Todd at BC Fed convention on Tuesday

Inspiration comes to BC Fed convention on Thursday

Carole James and Todd Wong at the BC Fed social on Thursday evening - photo T.Wong/R. Sihota.

MACKINNON, Stuart

GRN

48415

Good friends rejoice: Andrea Reimer, Stuart Mackinnon and Andrea's daughter - photo Todd Wong

"You beat Andrea's numbers!" exclaimed Andy Miller - Andrea's husband and Stuart Mackinnon's sign man.  In the 2002 Vancouver civic election, Andrea Reimer grabbed the final 9th spot for Vancouver School Board with 44951 votes - the highest vote count for an elected civic Green.  Stuart's 48415 for 2008 Vancouver Parks Board beat that number by 3464.  For the 2008 election, Andrea ran as a council candidate for Vision Vancouver and received 59148.

"I'm overwhelmed," said Mackinnon on Sunday afternoon.  He was spending some time visiting his father when I called him by cellphone.  "My father is very happy for me," he shared. Stuart's paternal grandfather George Ernest Lawson Mackinnon had been the Kootenay East member of parliament for the National Government party (Conservatives) from 1940-45.

"I never expected to win," Stuart admitted, even though advance polls had the COPE/Vision/Green slate leading in races for council, parks board and school board.  Mackinnon was the only Green party member on the combined slate. He is only the 3rd ever Green Party member elected in the Metro Vancouver area.  During the campaign when I had asked him who his campaign manager was, "You're looking at him." was his reply.  Mackinnon had a very small but dedicated campaign team of volunteers consisting of friends and team members from the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.  There had been no party headquarters or staffers for the civic Green Party.  Mackinnon ran his campaign from his newly bought formerly owned small condominium which he shares with his faithful Shiba Inu dog friend named Kiku.

In 2005 Stuart Mackinnon received 37824 votes for 14th place, 6738 votes behind COPE's Spencer Herbert who received 44562 votes.  The previous highest vote count for a Green Party Parksboard candidate was 32613 in 2002 for Catherine Carter who finished 4 places out of winning in 11th spot - but she still beat two NPA parks candidates.  In 1999, Roslyn Cassells was elected to the Vancouver Parks Board for the Green Party with 31, 694 votes.
When the COPE / Vision / Green slate was released on September 9th, I predicted that the Green Party was the big winner.  Read my article: Vision/COPE/Greens make a civic slate deal... Stuart Mackinnon of the Green Party is the real winner! 

In the 08 Election, COPE's Bill Bargeman, Alvin Singh and Anita Romaniuk were the only COPE members' of the slate not to be elected, while councilor David Cadman, school trustees Alan Wong, Alan Blakely, and parks commissioner Loretta Woodcock were re-elected, with the addition of former councilor Ellen Woodsworth and former school trustee Jane Bouey.  COPE was 6 for 9.

Vision went 15 for 16, with all candidates elected except for councilor candidate Kashmir Dhaliwal.
To capture the public's imagination, Stuart was the only candidate seen in a kilt during campaigning.
Stuart knocks on doors and delivers pamphlets - photo courtesty S. Mackinnon.

Stuart wore his "full dress" formal outfit to the Vision Vancouver dinner at Floata Restaurant: Todd Wong, Sharon Gregson (Vision candidate for School Board), Stuart Mackinnon.

Stuart is an avid participant on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team and Kilts Night.  He also is the teacher sponsor for the Killarney Cougar Dragons junior dragon boat team.  Stuart was featured in the German public television program "From Toronto to Vancovuer by Train" with the Gung Haggis dragon boat team. He has appeared many times in pictures and articles on www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com. 

Last days of campaigning in Vancouver

It's the last day of campaigning for the Vancouver civic election.  There have been lots of surprises.  There have been lots of meet and greets. I even delivered a few pamphlets for Stuart Mackinnon, our Gung Haggis paddler who is running for Vancouver Parks Board.  Here are some of the candidates I have bumped into this past week.

