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Friday, August 7
Vancouver vs San Diego? vs Logan Lake?
by
Todd
on Fri 07 Aug 2009 01:01 PM PDT
I think the key to Vancouver is its inclusion of diversity. Whether it is the architectural concept of Vancouverism incorporating mixed use development, of community and industrial and business needs, - or the cultural diversity of its population. Vancouver is many things to many people. This is both it's strength and weakness. Here are some links and quotes about Vancouverism:
“Vancouverism is characterized by tall, but widely separated,
slender towers interspersed with low-rise buildings, public spaces,
small parks and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and facades to
minimize the impact of a high density population.”
-The New York Times, December 28, 2005
The word first entered the argot of American architects and city
planners over the past decade, who began speaking of “Vancouverizing”
their under-populated, un-loved urban cores, seeking inspiration from
Canada’s Pacific portal’s re-development successes. Our city has become
first a verb, and now, an ideology promoting an urbanism of density and
public amenity. Vancouverism at its best brings together a deep respect
for the natural environment with high concentrations of residents.
Within condominium residential towers downtown and courtyard and
boulevard-edging mid-rise buildings elsewhere in the city,
Vancouverites are learning to live tightly together; a healthy,
engaging - even thrilling place.
Not Asia, not Europe, not even North America, but a new kind of city
living with elements from all of these - a hybrid that now demands to
be taken on its own terms. In the language of city-building,
“Vancouverism” is fast replacing “Manhattanism” as the maximum power
setting for shaping the humane mixed-use city, important ideas for a
new era of scarce energy and diminished natural resources.
Monday, July 20
Save TLC committee is the best prepared to lead The Land Conservancy of BC for the Aug 8th election of new board.
by
Todd
on Mon 20 Jul 2009 11:59 PM PDT
The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) is holding an Extraordinary General Meeting on August 8th to elect new board members. TLC founder Bill Turner gives a positive "thumbs-up" approval with proposed board members from the Save TLC Committee. They all attended a one day workshop and meeting on July 5th in Saanich with other proposed board members, committee members and community leaders.Standing: Todd Wong, Bill Turner, Ken Millard, Magnus BienSitting: Cheryl Bryce, Elspeth McVeigh, Briony PennThe Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) is one of the important players in land conservancy in Canada. It is a non-profit organization, based on the The National Trust of England, Ireland and Wales. TLC purchases lands and creates environmental convenants in order to lands, and buildings of environmental, scientific, historical, cultural, scenic and recreational value that would otherwise be loss to destruction, demolition, or development. TLC: What happened? On March 27, TLC executive director and founder Bill Turner was "fired" without warning or rational explanation. This is only three years after the founding visionary was appointed the Order of Canada for "his tremendous energy and selfless dedication to preserve his province's
natural environment. A realtor, he founded the Land Conservancy of
British Columbia (TLC) to advocate for the protection of the
environment through conservation covenants and ecological gifts."
According to Save TLC website Q's and A's "At the same time, "another Director gained access to TLC's head offic, once the staff had left for the day, disabled TLC's communications network and changed the locks on the doors. When Turner was notified of his firing, a replacement had already been hired - without any public search. Now to be called Chief Operating Officer (COO) this replacement has no experienc managing land trusts or non-profit organizations, and has never even worked in one. On Monday, March 30, the COO also fired TLC's long-time Deputy Executive Director, Ian Fawcett - again, without warning and without any explanation.
TLC members were shocked to learn of the events, and of the allegations by the TLC board about the TLC founder Bill Turner. The Save TLC committee was founded to support the return of Bill Turner and senior management staff to TLC. As well, the TLC committee has diligently worked to challenge the TLC board on its allegations, and to inform TLC members about these events. The Save TLC committee has recruited 11 proposed board members that have worked with TLC in many capacities and/or have related experience and background to helping TLC recover from this current situation. Both the Save TLC committee and TLC Board have
agreed on a procedure that would see all members of TLC vote to
elect a full 11 member Board at the EGM. All Directors of the current
board will resign at the EGM and those eligible may stand for
re-election. I am pleased that Bill Turner asked me, Todd Wong, to be on the Save TLC slate. I have worked with TLC and Bill Turner since December 2005, when TLC became partners with the Save Kogawa House Committee, in an effort to save the childhood home of famous Canadian author Joy Kogawa from demolition. I have always been interested in the history of BC, and especially its pioneers. I have always loved the natural history of BC, and am very aware of the need to protect its environments and eco-systems. I was honoured that David Kogawa nominated me for the BC Community Achievement Award, citing my community work with the Save Kogawa House Committee, as well as my multicultural community events for Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner. Former Founding Director Briony Penn has written a letter and sent it out to friends and members of TLC. Briony writes: I have received a large number of calls and emails from members
asking me who to vote for regarding the upcoming mail-in ballot for
electing 11 new Board members of TLC The Land Conservancy of BC and
what my thoughts are.
Members
will be receiving a ballot with 23 names. I would recommend this
wonderful team of grassroot individuals with trusted and proven
experience with land trusts that have put their names forward under the
ballot of Save TLC (savetlc.ca) and consider them for the board. Then
vote through the mail-in ballot which you will be sent.
