visible minorities to get involved and volunteer for the Games but got no response.

"We can't force ourselves on VANOC if they don't welcome us," he said.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/18/bc-visible-minorities-olympic-ceremonies.html#ixzz0fuevX1Y4

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/18/bc-visible-minorities-olympic-ceremonies.html

Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremonies: What's wrong with this picture?

by Todd on Sat 13 Feb 2010 11:27 PM PST

I watched the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and something didn't sit right with me. Vancouver is always being touted as a multicultural city. It is the "most Asian" city in North America . It is the city with the most mixed-race relationships.

It was very nice to see a welcome from the Four Host Nations of Lil'Wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tseil-Waututh nations. Four totem poles were raised, and each host nation welcomed the world in their own language, followed by English and French. And then other First Nations groups from across Canada , were also recognized: from the North; the East; and the Prairies. It was a wonderful way to acknowledge and infuse First Nations culture into the Opening Ceremonies.

I also enjoyed how the many regions of Canada were represented during the Opening ceremonies. The prairies of W.O. Mitchell's "Who Has Seen The Wind"... the snow of the north... the fiddling of the Maritimes, Quebec and the East. The killer whales were my favorite part. Projected images of light, moving across the floor, punctuated by actual puffs of water, to simulate the exhaling of the whales. But during after the fiddling was over, I asked myself - "Where are the Chinese fiddles or erhus that are part of Vancouver 's multicultural music scene, and it's cultural history of 150 years of immigration. Where is the erhu from Madeleine Thein's children's book "The Chinese violin"

It was an exciting moment to recognize and identify each of the flag carriers, as the Olympic flag was brought in. Donald Sutherland, Betty Fox, Barbara Ann Scott, Gilles Villaneuve, Bobby Orr, Julie Payette, Anne Murray and Gen. Romeo Dallaire. I was especially excited to see Betty Fox, because I have personally met her many times, as I have been a member of Terry's Team since 1993 - cancer survivors who speak at Terry Fox Runs and at schools.

Then anticipation for the final torch bearer. A silouette of a man in a wheel chair! Yay! It is Rick Hansen - my favorite choice to be the lighter of the cauldron. Rick passes the flame to Catriona Le May Doan, who passes the flame to Wayne Gretzky, who passes the flame to Nancy Greene Raine. All four stand, as the caudron rises from the floor. All four light the cauldron together. Whoops, only 3 light the cauldron, because one pillar didn't rise out of the floor. Was this a sign? Was it a symbol?

But, I also saw a lack of diversity in the flag carriers and final torch bearers. While recognize and admirer each of the chosen flag carriers and final torch bearers for their individual accomplishments and contributions to Canadian society.

But.... if all the flag carriers, and final torch bearers had been male, we would hear women complaining. If all the flag carriers and final torch bearers had been Anglophone, then the Francophones would be complaining. And if all the flag carriers and final torch bearers were blonde, would brunettes, red heads and black haired people be complaining? Yes!

Part of the selling point for winning the Olympic bid, is that Vancouver is a multicultural city, and Canada 's "Gateway to the Pacific." Politicians and VANOC have been proudly telling the world that every athlete from every competing nation will find somebody in Vancouver that speaks their language, cooks their food and could welcome them to their home.

And yes, David Suzuki, is a wonderful choice. He was the top living "Greatest Canadian" in the CBC show and #5 overall. Tommy Douglas was #1 (whose son-in-law was flag carrier Donald Sutherland) and Terry Fox was #2 (whose mother was Betty Fox, another flag carrier). Wayne Gretzky was #10. Romeo Dallaire was #16, Bobby Orr #19 and Rick Hansen #30. Chief Dan George was #80, Donovan Bailey #89, and Anne Murray #94.

There are many past gold medalists that could have been included. Lori Fung (gold LA 1984 Rhythmic Gymnastics). Alwyn Morris (Gold & Bronze LA 1984 Kayak-pairs) who had held up an eagle feather on the podium, Donovan Bailey (Goldx2 Atlanta 1996 100m + 4X100 Relay), Daniel Igali (Gold Sydney 2000 Wrestling), Carol Huynh (Gold Beijing 2008 Wrestling), and Jerome Iginla (Gold Salt Lake City 2002 Hockey). Just the inclusion of one of these medalists, or all of them, passing the flame onto the final four would have been a tremendous inclusive moment.

Remember that Sydney 2000 chose Cathy Freeman, an aboriginal to light the cauldron. Atlanta 96 had Muhammad Ali.

VANOC opening ceremonies missed a chance to showcase the diversity of both Vancouver and Canada , and that we are just as proud of ALL our Canadians too!

Maybe many people would have said "Who?" if Alwyn Morris had been holding an eagle feather in one hand, and a torch in the other, if he had walked into BC Place with the Olympic Flame - but it would have been both an educational and a proud moment for all Canadians. Morris is the first and only Canadian aboriginal to win an Olympic gold medal.

It could have been a proper bookend to the inclusion of First Nations people - in how we have overcome Canada's racist history of residential schools and apartheid reservations, head tax and exclusion acts, internment camps and property confiscation - not how we still portray First Nations peoples as stereotypes in traditional costume, dancing and beating drums.

http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2010/2/14/4455481.html

Chinese New Year welcomes Year of the Tiger in Vancouver Chinatown

Todd — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:01:09 -0800

It looks like a Tiger of a year... with the Olympics in town, and lions running everywhere at Vancouver's Chinatown Chinese New Year Parade

Lions were everywhere in Vancouver Chinatown, celebrating the Year of the Tiger.

All the celebrities, politicians and VIP's walk at the beginning of the parade.

Next come the Chinese Canadian veterans of Pacific Unit 280 (minus my uncle Dan, who passed away less than a month ago). But the veterans all wore red Olympic mittens!

Here's a Chinese parade dragon. How to tell a dragon from a lion? You wear the lion costume over your body, while the dragon is always held up on poles!

The Kitchen God always marches in the parade. The trick is to put honey on the Kitchen God's lips before he makes his report to heaven about your kitchen, so he can only say sweet things with honey on his lips.

Here I am with my friend Georgia, who paddles with us on the Gung Haggis dragon boat team.

The Carnival band all tried to dress up as Tigers....

City Councilor Kerry Jang hands out lucky red envelopes called "li-see" for good luck!

Here I am dressed in my kilt and red Chinese dragon vest. I met this fellow in his black utility kilt outside the skytrain stop at The Bay. Kilters greet each other, and I invited him to join us for the next kilts night. Since it was Chinese New Year we took a picture of him waring my Chinese jacket. Very cool.

Women's Hockey: Canada 18 Slovakia 0

Todd — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:00:00 -0800

Canada 18 Slovakia 0 - Women's Hockey fills GM Place with red and white, and more red and white.

It's a new Olympic record... 18 goals in a women's hockey game!

Captain Haley Wickenheiser wins another face off.