Alan Wong hands out flyers at Champlain Square with his mother.  Alan is running for his 3rd term on Vancouver School Board.  I first met him in 2002 with Andrea Reimer, Alan Blakely and Jane Bouey when I did a presentation to the VSB for Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society. - photo Todd Wong

COPE school board incumbent/candidate Sharon Gregson met Corporal Lashambe at the Billy Bishop Legion on Remembrance Day - photo Todd Wong

Ellen Woodsworth former city councilor and current COPE council candiate shares an umbrella with Jenny Kwan at the Chinatown Remembrance Day ceremonies. - photo Todd Wong

 

Lt. Gov. Steven Point acknowledges the Chinese Canadian veterans for their support of Aboriginal veterans at Chinatown Remembrance Day ceremony

It was a special day at the Chinatown Remembrance Day ceremonies with the presence of Lt. Gov. Steven Point and Her Honour Mrs. Gwendolyn Point.  This was the first time in the 5 year history of the Chinatown Remembrance Day ceremonies that a Lt. Gov. had attended.  Traditionally, the First Nations veterans have always been included.  Last year in 2007, a special First Nations tobacco ceremony was included featuring First Nations veteran Louis Schmidt.

Lt. Gov. Steven Point addresses the crowd - photo courtesy Patrick Tam

This year's crowd was the largest yet for the Chinatown Remembrance Day ceremonies.  It was coordinated by Pacific Unit 280's

Alfred Woo with SUCCESS and MCed by SUCCESS executive director Tung Chan. 

My grand-uncle Daniel Lee is the first to place a wreath at the monument for Chinese Canadian Veterans.  He is currently president of Pacific Unit 280 and is the only Chinese Canadian veteran to receive Awards of Merit, Appreciation and Service - photo Todd Wong

Read my 2004 story about Daniel Lee: Nov 11 - Chinese Canadian Veterans: My Uncle Dan

I attended the ceremonies with my new friend - author Susan Crean - photo courtesy Patrick Tam

After the outdoor ceremonies, Pacific Unit 280 always goes for lunch to Foo's Ho Ho restaurant.  I introduced  Susan Crean to Alex Louie who is the subject of the NFB film Unwanted Soldiers. The film documents how Canada did not want Chinese-Canadians as soldiers, but was reluctantly forced to accept them.  The film was made by Louie's daughter Jari Osborne.  Susan lives in Toronto and knows Louie's other daughter there, the composer Alexina Louie.

Lt. Gov. Steven Point, Col. Howe Lee, City Councilor Raymond Louie and Lt.Cdr. King Wan - photo Todd Wong

At the conclusion of the lunch, Lt. Gov. Steven Point thanked Pacific Unit 280.  He said "In my culture, we always thank the cook with a song."  He and his wife Gwendolyn Point, then began tapping the plates with forks to simulate a drum beat, and encouraged the veterans to do so.  They then began singing a First Nations song for the restaurant owner/cook Joanne. It was a very special highlight and everybody was touched by the graciousness and warmth of the Lt. Governor.

See my pictures on Flickr:

Remembrance Day 2008

NAAAP Vancouver wanted to put their 2008 Spotlight on Leadership Celebration on newsmakers "who innovate, educate and collaborate" to make Metro Vancouver a better community

Wednesday
November 5th
7-9pm

Robert Fung
Honouree Business and Professional Achievement
Developer, heritage and sustainability advocate

Harry Aoki
Honouree Arts and Media
Composer, Musician

Maggi Ip
Honouree Community Service and Cultural Promotion
Co-founder of SUCCESS

Nominees attending
Anna Fung
Joyce Lam
Karin Lee
Raymond Louie
Indira Prahst

It was amazing to discover that so many of my friends were nominated.
I first met Robert Fung when he was chair of the Canadian International Dragon Boat Society when I was on the race committee in 2001. I have known Maggie Ip, mostly through her husband Kelly, and because of both their community work.  Harry has been a wonderful musical friend since 2002 when he first attended a Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner, and we have performed together many times since.  He has been a valuable advisor for the Save Kogawa House campaign.

Raymond Louie, Vancouver city councilor was a nominee for community service and cultural promotion.  Here he watches the events, sitting between Harry Aoki and Robert Fung, with Maggis Ip - photo Todd Wong

Nominees Anna Fung, Joyce Lam, Indira Prahst and Karin Lee - photo Todd Wong

I've known Raymond Louie since 2002, when I first met his wife when she was on the board of Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society.  Since then, Raymond and I continue to cross paths on many issues and events.  He was a big supporter of our "Save Kogawa House" campaign.  This year, I was a member of his committee for his bid to win the mayoral nomination for Vision Vancouver.