Barry Glickman, professor of biology at UVic
Cheryl Bryce, lands manager for Songhees and spokesperson on First Nations issues of land conservation
Magnus Bein, an ecologist working on the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program in the interior
Alastair Craighead, former Victoria City councillor and cycling activist
Elspeth McVeigh, a Vancouver business woman and historic building specialist
David Merner, a dynamic conflict resolution lawyer and community volunteer
Ken Millard, a veteran lands trust director and Galiano Islander
Carol Pickup a retired Saanich coucillor interested in heritage conservation
Frances Pugh, a farmer and chair of the Saanich Inlet Protection Society
Todd Wong who was active in Vancouver on the Joy Kogawa House and an award winning multiculturalist community organizer
and myself, a Founding Director of TLC and consultant environmental communication/education
We
have already met as a group and identified our respective skills and
roles that we would bring to restore the organization. All of us are
hard workers in our communities and understand that the financial
security of the organization relies on the relationships we form with
members/donors as this is our biggest asset for the long term financial
and social stability of the organization.
We have all spent time
going over financial statements and addressing the financial
allegations levelled at the senior management by the existing Board
with an independent chartered accountant and a trust lawyer expert that
we hired. The allegations were incorrect and a misinterpretation of the
Charitable Purposes Preservation Act. No law has ever been broken, the
lawyers that resigned were going on verbal advice based on an informal
conversation (one lawyer's) about blending trust fund accounts, which
is common practice for charities. It is only illegal in a lawyer's
practice in some instances e.g., where you need to separate different
client's accounts that are accruing interest. (for full legal opinion,
trust lawyer David John's letter will be on the tlc website tomorrow,
savetlc.ca)
Ironically, the old board did put forward a motion
to sell Keating Farm which would have been illegal under the Act. The
Board perceived they needed to do this to alleviate "crippling debt"
but this again was an incorrect characterization according to the
accountant. The organization was healthy at the point when the staff
were fired. At the end of the day, nothing has waivered our belief in
the skills, competence and commitment of the staff. We did identify
many areas for improvement including the need for Board members to
spend more time fund raising and working directly with the Executive
Director and staff so the two solitudes of Board and Staff never occurs
again.
Part of the biggest problem I believe was that the Board
became more and more distanced from and distrustful of senior staff
because of a difference of interpretation over the financial
circumstances, the law and the selling of properties. The latest slate
of members are already doing their homework and have started on a full
analysis of what went wrong. All of us have worked on projects from the
trenches—either as activists, donors, in political and other supporting
roles. We all know what it takes to make projects successful, attract
members and keep the money rolling in. I believe this slate consists of
people capable of working even in the most challenging circumstances.
That might be what we face August 8th.
Prior to us getting
together last week, Bill Turner had picked me up from the Sunday 6:15
am ferry and we went to Elk Lake to set up the Bottle Drive for TLC. We
spent the next couple of hours picking up and assembling the stands,
bags and tables for the bottle drive. The bottle drive was part of our
commitment to raise money for TLC as the membership contingent of Save
TLC which has been very successful with over $100, 000 raised in a
month. When you are considering which board members to vote for and who
should lead the organization, consider asking the different candidates
who got up at 6 on a Sunday morning to get a bottle drive organized to
raise the funds to save special places?
I know where my vote lies.
Briony
Thursday, June 11
3 Asian Canadians appointed to new BC Liberal Cabinet: Ida Chong, John Yap and Naomi Yamamoto
by
Todd
on Thu 11 Jun 2009 11:57 PM PDT
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 GeneralHeed 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:
Georgia Straight: Vancouver tops the charts in Premier Gordon Campbell's cabinet
Wednesday, May 13
Mabel Elmore and Naomi Yamamoto: First Canadians of Filipino and Japanese ancestry elected to BC Legislature
by
Todd
on Wed 13 May 2009 09:54 AM PDT
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:
Sunday, May 10
Kitsilano: I visit Bon Ton Patisserie and Mel Lehan's campaign office
by
Todd
on Sun 10 May 2009 12:39 AM PDT
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....).
Wednesday, May 6
Cultural Diversity for BC Provincial election candidates... Carole James is Metis and Scottish!
by
Todd
on Wed 06 May 2009 06:14 PM PDT
Carol James could be BC's first Premier with Metis (and Scottish) ancestry Carole James and Todd Wong at a reception during the BC Federation of Labour Convention.There are lots of candidates touting their ethnic diversity in their appeals for ethnic votes. The most significant mention is NDP leader Carole James, who has both Metis and Scottish ancestry. While she is developing a clan war with Liberal leader Gordon Campbell, the James-Campbell rivalry may not be as deep as the generations long Campbell-McDonald feud or the recent NDP-Liberal clashes. I have met Carol a number of times. She is always warm, thoughtful and engaging, the kind of person you could easily invite home for dinner. When I saw here earlier this year at a talk for the CLC Winter School, she greeted me with a warm hug. When I asked a question to her, regarding gender equity and what inspires her, she turned to the audience and said "He always asks such good questions!" A win by James would be significant, in the 150th year since the founding of BC by Gov. James Douglas. Douglas himself was of mixed Scottish and Creole heritage, and his wife Amelia was Metis. He envisioned a British Columbia that would welcome people equally from all around the world, where the law was equal for First Nations and Whites, and his actions spoke loudly. The creation of the Victoria Pioneer Volunteer Rifle Corps also known as the "All Blacks" was created with his support.
If elected, she would join BC's first aboriginal Lt. Gov. Steven Point, in leading BC's provincial government.
 Commander King Wan, Lt. Gov. Steven Point and Todd Wong at the 2009 BC Book Awards.