Agosta scored a hat trick

The Slovakian goalie faced over 50 shots, and stopped almost everything she had a clear shot on.

During the 2nd and 3rd period, when it became obvious the score was heading towards 20-0, we started cheering for every save the Slovakian goalie made.

Here I am wearing the red maple leaf, with my friends Mel Lehan and Stuart Mackinnon!

Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremonies: What's wrong with this picture?

Todd — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 23:27:00 -0800

I watched the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and something didn't sit right with me. Vancouver is always being touted as a multicultural city. It is the "most Asian" city in North America. It is the city with the most mixed-race relationships.

It was very nice to see a welcome from the Four Host Nations of Lil'Wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tseil-Waututh nations. Four totem poles were raised, and each host nation welcomed the world in their own language, followed by English and French. And then other First Nations groups from across Canada, were also recognized: from the North; the East; and the Prairies. It was a wonderful way to acknowledge and infuse First Nations culture into the Opening Ceremonies.

I also enjoyed how the many regions of Canada were represented during the Opening ceremonies. The prairies of W.O. Mitchell's "Who Has Seen The Wind"... the snow of the north... the fiddling of the Maritimes, Quebec and the East. The killer whales were my favorite part. Projected images of light, moving across the floor, punctuated by actual puffs of water, to simulate the exhaling of the whales. But during after the fiddling was over, I asked myself - "Where are the Chinese fiddles or erhus that are part of Vancouver's multicultural music scene, and it's cultural history of 150 years of immigration. Where is the erhu from Madeleine Thein's children's book "The Chinese violin"

It was an exciting moment to recognize and identify each of the flag carriers, as the Olympic flag was brought in. Donald Sutherland, Betty Fox, Barbara Ann Scott, Gilles Villaneuve, Bobby Orr, Julie Payette, Anne Murray and Gen. Romeo Dallaire. I was especially excited to see Betty Fox, because I have personally met her many times, as I have been a member of Terry's Team since 1993 - cancer survivors who speak at Terry Fox Runs and at schools.

Then anticipation for the final torch bearer. A silouette of a man in a wheel chair! Yay! It is Rick Hansen - my favorite choice to be the lighter of the cauldron. Rick passes the flame to Catriona Le May Doan, who passes the flame to Wayne Gretzky, who passes the flame to Nancy Greene Raine. All four stand, as the caudron rises from the floor. All four light the cauldron together. Whoops, only 3 light the cauldron, because one pillar didn't rise out of the floor. Was this a sign? Was it a symbol?

But, I also saw a lack of diversity in the flag carriers and final torch bearers. While recognize and admirer each of the chosen flag carriers and final torch bearers for their individual accomplishments and contributions to Canadian society.

But.... if all the flag carriers, and final torch bearers had been male, we would hear women complaining. If all the flag carriers and final torch bearers had been Anglophone, then the Francophones would be complaining. And if all the flag carriers and final torch bearers were blonde, would brunettes, red heads and black haired people be complaining? Yes!

Part of the selling point for winning the Olympic bid, is that Vancouver is a multicultural city, and Canada's "Gateway to the Pacific." Politicians and VANOC have been proudly telling the world that every athlete from every competing nation will find somebody in Vancouver that speaks their language, cooks their food and could welcome them to their home.

And yes, David Suzuki, is a wonderful choice. He was the top living "Greatest Canadian" in the CBC show and #5 overall. Tommy Douglas was #1 (whose son-in-law was flag carrier Donald Sutherland) and Terry Fox was #2 (whose mother was Betty Fox, another flag carrier). Wayne Gretzky was #10. Romeo Dallaire was #16, Bobby Orr #19 and Rick Hansen #30. Chief Dan George was #80, Donovan Bailey #89, and Anne Murray #94.

There are many past gold medalists that could have been included. Lori Fung (gold LA 1984 Rhythmic Gymnastics). Alwyn Morris (Gold & Bronze LA 1984 Kayak-pairs) who had held up an eagle feather on the podium, Donovan Bailey (Goldx2 Atlanta 1996 100m + 4X100 Relay), Daniel Igali (Gold Sydney 2000 Wrestling), Carol Huynh (Gold Beijing 2008 Wrestling), and Jerome Iginla (Gold Salt Lake City 2002 Hockey). Just the inclusion of one of these medalists, or all of them, passing the flame onto the final four would have been a tremendous inclusive moment.

Remember that Sydney 2000 chose Cathy Freeman, an aboriginal to light the cauldron. Atlanta 96 had Muhammad Ali.

VANOC opening ceremonies missed a chance to showcase the diversity of both Vancouver and Canada, and that we are just as proud of ALL our Canadians too!

Maybe many people would have said "Who?" if Alwyn Morris had been holding an eagle feather in one hand, and a torch in the other, if he had walked into BC Place with the Olympic Flame - but it would have been both an educational and a proud moment for all Canadians. Morris is the first and only Canadian aboriginal to win an Olympic gold medal.

It could have been a proper bookend to the inclusion of First Nations people - in how we have overcome Canada's racist history of residential schools and apartheid reservations, head tax and exclusion acts, internment camps and property confiscation - not how we still portray First Nations peoples as stereotypes in traditional costume, dancing and beating drums.

Todd Wong appearance on CTV Canada AM for Sunday Feb 14th

Todd — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:04:25 -0800

Todd will be on Canada AM on CTV, Sunday morning

- must be there at 5am so Toronto people can see a brief interview between 8 and 9am.. I will do the interview at Robson Square, which is part of the the BC Canada Pavillion.

Then will do an interview and filming at Chinese New Year parade with ZDF tv from Germany. We will meet at 8:30am, as the parade starts at 9:30am in Vancouver Chinatown.

Now....Must get ready to attend the Women's hockey Canada vs Slovakia today at 5pm

Olympic Torch carried on Dragon Boat and Voyageur Canoe on Final Day

Todd — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:00:17 -0800

Olympic Torch carried on Dragon Boat and Voyageur Canoe on Final Day

Olympian Hugh Fisher carried the Olympic Torch on a dragon boat on part of the final leg of the Olympic Torch Relay that has traveled from sea to sea to sea and all across Canada. He passed it on to Olympian kayaker Kamini Jain in the middle of False Creek, as she stood on a voyageur canoe.

I was part of the 6 dragon boat and 6 outrigger canoe accompanying flotilla, that followed the torch bearing boats. We all stood for a photo op with torch bearers Hugh and Kamini, after it was over.

Pictures and more stories coming later

Todd stands with Kamini Jain, Olympic torch bearer for 2010, Olympic kayak racer in Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000.

Alwyn Morris won gold and bronze partnered with Hugh Fisher in the Mens K-2 events in LA 1984. Alwyn is the first and only gold medalist Aboriginal Canadian, and he held up an eagle feather when he ascended the podium in 1984.

Geo, Lisa and Todd hold the Olympic flame with torch bearer and gold medalist Olympian Hugh Fisher (LA 1984).

If Terry Fox could light the Olympic caldron, would he?