I first met Joyce Lam when she was one of NAAAP's event coordinators.  It has been a pleasure to attend her events for Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre where she is founder and president.

Karin Lee is a film maker, and I got to know her during the 2005-2006 campaign for Chinese Head Tax Redress. Last year, we featured her as a guest presenter at a Canadian Club Vancouver luncheon for Asian Heritage Month.

I met Anna Fung earlier this year in April, when we both received BC Community Achievement Awards from Premier Gordon Campbell at Government House.

See more pictures on my Flickr account:

NAAAP Spotlight on Leadership

Which Parks Board candidate will you choose?

COPE?  Vision Vancouver?  Green Party?  NPA?  Independent?
How about one of each, then your next favorite!

Stuart Mackinnon, Green Party candidate and paddler on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team, answers a question about accessibility to parks, and speaks to the audience.  - photo Todd Wong

The candidates for Vancouver Parks Board have been making the rounds visiting Community Centres, and other all-candidates debates.  On Monday night, they were at Killarney Community Centre.  On Tuesday night, they were at Kerrisdale Community Centre.

Christopher Richardson (NPA) listens to Loretta Woodcock (COPE) address an issue. - photo Todd Wong

The evening opened with each candidate having a few short minutes to introduce themselves.  Aaron Jasper and Raj Hundal represented the Vision Vancouver Party.  Incumbent Loretta Woodcock and former parks commissioner Anita Romaniuk represented COPE.  NPA were represented by Laura McDiarmid, Marty Zlotnik, Sharon Urton, Christopher Richardson, Ian Robertson, Melissa De Genova. 

NPA has the oldest and youngest candidates for Parks with incumbent Marty Zlotnik, and first time candidate Melissa De Genova - photo Todd Wong

Stuart Mackinnon is the only Green Party candidate in the 2008 Vancouver civic election.  Ivan Doumenc of the Work Less Party, as well as independents Jamie Lee Hamilton, Thomas Lockhart and Richard Mayencourt.

I've known Thomas Lockhart for a few years, since I first met him at a Kilts Night event. - photo Todd Wong

It was a busy night, I arrived just before 8pm, on a night when many people were more interested in the U.S. Presidential election results. 

There were about 50 to 60 people attending, and I could count 6 active dragon boaters in the room + 3 of the candidates that I had tried to recruit for our team.

With 15 candidates attending, the moderator did a good job of spreading out the answers from the candidates as she tried ensure that that everybody got a chance to address the issues.

If you wanted to ask a question, you had to write it down and hand it to a handler - where it was inspected for suitability.

My question was:

It was the most popular question of the evening for the candidates as many of them wanted to answer it.  Raj Hundal gave an example of how the Roundhouse had recently celebrated the Diwali Festival, and how important it is for ethnic communities to become involved with the community centres.

Aaron Jasper answers a question while Raj Hundal looks on.

Two of the more emotional highlights of the evening were 1) a question about the Hollow Tree, and 2) a question about limiting transportation use in Stanley Park.

Stuart Mackinnon gave a very good example of how many factors all play roles in transportation issues.  He cited that one of the tour operators has given tours to the special needs teens that he teaches at Killarney Secondary School, as a way to "give back to the community."  There are many factors, and Mackinnon emphasized that stake holders must be included in the process.

My question that did not get asked was deemed "beyond jurisdiction" and a "labour issue."  I had wanted to ask that "given the long civic strike last year, how would each of the candidates and their party work to avoid or address the loss of important services such as community centres, pools, ice rinks and libraries to our citizens.

It's unfortunate that the question could not be asked, because it was terribly painful to see our parks grow steadily neglected and the trees dry out because of the protracted civic strikes caused by the inability of the GVRD labour relations bureau to negotiate fairly and reasonably, as they consistently walked away from talks with each of the three civic unions.  It was a shame that only a few weeks after schools let out for summer that the swimming pools were closed, and that all the summer community programs were closed, leaving children and their parents to find alternatives if possible. 

I had followed the library strike carefully, since I was a Vancouver library employee forced onto the picket line, because the GVRD labour relations bureau wasn't going to deal with our small CUPE 391 local, until it had completed its priority with the two larger CUPE 15 and CUPE 1004 (city inside and outside workers) first.