When James was elected as NDP leader in 2003, she was accompanied by First Nations drumming and stood on the podium with Chinese-Canadian Jenny Kwan and Celtic-Canadian Joy MacPhail. Under James' leadership, she has guided the provincial NDP from 2 seats in 2001 to 35 seats in 2005, and a very possible win for 2009. The following pictures are of the BC election candidates and present MLA's that I have met over the past year, Jenny Kwan was the first Chinese Canadian to become a BC provincial cabinet minister in 1998. I've known Jenny over the years, as she has attended many community and political events. She is a cultural hero and a tireless activist for many issues, for her Vancouver Mount Pleasant constituency. I greatly admire how she supports many causes such as saving the Mount St. Joseph hospital campaign in 2005 and 2006, as well as the Chinese Head Tax Redress campaign. In 2005, she and Joy MacPhail, were featured guests at the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner. This picture is from a fundraiser Garden Party at Jenny's home, we are standing with Dan, a teacher and an executive for his union.
 Raj Chouhan (Burnaby Edmonds and Harry Bains (Surrey -Newton) are both incredible leaders in the Farm Worker and Labour Union movements. I first really got to know them last year at the CUPE BC Workers of Colour Conference, where I found them both to be very inspiring speakers. Raj was has been a tireless advocate against racism, and has been the the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers' Union, and
he served as the Director of Bargaining at the Hospital Employees Union
for 18 years. Harry is equally impressive as he shared stories about being a union leaders for lumber mills that helped improve both productivity and worker relations for the mills. He has also served on the Kwantlen College Board of
Governors between 1993 and 1999. He has also volunteered with
organizations like Habitat for Humanity. This picture was taken at the CLC Winter School.
 Mel Lehan is Jewish-Canadian, and running in Vancouver Point Grey. Mel is known as the Mayor of Kitsilano for his incredible work in helping to build community such as the Farmers' Market, the saving and creation of St. James Hall into a community Hall, and the saving of the foreshore and the Linden trees, and so much more. Mel greatly admired the community work I have been doing for the past years, and asked me to be a seconder at his nomination meeting, which I gladly accepted.
Jenn McGinn is definitely Irish/Celtic-Canadian. We give a high-five at a fundraiser earlier this year. Jenn has been one of the delightful surprises along with Spencer Herbert of the Fall 08 by-elections, as they both quickly proved themsevles adept speakers during question period.
Mabel Elmore is an incredibly spirited community activist, with one of the biggest smiles and warmest hearts. She could be the first Filipino-Canadian BC MLA. which is long overdue because Filipinos were likely the first Asians who came to Canada, with Captain Cook. Gabriel Yiu is running in Vancouver Fraserview. I got to know Gabriel during the 2005-06 Chinese Head Tax Redress campaign. Gabriel is very passionate about social justice issues, and really got behind the Save Mount St. Joseph Hospital campaign alongside Jenny Kwan. He is an astute poltical commentator. Not to be personally biased against Premier Campbell and the Liberals, but I haven't really bumped into them much over the past year, except in Victoria when I went to receive the BC Community Achievement Award from Premier Campbell. It was great to meet Ida Chong, who is in the BC cabinet minister, and was an advisor for the Awards.
 Victoria April 2008. I received the BC Community Achievement Award from Scottish-descendant Gordon Campbell (although I have never seen him in a kilt, only Chinese jackets for Chinese New Year.) and First Nations Lt. Gov. Steven Point. 
Richard Lee (Burnaby North) is always busy in the community. Richard served as Parliamentary Secretary for the Asia-Pacific Initiative and addresses many issues on multiculturalism. He has long supported many of our past activities for Asian Canadian Writers Workshop.
Sunday, May 3
Mel Lehan story in the Vancouver Sun: NDP candidate in Point Grey says premier is vulnerable
by
Todd
on Sun 03 May 2009 08:27 PM PDT
Here's
a feel-good story about a community do-gooder who is poised to be a
giant killer in election. I would nominate Mel Lehan for the BC Community
Achievement Award and the Courage to Come Back Award & am glad to
be his friend. He is a committed activist filled with compassion and love for people and Kitsilano. In a Vancouver Sun article BC's Most Influential People, Mel Lehan was ranked at #21, with Gordon Campbell at #54. Mel is known as the "Mayor of Kitsilano." His list of achievements and awards is long and inspiring. On Saturday, the Vancouver Sun published a story about Mel titled: NDP candidate in Point Grey says premier is vulnerableSource: www2.canada.com Twelve
years ago Mel Lehan, the tireless community activist who's been called
the "Mayor of Kitsilano," was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus
and stomach and given a 15-per-cent chance of surviving five years.
I first met Mel during the 2005 Vancouver civic elections. He was running for Parks Board as a COPE candidate, but he wasn't elected. I later got to know Mel better since the summer of 2007 when he tried out dragon boat paddling with me. We really bonded over sharing our cancer survival stories, and our commitments to our communities. He asked me to play accordion at the "Tribute to Mel Lehan" last fall, and to be a seconder for his constituency nomination in January. Mel and his wife Barbara absolutely LOVED attending the Gung Haggis Fat Choy this year in January. At the October 2008 "Tribute to Mel Lehan" at the St. James Hall last year. Many community leaders were there to support and praise Mel, but somehow the MLA for Vancouver-West Point Grey was not in attendance to help celebrate one of the constituency's community leaders. See my story: Mel Lehan, "Mayor of Kitsilano" is celebrated for his community achievments at St. James Hall Oct 19th.