Todd — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:27:36 -0800

Who will light the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Caldron? The Spirit of Terry Fox?

At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the Olympic Caldron was lit by Stephane Prefontaine and Sandra Henderson, two teenage athletes. At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, the caldron was lit by Robyn Perry, a 12 year old figure skater. If this trend continues, it could be a baby lighting the flame in Vancouver's Opening Ceremonies.

Maybe it will be the baby of figure skaters Jaime Sale and David Pelletier, as a "get-you-back" at the Olympic figure skating judges at Salt Lake City in 2002.

But Canadians don't think like that... We aren't revengful, mean or spiteful. We are polite, sharing, compassionate and caring. We voted for Tommy Douglas as our Greatest Canadian. Terry Fox was number 2.

Terry Fox inspired millions in Canada when he did his run... and millions after he died. There are Terry Fox Runs all around the world. I have spoken at schools and Terry Fox Runs in BC, and also in Bejing, as a Terry's Team Member - cancer survivors, for are living proof that cancer research made a difference. Terry worked hard at whatever he undertook. He was not a scholarship athlete at SFU. He was the guy on the bench who was there to step in when you needed him. And he inspired millions.

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Fox-not-Gretzky-should-light-cauldron?urn=oly,218877

Todd Wong visits the Minus 5 Ice Bar at Monk's

Todd — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:03:49 -0800

My girlfriend and I went to the "Minus 5" ice bar at Monk McQueen's Restaurant - VERY COOL!

We also took a ride on the Bombardier street car - also quite cool. The street car follows historic street car tracks that are still in use for the summer. It travels from Olympic Village station, just West of Cambie Str. Bridge, and ends at Granville Island.

On Granville Island, we visited Swiss Haus aka Bridges Restaurant - mildly cool - but slow service - not cool! I have been to Bridges many times, but mostly during the mid-80's, then again after dragon boat practices in the late 90's and early 00's, so I know it well. It will now be a 2nd home to many of the Swiss athletes, and site of celebrations after medal ceremonies.

But we had the most fun at the Ice Bar!!!
For $25, they give you a token for a special vodka martini, a parka and gloves to help keep you warm. The gloves are important because the cups being used are all made of ice!

There are fantastic ice sculptures!

Our wonderful host Karlyn, and our bartender Jill. Jill has worked ice bars in Montreal, and is thrilled to be back in BC, as she is a Victoria native. She told us stories about working in the cold, and how it affects your physiology. She warned us about drinking our drinks quickly, because the alcohol can melt through your ice glass cup, if you are not careful.

These Vancouverites were doing the same thing we were: checking out venues before the crowds!

We tried to see if our tongues would stick to the ice sculptures.

Very cool was the bench made of ice, covered with caribou pelts...

Then I thought... "what if... we did a photo... with only the fur pelts?"

Not bad for my age... I think... but I could have flexed my pectoral muscles more.

Jill thanked us for creating the highlight of the evening for her. It was a lot of fun. I have now declared Jill to be my favorite bartender in Vancouver!

Gung Haggis dragon boat team paddle on Sunday Feb 7th

Todd — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:53:23 -0800

Gung Haggis dragon boat team paddles False Creek and takes in pre-Olympic sight-seeing.

We have a dragon boat team of keeners.... who wanted to paddle in February. It was our first paddling practice since early November, when we had a few practices after paddling in the Ft. Langley Cranberry Festival Canoe Regatta. Fifteen people jumped into the dragon boat for 11am practice on Sunday Feb 7th,

And... I think... I really needed to paddle to get myself warmed up for paddling in the dragon boat flotilla that will accompany the Olympic Torch Relay on Feb 12th, for when Gold medalist Olympian Hugh Fisher will pass off the Olympic Torch from a dragon boat to Olympian Kamini Jain in a voyageur canoe.

I only paddled for half the practice. if that... I also coached some of the paddlers a bit for some 1-on-1 coaching for only half the time. I steered for the remaining half, after switching with Stephen Wong, who started off steering for the team.

The team met at the parking lot for False Creek Yacht Club for 11am, then had a quick warm-up, then headed to the boat for 11:15am, headed over to Alder Bay to pick up Debbie, then back to FC Yacht Club to pick up a paddler named Tony who arrived late after his morning meeting. Next we paddled towards and past the Burrard St. Bridge to show paddlers where the lights are for the from the nightly spectacular light show.

I pointed out where the boat launch for the Burrard Marina is, where dragon boat paddlers for the flotilla that will accompany the Olympic Torch Relay will organize.

Next we paddled Eastward to Granville Island to identify the Ferry dock at West Side of Granville Island, where the torch will be handed to torchbearer Olympian Hugh Fisher. We looked over at the bright yellow building, formerly known as Bridges Restaurant, that is now being transformed into the Swiss Pavillion. At the North end of the Granville St. Bridge is a floating hotel lodge that has been towed down from Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) that is normally lodged at Langara Island.

We took a little stretch, then switched sides. I took a turn at steering, and let veteran paddlers Stephen Wong take his turn for paddling. Just East of Granville Island is the Spruce Harbour Marina, where nearby, is the area where Hugh will pass the torch to Kamini Jain in the middle of False Creek. Hugh will be in the dragon boat, and pass the torch to Kamini in the voyageur canoe. There are great viewing areas from both the North and South sides of False Creek, so it is perfect for cameras and television crews to set up for a unique photo opportunity.

We spotted the big black pontoon floats that are being used for security to block off the boat traffic in the East Bay, that are positioned along Cambie St. Bridge. We paddled along beside it and waved to the officers in the Police Boat, guarding the perimeter, that includes the Olympic Village.

Next we paddled near the Yaletown ferry dock, where Kamini will hand the torch to a runner, after she climbs out of the voyageur canoe. The torch will then proceed up the streets towards Georgia Street, where it will arrive at the First Nations Aboriginal Pavillion where there will be a blessing ceremony. This will be one of the final stops of the Olympic Torch before it travels to the Opening Ceremonies about 2 blocks down the street to BC Place Stadium, later in the evening.

It was a good paddle, and our paddlers were happy and pleased that I would be a part of the dragon boat flotilla accompanying the Olympic Torch Relay. But most of all, the paddlers were all happy to be paddling again, and in friendly company. Many times I heard somebody say, "I'm just here for the social aspects" as we paddled back to FC Yacht Club.... by about 12:30pm.

The next plan was to have lunch. I promised that I would treat everybody to dim sum lunch, if they came paddling.

We were at Floata Restaurant for dim sum, at 1pm, at least my car was. Other people got re-routed by traffic diversions. By the time they arrived, there were lots of dim sum selections on the table. Haw-gow shrimp dumplings, Siu-mai pork dumplings, Lo-bak-goh pan-fried turnip cake. We also tried a special appetizer plate that included jelly fish, crispy pork skin and bbq pork. There was also shanghai style dumpling with shrimp meat and green vegetable, steamed pork bun, sliced-almond covered shrimp balls, fish cakes, and more! I also ordered house special chow mein with crispy noodles, and Geurng-chow-ngor-hah flat rice noodles with sliced beef.