The protracted civic strike was a lose-lose-lose scenario. The citizens lost.  The workers lost, and the NPA dominated city council and mayor looked like bullies.  All the municipalities surrounding Vancouver were able to settle with their workers leaving Vancouver the only city forced into an unnecessary strike.  For this coming election, it will be important to elect progressive parks board commissioners and city councilors who will look for solutions instead of confrontation. 

Two weeks into the strike last year, it was Vision councilor Raymond Louie who called for mediation - which was rejected by NPA councilors.  Three months later, the strikes are solved by mediation - almost 90 days later.  For these reasons, I am supporting the COPE / Vision / Green candidates for the Vancouver civic election + the fact that I think they are accomplished individuals, and wonderful people.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team is BUSY this Sunday:
Paddler Stuart Mackinnon is running for Vancouver Parksboard
Paddler Dan Seto is giving a reading for Heart of the City Festival.

Gung Haggis paddler Stuart Mackinnon is running for Vancouver Parks Board.  Here he poses with his good friend Andrea Reimer who is running for Vancouver City Council - photo Todd Wong

For the past two Sundays, Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team continues to paddle for fun and fitness, after our last "race" at the Ft. Langley Canoe Club Cranberry Festival Regatta.  We have paddled to David Lam Park, then to Granville Island, here we have docked the boat and gone for a refreshing drink of juice, coffee, hot chocolate or even sake. 

Tomorrow Sunday Nov. 2nd is a very busy day, so it is important that we know how many paddlers are coming.   We have moved the 1:30 practice back to 3:00 to try to accommodate paddlers activities - so please contact Stephen Mirowski to indicate if you can attend.

Some team members are helping Stuart Mackinnon in the morning put his pamphlets in neighborhoods, as Stuart is running for Vancouver Parksboard for the Nov. 15th Civic election.  If you would like to help - please contact Stuart or Julie Wong: 

On Sunday, Stuart will be speaking at the all candidates Parks board meeting at the Roundhouse community centre, while paddler Dan Seto does a reading at the Chinese Benovolent Society.  I might also be reading along with Dan, as I have been asked to be a last-minute stand-in for fellow writer Shirley Chan.  We will be reading from the book Eating Stories: A Chinese Canadian and Aboriginal Potluck.

Please check out both of these worthy events:

CHINESE CANADIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY WRITERS
Sunday November 2, 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, 108 E. Pender 3rd floor

ALL CANDIDATES MEETING for Park Board Commissioners.
presented by Roundhouse Community
Arts and Recreation Society
Sunday, November 2, 2008
2:00pm to 4:00pm
(Performance Centre)

It was a wonderful evening at the 10th Anniversary celebration dinner for the Chinese Canadian Military Museum. I attended the dinner with my friends Stuart Mackinnon and George Jung.  We sat with Chinese American WW2 veterans from Seattle.  Peggy Lee-Wong, one of the first Chinese-Canadian women to serve in WW2, also sat with us.
Read my article about the dinner event created last year to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Canadian Citizenship
Chinese Canadian Veterans dinner May 12 - celebrating 60th anniversary of Canadian Citizenship

Vancouver Parks Board candidate Stuart Mackinnon blends multiculturalism with Green Party environmental issues.

Stuart Mackinnon is active.  He speaks out on issues. He attends Parks board meetings. He has been a thorn in the NPA side, to make sure they follow proper democratic process.

The first time I met Stuart, it was through his blog Better Parks.  He was writing about naming the proposed "Selkirk Park" at 72nd St.  Whether it became Obasan Park or David Suzuki Park, Stuart wanted and helped to make it more of a democratic process.  Stuart has fought against the privatizing of parks, such as against the imposition of high priced restaurants at Kitsilano Beach and English Bay.

Stuart is a teacher at Killarney Secondary School.  He teaches special needs.  He was vice-president of his Vancouver Teachers Federation Local 392.1, of the BCTF.  Stuart is amazing.  Last year he took a group of teachers to China, where he delivered a key note talk about Norman Bethune as an organizer for the "Follow Dr. Norman Bethune to China Committee."

Stuart Mackinnon with COPE school board candidate Bill Bargeman.  Stuart was vice-president with Bill's presidency for Vancouver Teachers' Federation local 39.2 BCTF - photo Todd Wong

Stuart is passionate about what he believes in.  He joined our dragon boat team last year, loved the intercultural process and the fitness opportunities it presented - then almost immediately asked how to create a junior dragon boat team for Killarney high school students, then guided them to a silver medal in their first year of competition.  That's Stuart - a man of action, while thinking how to be a team builder, and ensure that every person is included and feels empowered. 