Here are some other media stories about Mel Lehan:
8 Jan 2009 ... Community organizer Mel Lehan wants to become the MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey but that means he'll have to take down the leader of the BC ...www.straight.com/article-178550/lehan-takes-premier - 73k - Cached - Similar pages
Mel Lehan hopes an earlier start to his provincial run will help him unseat Liberal ... Victoria Times Colonist, The Province ( Vancouver), Vancouver Sun ...www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=5b4a464c-dd8b-4500-882a-3093b84dd03e - 78k - Cached - Similar pages
31 Dec 2008 ... According to VancouverSun.com voters, the most influential British Columbian is musician, ... Mel Lehan 354. 22. Trevor Linden 336 ...www.chtv.com/ch/cheknews/story.html?id=1130635 - 45k - Cached - Similar pages
Wednesday, April 1
Picture of Toddish McWong appears in Vancouver Sun article about Jason Kenney's views on Canadian identity, diversity and not giving money to specific immigrant cultural groups
by
Todd
on Wed 01 Apr 2009 11:55 PM PDT
This picture was created while Todd Wong was involved with the local CBC television performance special "Gung Haggis Fat Choy", based on the concepts of his annual Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner. This picture was reproduced in the Vancouver Sun today uncredited... even though it was first used by the Vancouver Sun, Dec 21, 2004, in the Mia Stainsby article "Have a taste of 2004". Recently, Jason Kenney waded into the discussion about Canadian identity, and immigration language classes, when he talked with editors at the Calgary Herald:
New Canadians, says Kenney, "have a duty to integrate." Further, he says, "We don't need the state to promote diversity. It is a natural part of our civil society."
more »
Monday, March 16
Jack Layton likes bagpipers following St. Patrick's Day parade for Vancouver's Celticfest
by
Todd
on Mon 16 Mar 2009 11:54 PM PDT
It's not everyday, you meet an important Canadian parliamentary leader in a pub on St. Patrick's Day... - but Jack Layton was in Vancouver for Celticfest and the St. Patrick's Day Parade
 Todd Wong, Jack Layton, Allan McMordie, Trish McMordie - photo T.Wong/T.Lam We had spent 3 hours in the cold preparing and walking in the parade
with the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipe & Drums, and Gung Haggis Fat
Choy dragon boat team, carrying a parade dragon, lion head masks and
dragon boat paddles. We were cold, and in need of warm food and
carbohydrate replenishment. Jack Layton, federal NDP leader had been in the parade too. He often
comes in August for Vancouver's Pride Parade. Jack said he was also in Vancouver to attend an event for Don Davies, MP for Vancouver Kensington.
I've known Don for a few years, when he first introduced himself to me at one of Meena Wong's dim sum luncheons (coincidence: Meena had been an assistant for Jack Layton's wife Olivia Chow in Toronto). Jack's wife is Chinese-Canadian MP, Olivia Chow, and they are also friends of Canadian author Joy Kogawa. Wow... Jack and Olivia are a real inter-cultural couple on a national scale! Very Gung Haggis! I had dim sum with Olivia in 2007, at one of Meena Wong's dim sum socials with Chinese head tax activists, see: Dim Sum with Olivia Chow in Vancouver
I asked Jack, if he had Scottish ancestry, which he affirmed. It was on Robbie
Burns Day, January 25th 2003, he became
federal leader of the NDP (New Democratic
Party"). If Robbie Burns was the ploughman's poet, then Jack Layton must be the workers' parliamentarian.
Layton's views of social democracy, probably
best represent Robert Burns's similar views - more
than the other federal leaders. Burns was such a progressive thinker of the Scottish enlightenment, that many of his views were not published until after his death - they would have been considered "that radical". Remember that during Burns' time, happening around him was the American Revolution, and the French Revolution, as Modern Democracy emerged. But 250 years later they fit very much into a social democratic world. Layton's great-granduncle, William Steeves, was a
Father of Confederation. Layton's own grandfather
Gilbert Layton was a cabinet minister in the
Quebec provincial government, and his father
Robert Layton was a Member of Parliament and
cabinet minister. Just as Jack Layton was preparing to leave the pub, our bagpipers started playing some songs. Jack took out his cell phone and started videoing them, then recorded a Happy St. Patrick's Day message. Maybe this will appear on his web page. I used my camera to record the action.
Check it this video:
 
Allan McMordie, Patricia
McMordie, David Murray -
bagpipers
Filmed by Jack Layton,
Sunday, February 1
Silk Road Music hosts Cultural Olympiad show for Chinese New Year!
by
Todd
on Sun 01 Feb 2009 11:58 PM PST
What is typical Vancouver music for the Cultural Olympiad? I think it is the cultural fusion music of Andre Thibault and Qiu Xia He''s Silk Road Music! For Chinese New Year, Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault organized a truly multicultural show, featuring many ethnic performers and musical styles in Vancouver. But more importantly was the intercultural representation. Caucasian Willy Miles is singing in Mandarin Chinese. Non-African ethnic dancers are performing traditional African dance with Jackie Essombe. The stilt walkers are every ethnicity including mixes. And of course the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team features Scottish and Chinese ancestry + everything in-between and everything beyond - photo Deb Martin
Still Moon Arts Stilt walkers meet the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon dancers. The stilt walkers are children and young teens led by Carman Rosen, who has also performed celtic music at the 2005 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner. - photo Deb Martin.