This was Katie's first time having dim sum in Vancouver. She's originally from Ontario, and only been in Vancouver almost a year.... and somehow never found her way to dim sum yet.

Georgia pronounced that the meal was "heaven"

GREAT LUNCH!!! and we finished off with Chinese egg tarts for dessert.

Georgia Straight: Todd Wong cancer recovery story in "Traditional Chinese Medicine enters the mainstream"

Todd — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:31:52 -0800

Todd Wong recounts using complimentary/alternative medicine to battle cancer to Georgia Straight writer Charlie Smith.

It was 21 years ago, when I found himself in emergency at Lion's Gate Hospital. The first time he heard the word cancer was when he asked the attending specialist what the word "oncology" meant that was stitched on the doctor's white jacket. 5 months of chemotherapy is a long time. It was certainly made easier by the Reiki and Therapeutic Touch energy work that my mother did on me, and the many visualization exercises that I did each day. I was way to weak to play accordion - but I did when I was finally strong enough months later. When I returned to Simon Fraser University, I took as many courses with health and illness themes as possible including: Health and Illness in Sociology, Health Psychology, Women's Health and Health Issues, Psychopathology, and even directed studies courses.

It was much better than the alternative.

Without treatment, the doctors told me that I might have lasted 2 weeks. My lungs were half-full of fluid, the tumor was half the width of my chest cavity and pushing on my vital organs. There was bruising on my chest from internal pressure.

We do what we can, and I am glad to be alive and making my contributions to Society.

Traditional Chinese medicine enters the mainstream

By Charlie Smith

Chinese medicine expert Karen Lam has felt more acceptance in recent years.

Vancouver library worker Todd Wong knows better than most that life occasionally delivers a rude surprise. In 1989, Wong came back from a trip to New York feeling rundown. At first, his doctor diagnosed a recurrent viral flu. Only after visiting an oncologist did Wong, then 29 years old, learn that he had a germ-cell tumour related to testicular cancer. It required emergency chemotherapy to deal with a growth in his chest the size of a large grapefruit.

“The first night I’m in the hospital, the doctor tells my parents, ‘There is a 60-percent chance your son will survive because we only discovered this very, very late,’ ” Wong told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview. “I was 29 years old, really active, and the doctors never suspected anything.”

Wong, a fifth-generation Chinese Canadian, was visited regularly by his mother, who wanted to give her son therapeutic touching to help him heal. She asked about doing energy work known as Reiki, because this is what she had practised at home. “The doctor told her, ‘If you want to do that, you can take your son out of the hospital,’ ” Wong recalled.

His mother kept coming to the hospital every night to surreptitiously practise Reiki on her son, and Wong’s grandmother brought affirmations from a book by Louise Hay called You Can Heal Your Life. Later, he called a psychology instructor at Capilano College (now Capilano University) to learn how to practise visualization. When he was well enough to attend Simon Fraser University, every course he took had a focus on illness and health. “I did directed studies on the relationship between stress and illness,” Wong said. “I learned that psychoneuroimmunology [study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems] was only coined as a term in 1980.”

Two decades after Wong’s recovery, he sees much greater cooperation taking place between allopathic and complementary health practitioners. The B.C. Cancer Agency is backing a complementary medicine education and outcomes program, which is examining how to safely combine complementary approaches with traditional cancer treatments. The team, led by principal researcher and UBC nursing professor Lynda Balneaves, is exploring the most effective ways to support cancer patients in making decisions in this area. In addition, the researchers hope to enhance health professionals’ understanding of this area.

Meanwhile, the U.S.–based National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, has been conducting scientific research on complementary and alternative healing practices for 10 years. It also trains researchers in this area and disseminates information to allopathic practitioners. For example, it has noted that acupuncture has demonstrable therapeutic benefits for low back pain, and that tai chi may benefit older adults with osteoarthritis in the knee.

During his recovery, Wong visited naturopath and acupuncturist Larry Chan, one of the founders of Integrative Healing Arts on Vancouver’s West Side, who helped him think “outside the box” about the origins of illness. Wong is convinced that health is about finding balance and looking at the body system in a holistic framework rather than focusing exclusively on germs or viruses. Integrative is one of several facilities—including the Broadway Wellness Centre, Cross Roads Clinics, and Finlandia Natural Pharmacy and Health Centre—that offer an interdisciplinary and complementary approach to health care.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.straight.com/article-284396/vancouver/tcm-enters-mainstream

Olympic Torch to be carried by dragon boat in its final journey to Opening Ceremonies

Todd — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:36:00 -0800

Dragon boat to carry the Olympic Torch!

The last day of the Olympic Torch Relay Feb 12th will feature Dragon Boats and Canoes as Olympic gold medalist Hugh Fisher, from a dragonboat, will hand off the torch to Kamini Jain, in a voyageur canoe, in the middle of False Creek. This event will take place on February 12th in Vancouver BC. Details and exact times will be released soon.

Fisher won Olympic Gold and Bronze with Kayak partner Alwyn Morris at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Kamini Jain competed in K-1 single kayak events in 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Games. Fisher is one of the founders of the False Creek Racing Canoe Club which has helped to shape dragon boat racing in Canada and also influence it's development in North America.

Kamini is the current head coach of the FCRCC, and took the Mixed team to gold and silver in Sydney Australia for the 2007 IDBF World Championships. FCRCC-cored Premier Mixed: 2nd at 500m (by 0.51 secs!), 4th at 200, 1st at 2K

It's going to be exciting as 6 dragon boats (20 paddlers) and 6 outrigger canoes (6 paddlers) make up the escort flotilla, that will accompany the torch bearing boats. It will bring back memories of the torch first arriving in Canada after landing at the airfield, and then arriving to BC's Provincial Legislature Building in Victoria, carried by First Nations cedar canoes.

And I will be one of the paddlers in the flotilla! Yippee!

Here's the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team at the 2009 Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival. One of these BuK boats will probably be used to transport the Olympic Torch in the final legs of the relay to the Opening Ceremonies at BC Place Stadium.

The six dragon boats and outrigger canoes will be paddled by False Creek Racing Canoe Club, and some other clubs. I think I will be on a boat where paddlers from different teams have been invited to participate. I am very excited at being invited.

Back in the summer, I did a video audition to be a torch bearer for the City of Vancouver, as two library workers would be included amongst the selected workers from police, firemen, city workers and parks workers. Sadly, I wasn't chosen - but I know our library workers are deserving and wonderful people, especially my friend Judy Caldwell, who is a librarian, and dragon boater. Judy is one of the founders of the Abreast in a Boat dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors, and we were both awarded the 2008 BC Community Achievement Award.