And along the way, he realized more the importance of Vancouver's False Creek's waterways and parks as important to our recreational activities.  And he saw first hand the pollution that threatened this important recreational jewel, when unacceptable "accidents dumped raw sewage into False Creek".  Stuart Mackinnon thinks big picture.  Stuart Mackinnon thinks long range.  Stuart Mackinnon thinks community and environment first.

Stuart is Scottish - of Scottish descent.  I am of Chinese descent.    Vancouver has a large Chinese population.  Vancouver has a large multicultural population.  He participates actively on our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.  He understands multiculturalism. This is what we need for our city and for our community centres.  Stuart is president of the Canada China Education Association

Stuart Mackinnon with Charlie Wu of the Taiwanese Cultural Festival (Stuart LOVES the Taiwanese dragon boats), and City Councilor Raymond Louie and son - photo Todd Wong

It's important to have a Green candidate on the slate.  It's important to have a diversity of ideas - and especially to represent our environment.  Our environment isn't just about trees and grass, it is also about our culture and our history.  I believe that Stuart Mackinnon will be honorable in supporting these values.  Stuart genuinely cares about our environment and is a past president of  SPEC (the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation) and past chair for Vancouver Green Party.

During the Vancouve civic strike, Stuart supported CUPE 15, 1004 and 391 and our issues.  He knows the importance that hard working and loyal city workers can make.  He knows that we put our hearts and souls into the pride of our jobs.  Stuart Mackinnon will listen.  He will be inclusive,  He will be supportive of city workers, but more important, he will be empowering.  I believe in Stuart.  He will be honourable.

Stuart with Constance Barnes (Vision Parks board candidate) and Andrea Reimer (Vision city council candidate) sitting: Julie, Marion and Todd Wong from the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team - photo T.Wong 

Check out Stuart Mackinnon's website: www.betterparks.ca

Vision Vancouver shows off it's connections with Vancouver's cultural diversity: Sikh, Taiwanese, First Nations, Chinese pioneers, and even Scottish!

Vancouver & District Labour Council endorses progressive candidates for Nov 15 civic elections in Vancouver, Richmond and North Vancouver.

Vancouver community leaders: Todd Wong (CUPE 391), Bill Saunders (VDLC president), George Chow (Vancouver City Councilor and Ben West (Green Party Chair) - photo Todd Wong

It was my first meeting as a delegate for CUPE 391, Vancouver Library Workers, who recently joined the Vancouver & District Labour Council.  The meetings are held at the Vancouver Maritime Labour Centre, which I first visited as a guest speaker for a human rights themed meeting for the VDLC a few years ago, while I was active on the Save Kogawa House campaign.  This time, I was sworn in as a delegate along with fellow CUPE 391 library worker Lily Gee.  I am on the CUPE 391 executive as a member at large.

It was an exciting evening as many of the local politicians came to be introduced, and to speak to the labour council which includes and affiliates with 106 unions and union locals including CUPE, CAW, Hospital Employees Union , BCGEU, BC Nurses, Public Service Alliance, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers' Union, Telecommunications Workers' Union, United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union + many more.  It is a union of unions.

On my arrival I chatted with North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto, who I had recently seen only a week before at our 30 year Carson Graham High School Reunion.  He introduced me to his fellow North Van City councilors Sam Schecter and Craig Keating as well as candidate Cheryl Leia.  Darrell is running for re-election and will be acclaimed as he is unopposed, but still he was there to accept endorsement from the V&DLC.

I checked in with V&DLC president Bill Saunders, whom I first met when he was an organizer of the "Anniversaries of Change" program which recognized the 1907 Chinatown Riot by Anti-Asian labourers.  Bill was a big supporter of the CUPE 391 Vancouver Library Workers strike action, and when he visited our picket line at the Word on the Street Festival, he sang along to "O Solo Mio" as I played my accordion.