 Kathy Gibler, executive director of Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens, Ellen Woodsworth - Vancouver City Councilor, prepare to help make opening speeches with Dr. Jan Walls - MC for the show and performer of Chinese clapper tales - photo Deb Martin
 Bonnie Soon leads Uzume Taiko through some very exciting rhythmic drumming perfomances. Uzume Taiko often performs with bagpipers. Bonnie and I talked, and I hope we can feature them at a future Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner one year - photo Todd Wong
Chinese Lion stilt dancers! In one of the crazy moments of beautiful serendipity, I offered my Lion Dance costume to the Sill Moon Arts stilt walkers, for a photo prop... and the next thing we knew, another stilt walker offered to be the tail, and presto! The very first Chinese Lion stilt walkers!!! The kids had so much fun, it is always a joy to see them. - photo Todd Wong
Jessica Jone is a classically trained dancers - she has studied Chinese classical and Chinese folk dancing as well as Western classical and contemporary dancing. She always smiles and has incredible presentation. - photo Todd Wong
Dancers from the Jessica Jone dance school come on stage for a wonderful fan dance. I love the colour and movement. - photo Todd Wong
Jacky Essombe and The Makalas perform traditional African Dance. The weather was so cold you could see Jacky's hot breath steam into the cold air. But they brought so much high energy, you just felt warmer while seeing them work so hard - photo Todd Wong  Here's a group shot with almost everybody on stage. The dancers posed for pictures, and so we brought the dragon to stand behind them. Soon everybody was in the picture!
 Here we pose with Qiu Xia He, organizer of this great event. Left to right: Todd Wong, Devon Cooke, Qiu Xia, Dave Samis, hidden are Brooke and Deb - photo Marion
 Here's our dedicated group of Dragon Boat paddler dragon dancers! Todd Wong, Deb Martin, Brooke Samis, Dave Samis and Devon Cooke. - photo Marion.
Tuesday, January 27
Photos from 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner
by
Todd
on Tue 27 Jan 2009 06:22 PM PST
Gung Haggis Fat Choy is always a wonderful event for photographs. Special thanks to our incredible photographers Patrick Tam, Lydia Nagai and VFK.
If you like their photos, please contact them and purchase them. We have asked them to put "water marks" on their photos, so that we will advertise and promote them.
They help us with our event, because they believe in the community work and social consciousness raising that we do. + PICTURES more »
Monday, January 26
The 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's 250th Robbie Burns Birthday Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner was a big success - worth 2 ceremonial haggis.
by
Todd
on Mon 26 Jan 2009 11:07 PM PST
Hi everybody...
A wonderful job by everybody last night - Veteran Gung Haggis performers Joe McDonald and Heather pronounced last night as "The Best Gung Haggis Dinner yet"
And Dr. Leith Davis said it was the best Burns Supper she had ever attended - and she just spent 2 weeks in Scotland for Homecoming Scotland!
Congratulations to everybody. The energy was brilliantly contagious and fun. There were lots of nice surprises in the program, with the Mayor reading a Burns poem, a treatise on the details of scotch drinking, Parks Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon singing A Man's A Man For A' That, and hip hop artist Ndidi Cascade coming up from the audience to rap a verse of Burns' Address to A Haggis. more »
Wednesday, December 31
Chinese Canadians that inspired me in 2008
by
Todd
on Wed 31 Dec 2008 12:16 PM PST
I am always amazed by the talents, dedication and accomplishments of the people that I know and see in our communities. While
2008 was a year for me blessed with personal recognition from the
Province of BC, and the Royal BC Museum, I am inspired by the people that I know.
 2008 BC Community Achievement Award recipients: 45
of BC's most dedicated citizens stand with Premier Gordon Campbell and
Lt. Gov. Stephen Point, and BC Achievement Foundation Chair Keith
Mitchell, following the ceremonies. I can be spotted wearing my cream
jacket directly behind Premier Campbell. I am standing between my
Vancouver arts community friends Naomi Singer on my left, and Savannah
Walling on my right,Terry Hunter is immediately behind Savannah. Also on my left is fellow kilt wearer Gordon Barrett in his Irish Pipes and Drums uniform - too bad you can't see our kilts. http://www.bcachievement.com/community/2008/
2008 raised the first real possibility of Vancouver's first
Chinese-Canadian mayor with Raymond Louie running for the mayoral
nomination of the Vision Vancouver party. Former SFU wrestler Carol
Huynh won Canada's first gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.
Octogenarian Bill Wong, was the subject of a CBC documentary film
"Tailor Made."
In August, I attended the 150 Years in Golden Mountain Gala in
Victoria, where my grand-uncles Daniel Lee and Victor Wong received the
awards on behalf of Chinese Canadian veterans. I also stood with them
as descendants of Rev. Chan Yu Tan (my great-great-grandfather and
their grandfather) who received a community achievement award for this
work as a pioneer missionary for Chinese communities in BC. Last year I wrote:
Chinese-Canadians that inspired me in 2007
Here is a list of the Chinese-Canadians that I found inspiring in 2008:
The Royal BC Museum created an exhibit to celebrate 150 years of BC
History and BC people, called "Free Spirit". They also created a
life-size photo collage display called " The Party"to
which they invited 150 of BC's most interesting people. The first 132
people were selected by the museum, then in August six invitees were
"voted in" including myself. More people were voted in for November.
Check out "The Party" display at the Royal BC Museum
http://www.freespiritbc.ca/virtualexhibition/theparty.aspx
Cindy Lee (T&T)
Hon. David Lam
James Cheng (architect)
Peter Joe (Sunrise Tofu)
Tong Louie
Todd Wong
Ida Chong MLA
Carol Huyhn Olympic Gold Medalist
Adrienne Wong is an actor. In 2008 she starred in the one woman play "My Name is Rachel Corrie" for Neworld Theatre. It opened in Montreal than played in Vancouver to packed houses for an extended run.