I've been involved with dragon boats in Vancouver for many years. I attended the first dragon boat races on False Creek in 1986 during Expo 86. I joined my first team in 1993. Soon I was coaching other teams, and competed in Victoria races in 1997 and San Francisco in 1999. I was invited to join the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival Race Committee in 2000. In 2003 I helped to found the Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat Race, as board member of the CCC Dragon Boat Association. The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team has been active since 2002, and dedicated to promoting multiculturalism through dragon boat paddling. We have put Taiwanese dragon boats into the St. Patrick's Day parade in 2004 and 2005. The team has been filmed for tv documentaries for French, German and Canadian television, and also for an upcoming documentary movie.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the Gung Haggis team, at the 2007 Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat race! Imagine holdin the Olympic Torch from the head of the dragon - but these Taiwanese boats won't be used for the Olympic Torch Relay.

Here is information about viewing the Olympic Torch on False Creek from the False Creek Racing Canoe Club Website:

After covering 45,000 Km across Canada, the Olympic flame will be crossing the waters of False Creek on its final journey to BC Place for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics ...

... the next-to-last leg of the Torch Relay, on February 12th, will be from Granville Island to Yaletown!

That a final-day leg is on the water - really, it's a bit odd when you think in terms of Winter in Canada - is a recognition of the importance which paddle sports have in many parts of Canada, especially in & around Vancouver and the Lower Mainland ... even in Winter!

That the leg is on False Creek is recognition of how many people see the Creek as the central hub of their training & racing & simple recreational-paddling activites - not just FCRRC, but all the other clubs & groups & individuals using it too.

And too, of how much the Creek has changed since it was primarily a very unfriendly-to-recreation beehive of industrial activities, before Expo 86 - when the first Dragon Boat events took place there.

Key details (there might be more to come a bit later in the week - stay tuned):

on February 12th, departing from the FC Ferry dock at the West end of Granville Island, the Torch will be carried in a Dragon Boat and a Voyageur Canoe to the Yaletown dock at the Quayside Marina. Full details & map here, and in the Vancouver2010 Interactive map (go to Day 106 & select Vancouver)
Kamini Jain, FCRCC's Head Coach, and Hugh Fisher, one of FCRCC's founders, both of whom have competed in paddling events at the Summer Olympics for Canada, have been honoured by being chosen as Torch Bearers for the False Creek leg

So let's all get out to watch the Torch's voyage, and cheer Kamini & Hugh.

Suggested viewing points are Granville Island, the Granville Street Bridge, the Seawall either side of David Lam Park and the Cambie Street Bridge
Eager to absorb all the Olympic spirit of the final day? Come down to Granville Island earlier, and follow the torch as it makes its way through the streets before crossing the water (see the map for full details of the two days - 105 & 106 - that the Torch is in the city)

Two cautions:

Boat traffic (including canoes, kayaks, etc.) will be extremely restricted during this time!

... taking out your own boat (or one of the Club's OCs or Marathons or K/C-1s) to view the Torch Relay will likely result in being turned away and missing the view you can get from on-land viewpoints

Make sure you allow yourself lots of time to get there, and don't plan on parking on or anywhere near GI either (see News item for more on those topics)

For more information on the Torch Relay and other Olympic events visit vancouver2010.com

http://www.fcrcc.com/events/olympic-torch-relay

http://www.canadianoutrigger.com/messsubj.cfm?pid=2721

http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/olympic-torch-relay/olympic-torch-relay-interactive-map/

http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/olympic-torch-relay/stories-from-the-road/day-106---alternative-modes-of-transportation-in-vancouver_236610kB.html

Did Muk Muk, the Olympic sidekick marmot, see his shadow today on Ground Hog Day?

Todd — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:12:41 -0800

Ground Hog Day in balmy British Columbia.
Did Muk Muk see his shadow?
We don't have ground hogs, we have the Vancouver Island Marmot, and are currently over-run with Muk Muks!

Did Muk Muk see his shadow this morning? Ground hogs don't live in Vancouver or Whistler, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics - but marmots do. It rained this morning. I doubt that Muk Muk saw his shadow... Too bad - Vancouver doesn't get 6 more weeks of winter that Eastern North American will get, as predictedy by Punxsu...tawney Phil in Pennsylvania, Wiarton Willie in Ontario and Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia.
http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2512533

We saw a television news story that snow is being trucked to the Cypress Bowl Olympics site for Free style skiing and Snowboarding. It's coming all the way from Manning Park! Way past Hope and the Fraser River! I guess there isn't even any snow at Hemlock Valley!

News results for snow, manning park, olympics

CTV.ca

Trucks start moving snow to Cypress Mountain from Manning Park‎ - 9 hours ago

The great Olympic snow job is under way. ... VANOC to bring in snow by helicopter from elsewhere in the Cypress area and truck in snow from Manning Park. ...

2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner brings a bit of Scotland back for everybody!

Todd — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:45:34 -0800

"Bringing back a bit of Scotland for everyone" was how Toddish McWong described the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.

Throughout the evening, Todd Wong, creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, shared stories of his recent trip to Scotland. He had gone to Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.for the finale weekend of Scotland Homecoming Year, and wrapped up a long year of Scottish celebrations that had started with the 250th Anniversary of the poet Robbie Burns and finished with a closing reception at Scottish Parliament where a life-size picture of him had been included in the photo exhibit This Is Who We Are: Scots in Canada. By the end of the evening, Bill Saunders, giver of the Immortal Memory, had received a bow tie in Burns Check brought all the way from Burns Cottage in Alloway, and almost every guest walked home with a lovely Burns 2010 calendar courtesy of Visit Scotland, which had been shipped from Edinburgh specifically for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner.

The evening started off soon after 6pm, with a piping in of the head table and performers by the Gung Haggis Pipes & Drums, led by pipe major Bob Wilkins. All the guests rose to greet the procession, as host Toddish McWong, introduced the band and the performers to the audience.

The pipers and the performers stood at the front of the stage. It was an amazing array of colours and costumes as wollen tartan kilts and chinese embroided silk clashed and complimented each other.

Co-host Tricia Collins dressed in a Saltire blue Chinese silk top and wore our Fraser Hunting Tartan mini-kilt from the Gung Haggis dragon boat team. She shared with the audience how her own Irish-Chinese ancestry came to Canada via Guyana (British Honduras), similar to the first governor of Canada, James Douglas, whom she is writing about for her next project..

Joy Kogawa read the "Selkirk Address" to bless our food and dinner. In 2006, Joy was our featured author and she read a new work then. The Historic Joy Kogawa House Society is one of the non-profit organizations that receives monies raised by the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner.

Joe McDonald performs "The Rap to the Haggis" as he "cut ye up wi' ready slight." Co-host Tricia Collins looks on, as she witnesses this strange ritual for the first time.

Wong leads a chorus of "Gie her a Haggis" and "Gie Vancouver a Haggis", as she rouses the finale to this rowdy and interactive version of the sacred Burns poem.

5 "men" were selected to recite the Burns poem "A Man's a Man For All That" included "The Bearded Lady". Left to right included a Judge, Parks Commissioner/teacher Stuart Mackinnon, Kilt afficianado and dragon boater Raphael Fang, The Bearded Lady, and a kilted friend from Richmond. All stout men who gave good readings of the verse, finalizing with Mackinnon singing the last verse.

Throughout the evening, Wong and McDonald led singalongs of "When Asian/Scottish/Chirish Eyes Are Smiling" and "Loch Lomand." These singalongs encouraged audience participation and took a warm surprise turn when McDonald had men only singing "Ye take the High Road" chorus of Loch Lomand, immediately followed by an outstanding version of the Women only singers.! The women were clear winners!

Special poet of the evening was Larissa Lai, who read from her new book of poetry Automaton Biographies. Each year the Gung Haggis dinner features a different poet. Larissa also briefly explained how she teaches Burns at University of BC, in her role as an Assistant Professor in the English Department.

Special theatrical performance was done by playwright/actor Marcus Youssef accompanied by writer/comedian Charles Demers. They did a stage reading of Youssef's critically acclaimed play Ali & Ali and the Axis of Evil. The segment poked fun at Multiculturalism and Scottish history and culture, to great effect.

Birds of Paradox is a musical instrumental trio, featuring Lan Tung (erhu), Ron Samworth (electric guitar) and Nealamjit Dhillon. Their playing was sublime and took turns highlighting each performer. It was exciting to see the erhu played with soaring passages, trading phrases with the picking and fretwork of the guitar, all accompanied by the polyrhythms of the tabala drums. Of note, Dhillon had first performed with Joe McDonald at the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners in 2001 and 2002 as the musical duo Brave Waves.

Highland Dancing was the surprise hit of the evening performed by Aidan and Alex Huang from Kelowna, sons of drummer Dan Huang. They are only 6 and 9 years old, but they showed poise and control as the young boys are experienced competitors in Highland Dance competitions. The boys certainly enjoy their Chinese and Scottish heritage.

Bringing the evening to a more serious tone, Bill Saunders, president of the Vancouver & District Labour Council, gave the Immortal Memory. He recounted Burns life, from a "ploughman's poet" to the "toast of Scottish high society" in Edinburgh. He described the values and beliefs of the poet, then went on to postulate what Rabbie would be like today as a poet. Saunders painted a portrait of a young community activist, fighting for social justice and gender equity, wearing a hoody, criticizing the elite, and protesting against the economic and social conditions that promote and cause homelessness.

Raffle tickets were drawn and the top prizes were quickly given out: Vancouver Opera tickets to Nixon in China, The Monkey King, upcoming productions from Firehall Arts Centre, Neworld Theatre and UBC Opera. Arsenal Pulp Press and Harbour Publishing had donated books such as Larissal Lai's first novel "When Fox is a Thousand" and Charles Demers' "Vancouver Special" as well as Fiona Tin Wei Lam's "Enter the Chrysanthemum."

The Gung Haggis Pipes and Drums, performed again, first weaving their way through the audience, easily filling the large restaurant space with the skirl of the pipes and the beats of the drums. They winded their way to the stage, and performed 3 numbers. Todd and Tricia thanked the volunteers, production coordinators and the audience before leading a singalong of Auld Lang Syne with the first verse in Mandarin Chinese.

The evening ended with lots of smiles and compliments. Here are some of the comments:

"Thanks, Todd for another fantastic Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner. " - Joan Young of Historic Joy Kogawa House Society

"Awesome night, Todd!! Great job. " - Desmond Rodenbour

"Gung Haggis Fat Choy was just as Amazing as I had always dreamed. You should be very proud of what you've done." - Lorraine Murphy

"I just wanted to say thanks for your efforts and creativity in bringing about the Gung Haggis Fat Choy event. I attended tonight for the first time, along with a mix of Scottish and Chinese friends and we all enjoyed ourselves and our table-mates." - Paul

2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner a big success - thank you to our performers, support crew and volunteers... and our audience!!!

Todd — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:38:56 -0800

THANK YOU to OUR GUESTS
for attending
Gung Haggis Fat Choy

44 tables were filled for almost 440 guests at the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.

Our performers put on a great show, and people were on their feet for the Gung Haggis Pipes & Drums.

Special thanks to co-host Tricia Collins, poet Larissa Lai, musicians Joe McDonald, Birds of Paradox (Lan Tung, Ron Samworth and Nealamjit Dhillon), playwight Marcus Youssef, author/performer Charles Demers, The Bearded Lady (Naomi Singer), Immortal Address given by Bill Saunders.

Making it happen were stage manager Charlie Cho, sound engineer Carl Schmidt, seating and volunteer coordinators Debbie Poon and Dave Samis, Ricepaper editor Patricia Lim, our wonderful volunteers from Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team and Ricepaper Magazine.

More thanks to our prize sponsors... Vancouver Opera, Arsenal Pulp Press, Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (Four Brothers Entertainment), Firehall Arts Centre, Newworld Theatre, Harbour Publishing + more...

Pictures are being posted up soon.... I will write a review tonight.

Gung Haggis Dinner is Sold Out!

Todd — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:30:00 -0800

SOLD OUT
Gung Haggis Fat Choy
Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner!

Sorry but there are no more tickets available for Gung Haggis Fat Choy
The Firehall Box Office closed off on tickets sales for Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner on Friday Night.
We did take late reservations by phone on Saturday.

For 2010, we redesigned the dinner for only 400 guests - instead of 500+ last year.
The Firehall Arts Centre printed out 345 tickets for our guests + we have performers and volunteers - so we have reached our goal of 400 people. We hope to have a more intimate dinner party for our 400 best friends for the evening!

But you are unsure of your ticket reservation
- please call me - Todd Wong ASAP
Call 778-846-7090,

Because the nature of the dinner is a 10 course sit down banquet - Advanced reservations is always the best. We have to have many of our culinary specialties prepared ahead of time.
We don't like to have to turn away people at the door - but we have to if there is nothing to serve them.

What to expect at the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner

Todd — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:43:49 -0800

The Bar is open at 5:00 and Dinner Start time is 6:00, Buy Your Raffle Tickets, FREE Subscription for Ricepaper Magazine, This dinner is the primary fundraising event for Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team, Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop/ Ricepaper Magazine, Historic Joy Kogawa House Society + Food + Music + Pictures

Robbie Burns was born in the year of the Tiger.

Todd — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:38:00 -0800

In 1759, a wee bairn of a boy named Robert was born in a cottage in the village of Alloway, in Ayrshire Scotlandm, on January 25th in the last days of the Chinese Lunar Year of the Tiger. Four days later on January 29th, Chinese New Year of the Rabbit occurred + pictures + more

Program revealed for this Sunday's 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner

Todd — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:41:46 -0800

Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinners always emphasize BC's cultural and historical past and present. While we acknowledge the Scottish and Chinese pioneers that helped to shape this province of British Columbia, we also look to see where we are going and what kind of cultural fusion is happening. This year's program is amazing..... pictures + descriptions

Larissa Lai is featured poet for 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner

Todd — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:38:48 -0800

Last year, Larissa Lai was a guest at the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner. She enjoyed the event so much she is coming back... as our featured poet! At a reading event at the Vancouver Public Library, Larissa shared with me that she teaches Robert Burns to her students at University of BC. Wow... Perfect! But Larissa is much more than that... She is an acclaimed poet in her own right, and the author of two novels - When Fox Is A Thousand, and Salt Fish Girl. Both books are in my personal collection. I first met Larissa back in 1994, when I wrote an article for the SFU Student Newspaper, and she was a featured poet for the Go For Broke Festival - the forerunner of Asian Heritage Month..... + MORE

Lan Tung erhu virtuoso is bringing her trio Birds of Paradox to Gung Haggis Fat Choy

Todd — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:08:25 -0800

Ron Samworth, Lan Tung and Nealamjit Dhillon make up the cultural fusion trio of Birds of Paradox . Lan Tung is a fantastic virtuoso erhu player who has recently toured across Europe and was just in Halifax with Symphony Nova Scotia for a January 7th concert of new music. + PICTURES + MORE

Daniel Lee Rest in Peace, 1920 - January 26, 2010

Todd — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:42:00 -0800

Daniel Lee 1920 - January 26, 2010

Daniel Lee saluting at the November 11, 2009 Remembrance Day ceremony in Vancouver Chinatown. The Chinese Canadian veterans always attended the Victory Square Cenotaph ceremonies, which Dan Lee also helped to organize, then they would go to Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant to stay warm, before organizing the Chinatown ceremonies at 12:30pm - photo Todd Wong

"To be a good citizen you got to start at home. Otherwise, a nation is just like a family.
Everybody got to be happy at home otherwise the nation would be in trouble."
- Daniel Lee

With sorrow... we share the news that Grand-Uncle Daniel Lee passed away this morning of January 26th, 2010. He had been in the Burnaby Hospital since Wednesday. His daughter Grace, she said it was quite sudden - his going into the hospital. I had been receiving reports from my mother Betty, as her mother Mabel (Dan's oldest sister at 99 years old) was visiting the hospital each day.

Uncle Dan was born the 11th child of 14, the 5th son of seven to jeweler Ernest Lee, and Kate Chan Lee - the 2nd child, and 1st daughter of Rev. Chan Yu Tan. As a young child he spent some time living in Nanaimo with his grandparents Rev. and Mrs. Chan Yu Tan, after the early death of his father.

When Dan was 20 years old he tried to enlist in the Canadian Army, but was turned away because at that time they did not allow any Chinese Canadians. Instead, he went to aircraft mechanics school in Toronto and graduated two years later. By 1942, Chinese were allowed into the Army due to pressure from Great Britain. Dan Lee was one of the the first Chinese-Canadians accepted into the Canadian Air Force. Soon, he was joined in England, by his brothers Howard and Leonard, plus cousin Victor Wong, who were enroute to the Pacific Theatre to serve with the Army special forces.

In the years after WW2, Dan Lee and his fellow Canadian born veterans would continue to face racial discrimination and prejudice. The were not allowed to join any of the existing Canadian Legions for veteran soldiers. They turned to the oldest veteran organization, the Army, Navy, Air Force Vets of Canada and were accepted to form their own unit - Pacific Unit 280. After WW2, he and his fellow veterans and good friend Roy Mah, petitioned the Canadian Government to gain voting rights for Chinese Canadians, and also to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act. This was accomplished in 1947.

But the challenges weren't over yet. Every year Uncle Dan would write a letter to Ottawa asking for an apology for the Chinese head tax and exclusion act. The Chinese head tax redress movement took on a larger significance after MP Margaret Mitchell brought the issue up in Parliament in 1984, and also when Prime Minister Mulroney apologized to Japanese Canadians in 1988 for the the government's interning of them during WW2.

In the 1980's, Dan Lee would continue to work head tax apology issue. With Douglas Jung, a former veteran, lawyer, Member of Parliament, and the Chinese Benevolent Association, they proposed that a national organization be formed to deal with the Head Tax issue. Dan Lee became one of the founders of the National Congress of Chinese Canadians(NCCC) and a national conference was held. After many years, an apology was finally made in Canadian Parliament by Prime Minister Harper in 2006.

In 1998, the Chinese Canadian Military Museum was founded. Dan Lee's air force uniform was one of the first displays.

Chinese Canadian Military Museum Dinner November 7, 2009
top row: Bryan Larrabee, grand-nephew Todd Wong, Padre Wesley Lowe
bottom row: niece Rhonda Larrabee, Daniel Lee, sister Mabel Mar

In 1999, we held the first Rev. Chan Legacy Family Reunion. Uncle Dan was a consultant for the committee. At the reunion, it was Dan Lee who gave the Elder Address, as he talked about his grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan.

In 2002, the Rev. Chan Yu Tan family was featured in the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum exhibit "Three Canadian Chinese Pioneer Families" - pictures of Uncle Dan and the contributions of himself and his brothers and cousin were included.

In 2007, Dan Lee is one of the lead stories in the film documentary Heroes Remember, produced by the Chinese Canadian Military Museum.

Dan Lee's dedication to community service is exemplary. In 2004, Dan Lee received the Award of Merit from Dominion Command. It is one of the highest honours a veteran can receive. Uncle Dan told me that to receive an Award of Merit, you must first receive the Medal for Appreciation, which he received in 1987. In 1999 he next received the Award for Service.

And through all these years, Uncle Dan would sell poppies in downtown Vancouver for Remembrance Day, and help organize the Poppy Drive every November. He was one of the best sellers. He was also one of the organizers of the Victory Square Cenotaph Remembrance Day ceremonies. In 2004, Remembrance Day ceremonies began at the Canadian Chinese Pioneer Monument in Chinatown. The veterans of Unit 280 would attend both Victory Square and Chinatown ceremonies, even if it was raining and cold.

The contributions that Dan Lee made, will last and be remembered, while he will be missed.

We offer support and love to Uncle Dan, his wife Irene, and their children Vincent and Grace.

Peace & Blessings to all, Todd Wong - Vancouver

Chinese Canadian Military Museum Dinner November 7, 2009
with fellow veterans of Pacific Unit 280 + Ujjal Dosanjh MP.

REST IN PEACE - GRAND-UNCLE DAN

As part of his commitment to community, Dan annually organized the poppy campaign in Vancouver. It's not surprising he was a top-seller. For his community efforts Dan has received many veteran honours, such as the Award of Appreciation, and Award for Service - but none higher than the Award of Merit from Dominion Command in 2004. It's a fitting tribute to the grandson who evidently learned his values and strong faith in community from his Methodist Church pioneer, Grandfather Chan Yu Tan.

See VIDEO of Daniel Lee from the Chinese Canadian Military Museum

Daniel Lee - Canadian Chinese Veterans

www.vac-acc.gc.ca

Daniel Lee, one of three brothers to join the war effort, worked as an aircraft mechanic and went on to a career of dedicated community service in Canada.

Daniel Lee 1920-2010 - picture album on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53803790@N00/sets/72157623292987932/

Google News Alert for "Gung Haggis Fat Choy"

Todd — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:44:13 -0800

Every year I do media interviews. On Robbie Burns Day, I was woken up at 7am by a request from BBC Radio Scotland. Yesterday, I did an interview for French CBC television. Monday was Epoch Times. Last week the Georgia Straight did a food feature article. Somewhere in Scotland there is an interview in the Sunday Post. Even SFU, Seattle and North Shore News have stories about Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner this year. Check out the links:

SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival - Dragon Cart Winners are the Wellness Warriors!

Todd — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:36:14 -0800

The winners of the dragon cart races were the Wellness Warriors, from the Health & Counseling Department at the Student Services Building. I came up with the idea of dragon cart racing, because I tried to think of ways to adapt Scottish and Chinese recreational activities into a fun way for university students to participate in intramural events. At UBC, there is the Day of the Longboat. At SFU, we have dragon cart racing as part of the SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival. The "paddlers" have to propel themselves by using poles + PICTURES + MORE

Happy 251st Birthday Rabbie!

Todd — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:18:15 -0800

BBC Radio Scotland woke me up at 7am for a 9:30 am interview. There is 8 hours time difference. After I was woken up, it was hard to get back to sleep, so I got onto the computer and listened to BBC Radio Scotland for awhile. It's always fun to listen to them both on New Year's Eve and Robbie Burns Day.... + PICTURES + MORE

Menu revealed for 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner to welcome Year of the Tiger

Todd — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:43:50 -0800

There are some changes for the dinner menu for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner. We try to vary the dinner items from year to year, add some new surprises, take out items we are bored with. This is a draft menu - subject to change. See if you can spot the new additions - not repeated from last year. 1. Floata Appetizer Platter a. Haggis Pork dumpling (Shiu Mai) b. turnip cake (Lo-bak-goh) c. Honey BBQ Pork d. Jelly Fish 2. Deep fried haggis won ton + PICTURES + MORE

GungHaggisFatChoy

"CHINESE VANCOUVER THEN AND NOW: 1972-2010" - Vancouver Opera Speaks

Gung Haggis dragon boat team hits the water again on March 7th

Vancouver Olympic Ceremonies: Where was the cultural diversity?

Only before the televised official opening... ("Miss Jully Black to the back of the bus please")... not "Canadian" enough to be televised.... and February is Black History month in Canada!

Gung Haggis Fat Choy SEATTLE!!! Feb 21, 2010

More media stories about "lack of colour (and bagpipes)" in Vancouver 2010 Opening ceremonies

Opening ceremony lacks colour

Vancouver 2010 Olympics: The Great White, er, Multicultural North?

Olympic organizers told French at Opening Ceremonies ‘wasn’t sufficient’

Furlong doesn't get it. I doubt Closing Ceremonies will be more inclusive of Vancouver's Multicultural Diversity

I don't think Furlong "gets it".

Reflecting multicultural diversity isn't about presenting stereotypes to the world or having "token heads of state" - It's about how we as generations of so-called "visible minorities" live our lives and make ourselves included in the mainstream.

Visible-minority groups, francophone leaders complained of opening ceremony snub

More visible minorities at closing, VANOC hints

Last Updated: Thursday, February 18, 2010 | 9:26 AM PT Comments14Recommend22

CBC News

Closing ceremony could offer more

Chinese New Year welcomes Year of the Tiger in Vancouver Chinatown

Women's Hockey: Canada 18 Slovakia 0

Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremonies: What's wrong with this picture?

Todd Wong appearance on CTV Canada AM for Sunday Feb 14th

Olympic Torch carried on Dragon Boat and Voyageur Canoe on Final Day

If Terry Fox could light the Olympic caldron, would he?

Todd Wong visits the Minus 5 Ice Bar at Monk's

Gung Haggis dragon boat team paddle on Sunday Feb 7th

Georgia Straight: Todd Wong cancer recovery story in "Traditional Chinese Medicine enters the mainstream"

Todd Wong recounts using complimentary/alternative medicine to battle cancer to Georgia Straight writer Charlie Smith.

Traditional Chinese medicine enters the mainstream

Olympic Torch to be carried by dragon boat in its final journey to Opening Ceremonies

Did Muk Muk, the Olympic sidekick marmot, see his shadow today on Ground Hog Day?

News results for snow, manning park, olympics

2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner brings a bit of Scotland back for everybody!

2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner a big success - thank you to our performers, support crew and volunteers... and our audience!!!

Gung Haggis Dinner is Sold Out!

What to expect at the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner

Robbie Burns was born in the year of the Tiger.

Program revealed for this Sunday's 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner

Larissa Lai is featured poet for 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner

Lan Tung erhu virtuoso is bringing her trio Birds of Paradox to Gung Haggis Fat Choy

Daniel Lee Rest in Peace, 1920 - January 26, 2010

Daniel Lee 1920 - January 26, 2010

Uncle Dan was born the 11th child of 14, the 5th son of seven to jeweler Ernest Lee, and Kate Chan Lee - the 2nd child, and 1st daughter of Rev. Chan Yu Tan. As a young child he spent some time living in Nanaimo with his grandparents Rev. and Mrs. Chan Yu Tan, after the early death of his father.

In 1998, the Chinese Canadian Military Museum was founded. Dan Lee's air force uniform was one of the first displays.

In 1999, we held the first Rev. Chan Legacy Family Reunion. Uncle Dan was a consultant for the committee. At the reunion, it was Dan Lee who gave the Elder Address, as he talked about his grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan.

In 2002, the Rev. Chan Yu Tan family was featured in the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum exhibit "Three Canadian Chinese Pioneer Families" - pictures of Uncle Dan and the contributions of himself and his brothers and cousin were included.

In 2007, Dan Lee is one of the lead stories in the film documentary Heroes Remember, produced by the Chinese Canadian Military Museum.

The contributions that Dan Lee made, will last and be remembered, while he will be missed.

We offer support and love to Uncle Dan, his wife Irene, and their children Vincent and Grace.Peace & Blessings to all, Todd Wong - Vancouver

Daniel Lee 1920-2010 - picture album on Flickr

Google News Alert for "Gung Haggis Fat Choy"

SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival - Dragon Cart Winners are the Wellness Warriors!

Happy 251st Birthday Rabbie!

Menu revealed for 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner to welcome Year of the Tiger

Last Updated: Thursday, February 18, 2010 | 9:26 AM PT Comments14 Recommend22

We offer support and love to Uncle Dan, his wife Irene, and their children Vincent and Grace.

Peace & Blessings to all, Todd Wong - Vancouver