North Vancouver contingent: Craig Keating (North Vancouver City councilor), Cheryl Leia (NVC councilor candidate), Darrell Mussatto (NVC Mayor), Sam Schechter (NVC councilor). - photo Todd Wong

Soon many of the Vancouver candidates for council, parks board and school board arrived.  I have gotten to know many of them over the past years through my community work for Joy Kogawa House, Asian Canadian Writers's Workshop and Chinese Head Tax campaign.  As well, many of them like to attend my Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner event.  It is always good to see Ellen Woodsworth, Heather Deal, Raymond Louie and David Cadman who gave great assistance and support for the Save Kogawa House campaign.  Andrea Reimer, Kerry Jang and Aaron Jasper are also wonderful people that I really enjoyed getting to know, and was pleased to give them endorsements for the nomination candidacy for the Vision Vancouver nomination elections.

It was an exciting meeting because the Vision/COPE/Green slate for Vancouver civic election was to be introduced and endorsed.  The meeting started and Vancouver candidates were introduced first.  City council, school board and parks board candidates were introduced respectively by party.

George Chow spoke for the Vision councilors and David Cadman spoke for the COPE councilors.  Both emphasized how difficult negotiations for the three civic unions had been under the NPA dominated Vancouver city council.  David Cadman spoke how the unions were not treated fairly when the GVRD Labour Relations Bureau walked away from negotiations.  Both he and Chow promised that both Vision and COPE sought to build better relations with their civic employees.  This was a theme that was also echoed later by North Vancouver City Mayor Darrell Mussatto and councilor Craig Keating, when they shared that North Vancouver City had avoided strikes by working with their unions in respect and fairness for bargaining.

Sharon Gregson spoke for Vision School Board candidates and Bill Bargeman represented COPE candidates.  For Parks Board, Aaron Jasper spoke for Vision and Loretta Woodcock spoke for COPE.    Both Jasper and Woodcock gave very impassioned talks that emphasized the importance of the Vancouver civic workers, as well as paying attention to Vancouver's cultural diversity.

Stuart Mackinnon, Parks Board candidate for the Green Party was unable to attend, and had asked me to represent him as we are friends.  I spoke about Stuart's activism in attending Parks Board meetings and his citizen involvement in parks issues such as the democratic naming of future parks and his criticism of park privatization such as the concession stands and Watermark Restaurant.  I shared that Stuart was a union brother, as a school teacher at Killarney Secondary School, and as a former vice-president of CUPE 392 of the BC Teachers Federation.  Afterwards, I was complimented on giving Stuart such as strong introduction and endorsement.

Vancouver candidates: Kerry Jang (city council candidate), Ellen Woodsworth (city council candidate), Anita Romaniuk (Parks Board candidate) - photo Todd Wong

The Vision / COPE / Green Vancouver city council slate has an amazing amount of cultural diversity.  George Chow, Kerry Jang and Raymond Louie have Chinese ancestry and Kashmir Dhaliwal is South Asian. Tim Stevenson is gay, Ellen Woodsworth is lesbian and Raymond Louie's wife has Scottish ancestry... as does Heather Deal.  I have also managed to get kilts on Deal, Louie, and Stevenson, but only tartan sashes so far on George Chow and Ellen Woodsworth.  David Cadman has been involved nationally and internationlly with the United Nations Association.  All the councilor candidates including Geoff Meggs and Andrea Reimer attended the 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner with the exception of Kashmir Dhaliwal.

The Vancouver School Board slate includes Ken Clement - of Ktunaxa First Nations, Alvin Singh - South Asian ancestry, and Allan Wong - Chinese ancestry.  I first met Al Blakey, Jane Bouey and Allan Wong when I did a Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society presentation for the Vancouver School Board back in 2002.  I have also since met Sharon Gregson, Alvin Singh and Bill Bargeman.

The Vancouver Parks Board slate is very ethnic-culture cool!  Constance Barnes is Afro-Canadian, the daughter of Emery Barnes - former speaker of the BC Legislature, and she is operations manager for the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens.  Raj Hundal is Sikh, and last night explained to me some of the traditions that I didn't know. Aaron Jasper's wife is South Asian, and they both were volunteers at the 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner.  Stuart Mackinnon has spent more time in China than I have, but he didn't own a kilt until after he joined the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.  I've also met Loretta Woodcock and Anita Romaniuk over the years.  Sarah Blyth tracked me down for our introductions at this year's Taiwanese Cultural Festival and I hope to get this skateboarder onto a dragon boat sometime soon.

