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)