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/1/18/3473659.html
Rhonda Larrabee is my mother's cousin. Rhonda single-handedly re-established the Qayqayt "New Westminster" First Nations Band. Unfortunately she wasn't included in the CBC documentatry Generations: The Chan Legacy, because the executive producer thought that Rhonda's story really deserved her own documentary. Surprise! CTV made a documentary on Rhonda titled "One Women Tribe"
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/3/14/3580742.html
Bill Wong Modernize Tailors - Bill is the octogenarian former UBC Engineering grad who couldn't get hired in post-war Canada because of racism, so he put his energies into his father's tailor shop. Tailor Made is the CBC documentary about Chinatown's Modernize Tailors featuring brothers Bill and Jack Wong and their family story.
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/9/3514584.html
 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 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragonboat team member Steven Wong (son of Bill Wong) were interviewed for a German public television documentary
Tailor Made: CBC TV documentary highlights Modernize Tailors' 80 year history in Vancouver Chinatown
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/12/3520713.html
Grace Chin is a writer/actor. She wrote and performed in "The Quickie" is very Vancouver play about diversity and expectations in relationships. Last year was her first written theatre play with partner Charlie Cho. "The Quickie" is written solo by Grace. Wow... now if only I could get my own writing projects off the back burner!
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/10/3515872.html
Brandy Lien-Worrall - In 2007 Brandy led 2 writing workshops which produced the book Eating Stories: Chinese and Aboriginal pot luck. She also bravely battled breast cancer. Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC honours Brandy Lien-Worrall http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/3/10/3573332.html
Wayson Choy wrote a new autobiography titled Not Yet: A Memoir of Living and Almost Dying. In 2002, I met Wayson when his novel Jade Peony was the inaugural choice for the One Book One Vancouver program. I was on the committee, where I learned that Wayson had almost died earlier that year. We were so fortunate that Wayson's health recovered, and that he has written two more splendid books sinced. The Governor General Award nominated "All That Matters" and now his memoir "Not Yet." Wayson Choy gives "spirited" reading for Vancouver Cultural Olympiad
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/3/12/3577512.html
Chinese-Canadians are top Canadians figure skaters! Patrick Chan and Mira Leung
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/3/24/3599475.html
Patrick Chan, the 17 year old teenager who is Canada's current reigning
Men's National winner finished ninth in his World Championships
debut. Chan only last year had won silver at the World Junior
Championships, and last November won gold at the Grand Prix in Paris.
Mira Leung finished 14th.
Wallace Chung donated his personal collection to UBC. He is a philanthropist, and recipient of Order of Canada and Order of BC... and he loves Chinese Canadian history. Check out this Vancouver Sun story about the Wallace Chung Collection at UBC. $5 million, 25,000 items and UBC = a collection with special meaning
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/5/10/3683632.html
Raymond Louie – ran for the Vision Vancouver's mayor nomination in the spring – and in the fall he was nominated for a NAAAP award. I endorsed Raymond for his nomination: Todd Wong supports Raymond Louie's campaign to be Vancouver Mayor. Raymond came second to Gregor Robertson for the mayor nomination, and on November 15th, he was re-elected to Vancouver City Council with the highest number of votes for councilors. 
Dr. Kerry Jang ran for City Councilor. He is a hard-working community builder, who is also on a national committee for Mental Health, and a professor of Psychiatry at the UBC School of Medicine. It was easy to give my endorsement for Kerry. In 2006 he was named academic of the year. In 2007, he was named to the BC Community Achievement Award. In 2008, he was elected a rookie Vancouver city councilor.
Joyce Lam's Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre put on the Neil Simon play " The Odd Couple" with an all Asian + 1 cast. And she continues producing the annual Asian Comedy Night and Etch-YOUR-SketchOFF
Odd Couple - Friendship with an Asian style twist on the Neil Simon play
check out www.vact.caVictoria celebrates 150 years of Chinese Canadian History with a grand dinner and awards. It was a grand party at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, organized by the Victoria Chinatown Commerce Association. My great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan was awarded a Community Achievement Award. and my grand-uncles Daniel Lee and Victor Wong represented the Chinese-Canadian veterans for their special award. http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/8/11/3833528.html
In Memoriam:Ed WickbergEd Wickberg is known in our community circles as an honourary Chinese Canadian. He was a professor emeritus for the UBC History department. He contributed so much to the understanding of Chinese Canadian history and was the founding president for the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC.
http://www.uglychinesecanadian.com/?p=403Betty HoI met Betty during the writing workshops for the Chinese Canadian Historical Society. Our contributions were published together in the anthology Eating Stories. She always brought smiles and great positive energy wherever she sent. Betty Ho goes to that big kitchen in the sky.
Friday, December 26
Vancouver Sun editorial cartoon proclaims "wear your kilt to work day" followed by "haggis Tuesday"
by
Todd
on Fri 26 Dec 2008 09:22 PM PST
This editorial cartoon ran in the Vancouver Sun, and has now been circulating the e-mails of certain Celtic/Gaelic-Canadian musicians.... with the added quote: "The
Islanders and Highlanders came to this country of Canada----
discovered, settled and governed it. Pipes are used for just about all
special occasions and this is the thanks we get!!!"
I ran the following article on my blog www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com - which is syndicated into some other blog feeders....
Vote for Kilt wearers in the upcoming Vancouver civic election!
Mackinnon... Louie... Deal... Robertson... Chow... It seems an amazing coincidence that the winning 10 elected city councilors and mayor, all attended the 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner: Councilors David Cadman, Raymond Louie, George Chow, Tim Stevenson, Heather Deal, Suzanne Anton, former Councilor Ellen Woodsworth, rookie councilors Andrea Reimer, Geoff Meggs and Kerry Jang + MLA Gregor Robertson, and then current mayor Sam Sullivan (who did not run in the election). Defeated mayor and councilor candidates Peter Ladner and Elizabeth Ball, as well as BC Lee (who did not run) had attended past dinners, along with BC Lee - but they did not attend the 2008 dinner. At the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners... we recognize and respect all our hard-working politicians. They all contribute to a vibrant Vancouver and it is important to recognize their contributions and support to help support our beneficiary organizations: Historic Joy Kogawa House, Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop/Ricepaper magazine, and the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.
Remember:
- The first time we saw Gregor Robertson in a Kilt in 2008 - was at the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner....
- City councilor Raymond Louie declared on Brother Jake's Rock 101
radio show, on January 25th, that Louie would wear a kilt for Gung
Haggis Fat Choy dinner....
- And city councilor Heather Deal came to Doolin's for the March
Kilts Night, and made the motion (seconded by Louie) that City of
Vancouver proclaim Tartan Day for April 6th,
- I put tartan sashes on city councilors Tim Stevenson, George Chow
+ Mayor Sullivan and a mini-skirt on councilor Capri - for a Tartan Day
photo opportunity on April 4th.
- Parks Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon didn't even own a kilt, until after he joined the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team!
Wednesday, December 24
New Vancouver city councilor Geoff Meggs is a good snow-maritan
by
Todd
on Wed 24 Dec 2008 01:27 PM PST
Be nice to strangers.... you never know who you are going to meet.I put my snow tires on my car only after it started snowing in December. I am very happy with my all-season radials. But I knew that with more snow expected last Wednesday it was time to put on my snowies. On Tuesday Dec 16th, I drove to 3 service garages, who all were booked solid until Thursday. But I wasn't going to wait. I went down to Wall-Mart and bought a new tire iron. I had to buy the tire iron, because when I got my present car from my parents last year, I couldn't find the matching tire iron. My dad always takes his cars to the garage to have the tires changed. Personally, I prefer changing my own tire. There are some pretty fancy extendable snow brushes for your car for $29. I decided to upgrade from the little skinny wooden classic for $2.97. I bought a slightly larger plastic one with a foam grip for $4.97 + a new red ice scraper for $1.97. I also looked at the aluminum and steel show shovels for $12.99 and $15.99. I thought it would be good to have an extra shovel for my car... but since we already had the plastic snow shovels at home, I didn't buy one. One week later, I now regret not buying a shovel for my car. But I am glad that I bought the extra kitty litter. My cat is glad too. So... there I was on Monday morning, after the big winter solstice snow storm. I drove into Vancouver to pick up my friend Judy Maxwell who is helping me organize the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner this year. I had to pick up Judy at a place near South False Creek, close to Monk McQueen's Restaurant. Driving down 6th Ave. wasn't bad. The roads were plowed, but the cul-de-sac near where I was meeting Judy was deep. There was loose snow on top of icy hard pack. My car was stuck. I tried to rock it back and forth, but it was still stuck. A SUV came into the cul-de-sac, and I waved to the driver to go around me, as he was headed for the building's covered parking. A few minutes later, the drive came out of the parking lot, and came by to check on me and ask if I needed help. My car was still stuck. "Todd," the stranger exclaimed when he recognized me. The driver was wearing a hat and thick coat. I didn't recognize him in snow gear. "Geoff Meggs" he replied when I asked his name. Geoff was just inaugurated as a Vancouver City Councilor only 2 weeks prior on December 8th, after winning the 9th spot of 10 city councilor positions on November 15th Vancouver Civic Election. See my article: Mayor Gregor Robertson wears kilt to mayoral inauguration
Here's the picture by Patrick Tam, with Geoff Meggs, that I put on my blog.
I've known Geoff for a few years now, after first meeting him at Jenny Kwan's Scotch tasting fundraiser. Geoff came to the Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2008 dinner this year, and we kept crossing paths at other events through 2008. He has always seemed nice and thoughtful, and I was very impressed after watching him during the election at all-candidates meetings. At the Vision Vancouver nominations election that determined who would be the 8 candidates for the Nov. 15th Election, I was standing nearby Geoff and his family when the names were called. It was great to share in the wondeful supportive family vibe that he had with his loved ones. There was such relief and happiness when his name was announced. Anyways.... Geoff quickly helped push my car out of the snow, with the aid of two other fellows walking by. Geoff gave some advice about rocking the car back and forth. With the additional muscles, the car moved more easily out of the stuck snow. Once moving, I didn't dare stop. I waved my arm outside the car window in thanks. I just wanted to share this small tale of Geoff Meggs helping his neighbors and strangers... as a good snow-maritan. I think he's a good man, and I wish him luck for his first term as city councilor.
.
-Vancouver library
worker Todd Wong, with newly elected Vancouver City Councilor Geoff
Meggs, newly-elected Vancouver Parks Commisioner Sarah Blyth, and
Vancouver firefighter Joe Foster - attending the Vision Vancouver
victory party at the Hotel Vancouver on Nov. 15th - photo Todd Wong
Last week, Geoff Meggs was appointed as a liason for the GVRD Labour Relations Bureau, so I also hope that there will be a much more cooperative attitude for the next round of civic labour negotiations than the ones that forced the 3 Vancouver civic unions out on strikes last year. It wasn't fun spending 88 days on the CUPE 391 picket line at Library Square, but I learned a lot. You can read my stories about the Vancouver Library workers strike here: http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/LibraryStrike
Tuesday, December 9
Mayor Gregor Robertson wears kilt to mayoral inauguration
by
Todd
on Tue 09 Dec 2008 11:59 PM PST
He looked dashing at the inauguration ceremony for the new Vancouver mayor and city council at the Sunset Community Centre. The incoming mayor had earlier requested the presence of the Vancouver Pipe Band... but hadn't announced his choice of attire... kilt watchers were wondering.... + pictures
more »
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2010 GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY Dinner
January 31, 2010
Contact Firehall Arts Centre:
phone 604.689.0926
2010 prices
SINGLE TICKET
$60 + $5 service charge = $65
Student price is $50 + $4.50 = $54.50 (must show student high school or university ID)
Children's price is $40 + $4.00 = $44 (ages 13 and under).
Reservations for tables of 10
$600 + lower service charge
WHAT: GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner - 12th Annversary Dinner, celebrating 251st Anniversary of Robert Burns' birth + incoming Chinese New Year of the Tiger.
WHEN:
6PM January 31 2010, SUNDAY
doors open 5pm, Dinner 6pm
WHERE: Floata Chinese Restaurant,
#400-180 Keefer St.
Media Inquiries
Call Gung Haggis Productions / Todd Wong
direct: 778-846-7090
email: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
CULTURE:
Our Performers
create something special for us every year with traditional and contemporary performances featuring everything in-between and beyond!
FOOD: A quirky fusion/mix/buffet of
Scottish Canadian and Chinese Canadian culture 10 course Chinese banguet dinner
2004 - The debut of Gung Haggis Won-Ton
2005 - Haggis lettuce wrap!
2007 - Haggis dim sum appetizer buffet
2008 - Scotch tastings! + debut of Gung Haggis parade dragon!
2009 - debut of Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipes & Drums band + auction of 37 year old special edition Famous Grouse whisky + scotch tastings of Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park.
Watch for more surprises in 2010!
Description of 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC News anchor Gloria Macarenko and Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: bagpiper Joe McDonald and Mad Celts, Silk Road Music's Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault, Opera Soprano Heather Pawsey and DJ Timothy Wisdom, BC Book Prize winner Vancouver poet Rita Wong + poet traslator Tommy Tao, Playwright Adrienne Wong and a scene from "Mixie and The Half-Breeds"
Description of 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: , celtic band Blackthorn, bagpiper Joe McDonald and Brave Waves, Ji-Rong Huang on erhu, Film maker Ann-Marie Fleming, Vancouver poet laureate George McWhirter, Playwright Grace Chin and a scene from "The Quickie"
Description of 2007 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC Radio's Priya Ramu,
featuring performers:
Silk Road Music,
Heather Pawsey,
Brave Waves,
Leora Cashe,
No Luck Club,
Dr. Ian Mason (Burns Club of Vancouver)
Lensey Namioka - Author "Half and Half"
Margaret Gallagher,
"Twisting Fortunes" (sneak preview of play)
Description of 2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
with co-host with CityTV's Prem Gill
featuring performers:
Rick Scott & Harry Wong, The Shirleys, Joe McDonald & Brave Waves, Sean Gunn, author Joy Kogawa,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team
for lots of summer fun, fitness and friendship. We are a social team full of cultural vigor, that likes to eat.
We have been featured on television, local, national and international. We have a unique and internationally famous fundraiser dinner event.
We practice starting March
Sunday 1:30 pm -3:30 pm
Tuesday 6pm-7:45pm
We meet at Dragon Zone clubhouse - just south of Science World in Creekside Park above the Aquabus and dragon boat docks.
Our coach Todd Wong has 15+ years of experience including novice, recreational and competitive levels, and both community and corporate teams.
Our 2008 season took us to races in Burnaby, Vancouver, Vernon, Vancouver Taiwanese race, UBC, Ft. Langley.
It was our strongest team ever and we are proud of our race performances.
For more information:
Click on
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team information
phone: 778-846-7090
e-mail: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
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Vancouver is called one of the "most livable cities" - kite flyers, sailboaters enjoy English Bay from Spanish Banks - photo Todd Wong
Geoff is sitting 2nd from left, beside Kerry Jang, looking up at Andrea Reimer, waiting to receive his "city councilor office bling" - photo Patrick Tam
“Vancouverism is evolving a second and more interesting sense: that of the latent character, the subjective quirks of urban identity hidden behind these shiny façades. Call it the theory, or the legacy, or the idea of Vancouver, but increasingly our writers are producing books that capture this precious moment of self-knowledge, as this good-looking adolescent of a city enters a more complicated young adulthood.
Meredith Quartermain’s new collection of poetry, Vancouver Walking, deals with this latter sense of Vancouverism, her word-images evoking our hidden histories and the textures of our streets, especially on the East Side.
Lance Berelowitz’s Dream City: Vancouver and the Global Imagination deals with the bricks and mortar and geographies of this town, a rah-rah appreciation of our downtown and our more officially sanctioned westerly zones.
Lance Berelowitz is a consultant to the urban development industry who came to Vancouver from his native South Africa in 1985, after a decade studying architecture and working in Europe... The first half of Dream City, in particular has a “Gee whiz, aren’t we bloody marvelous” tone, no doubt born of these prior commissions. “Vancouver is the poster child of urbanism in North America” is his opening sentence, and too much of the book varnishes over that poster with multiple coats of gloss.