Here is the list of endorsed candidates by the Vancouver & District Labour Council for Vancouver, Richmond and North Vancouver:

Vancouver City Mayor             
Gregor Robertson                       Vision

Vancouver City Council            
George Chow                             Vision
Heather Deal                              Vison
Kashmir Dhaliwal                       Vision
Kerry Jang                                 Vision
Raymond Louie                          Vision
Geoff Meggs                              Vision
Andrea Reimer                           Vision
Tim Stevenson                            Vision
David Cadman                            COPE
Ellen Woodsworth                      COPE

Vancouver City Parks Board    
Constance Barnes                       Vision
Sara Blyth                                   Vision
Raj Hundal                                  Vision
Aaron Jasper                               Vision
Anita  Romaniuk                          COPE
Loretta Woodcock                      COPE
Stuart Mackinnon                         Green
                                                  
Vancouver City School Board   
Patti Bacchus                                Vision
Ken Clement                                Vision
Sharon Gregson                            Vision
Mike Lombardi                             Vision
Al Blakey                                      COPE
Allan Wong                                   COPE
Jane Bouey                                   COPE
Bill Bargeman                                COPE
Alvin Singh                                    COPE

North Vancouver City Mayor   
Darrell Mussatto

North Vancouver City Council  
Craig Keating
Sam Schechter
Kelly Neilson
Rod Clark
Mary Trentadue
Cheryl Leia

North Vancouver District Council   
Robin Hicks
John Fair
Roger Bassam
David Magee
 
North Vancouver School Board  
 - North Vancouver City                      
Lynda Buchaman
Chris Dorais
Susan Skinner
- North Vancouver District                 
Chief Ian Campbell
Cindy Gerlach
Franci Stratton
Jane Thornthwaite

Richmond City Council            
Harold Steves   (RCA)
Linda Barnes     (RCA)
David Reay       (RCA)
Sue Halsey Brandt  (RITE)
Evalina Halsey Brandt  (IND)

Richmond City School Board   
Rod Belleza  (RITE)

Over the past two years, I have seen Don Davies mature from a shy potential candidate when I first met him at one of Meena Wong's dim sum lunches. Don has become a more assertive - yet still humble and hardworking victorious winner. Genuinely concerned about others, he is a thoughtful quiet man with the heart of a lion. "There was nobody in that room more surprised than me," Don shared with me after his victory party, when I drove him back to his car at the house where he had been watching the early election returns.   more »

There is an "Anybody But Conservative" mood in BC this week. The Tyee has published it's story: Tyee's Strategic Voters' Guide: A riding-by-riding look at pros and cons of voting 'anyone but Harper' in BC, and the Georgia Straight has printed The Straight slate to stop Stephen Harper. First of all, I hate negative campaign advertising. All I have been getting from Conservative ads are why the other guys are not vote worthy, without the Conservatives saying why they are vote worthy.   more »

Louie, Chow, Jang and Dhaliwal are nominated by Vision Vancouver to run for
a diverse Vancouver City Council.

Campaign sign for the joint slate of Kashmir Dhaliwal, Kerry Jang and Andrea Reimer at the voting site at Sir Charles Tupper School - photo courtesy of Patrick Tam - Flunging Pictures

It was a very happy party for the Vision Vancouver nominations results party last night at Science World. It was great to see so many faces that help make Vancouver such as vital and creative city.  People like Naomi Singer - creator of Winter Solstice festival and Paul Wong - video artist, as well as Paul Faoro- president of CUPE 15, and Alex Youngberg - president of CUPE 391 Vancouver Library Workers.  And I happily made a new friend with Jennifer Sweeney, who is Director and Co-Chair of the Campaign School for Canadian women Voters Congress.

I went down to check out the action at Tupper at 6:30pm, and saw many candidates and supporters all greeting the incoming voters with flyers.  It was like a Chinese night market as people called out "vote for (fill in blank), hawking their preferred vote.  I was greeted by Kerry Jang, Raymond Louie and Andrea Reimer - 3 of the councilor candidates that I gave personal endorsements to.  Then a nice enthusiastic hug from Constance Barnes who is running for Parks board.  I know Constance from her job as manager at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens.  She is a warm friendly person whom whenever I talk with, I know I want to get to know her better.

After voting from 10am to 7pm at Charles Tupper, the candidates and their support teams all headed to Science World expecting results announcements for 10pm - just in time for the late evening news.  I arrived after 9: