Counsellor Anne Roberts with Don Montgomery, executive director for Asian Heritage Month and senior vice-president for Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop
Monthly Archives: February 2005
Shelagh Rogers and Todd Wong hosting Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2005 – photo Ray Shum
Vancouver Chinatown Chinese New Year Parade
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The weather was wonderfully sunny and clear to celebrate the Year of
the Rooster in Chinatown. It was perfect to allow all the
performers to strut their stuff, fluff their feathers, dance their
steps – and the Lion dancers, the Chinese fan dancers, the martial
artists, and the Brazillian dancers all did just that! Fantastic.
This was the first time in many years that I attended the annual
Chinatown parade – and it was the biggest I had ever seen. The
parade began at the Millenium Gate and proceeded up Pender St. to Gore
– turning south to Keefer, then proceeding back to Carrall St. where
the performers ended up in the courtyard of the Chinese Cultural Centre.
I saw Brazillian dancers, Martial artists, chinese fan dancers, Lion
Dancers, lots of dragons, the Carnaval Band, the Dragon Boat
Association even put a teak dragon boat on a trailer and decorated
it. It was led by my friend and dragon boat coaching cohort Bob
Brinson. Earlier on Saturday he phoned me and asked where he
could buy chinese drums. Upon my advice, he went to Dragon
Martial Arts on Pender Street and purchased two smaller sized drums to
create a “drum set” for the dragon boat. Very unique – very
outside the box! Way to go Bob!
After watching the parade, my girlfriend and I went to Tinsel Town for
some food and to check out what was going on there. It was the
busiest I had ever seen Tinsel Town. Lots of booths set up like a
bazzaar. We ate chinese combination plates, then watched the show
below from the 2nd floor. It was then that I was approached by a
family that had attended last year's Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner at
Flamingo restaurant, but couldn't attend this year's dinner at
Floata. They asked questions about this year's dinner, detailing
how much they enjoyed the 2004 dinner. It is always great to
recieve such enthusiastic feedback about the Gung Haggis Fat Choy
dinners.
Deb and I next wandered past the booths in Tinsel town exploring all
the Chinese New Year specials. I bought some Karaoke
DVD's… “Karaoke! exclaimed Deb. You're going to do
Karaoke?” “Yes, I smiled – perfect for our dragon boat team
parties and the the Gung Haggis Fat Choy volunteer appreciation party
coming up.”
We wandered up Keefer St. to Main St. Lion dancers and
firecrackers were still in action, visiting all the stores in
Chinatown, accepting offerings of lettuce and li-see (lucky money red
envelopes). We went to Bamboo Villiage to purchase a bamboo tea
kettle handle for her tea pot. I checked out all the Lion
head masks. The proprietor's recognized me because I was wearing
the chinese jacket I had purchased from them in Sept 2003. “We
are the only ones who sell that style,” they proudly exclaimed.
More lions were dancing, and we saw a young lion climb up the door
frame to grab a lettuce and li-see hung from a string from the 3rd
floor office of the Chinese Benevolent Association – one of the key
associations in the development of Chinatown. Next we stopped in
at Chinese Zodiac Souvenirs – operated by my friend Martin – born and
raised in Xian – the ancient capital of China. “Business is very
good today – Very busy” smiled Martin. He is a gracious man –
well spoken in his quiet english. Further down the street, the
Lion Dancers were recieving the offerings at Jack Chow insurance,
housed in the skinniest building in the world, at the corner of Pender
and Carrall St. Jack was dressed in a red Chinese jacket, taking
pictures from inside his building – that is only about 4 feet wide.
Very exciting – I took a picture.
Pictures will be developed soon, and posted…
D.D. Jackson lectures for the Vancouver Institute at UBC
D.D. Jackson is Canada's foremost Asian-Canadian jazz musician.
Born in Ottawa, to a Chinese Canadian mother and a African-Canadian
father, Jackson went to the US to study classical music and jazz.
The topic was: Can Jazz be Classical and vice-versa.
It was a wonderful lecture that had the featured speaker sitting at the
piano bench and demonstrating his points on the piano. When sound
problems plagued his microphone, Jackson went to the piano to
demonstrate the most successful crossover of jazz becoming classical
music: George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. The audience was
enthralled by his performance. Indeed, it was the most spirited
version of the piece I have ever seen. Usually I see it performed
as an orchestral warhorse for pops concerts. But tonight, it was
a solo piece with dazzling runs and heartfelt emotions. Inspiring
for both the audience and the performer.
With noted Canadian author George Elliot Clarke, Jackson wrote the jazz
opera “Quebecite.” Jackson has numerous jazz albums and recently
recorded his own version of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. He
played some tunes from his latest cd “Signe” and closed with a lovely
Romanticism inspired song called “Summer” and for an encore he played a
Vladimir Horowitz inspired piece called “Rhythm and ?”
During the cd signings after the lecture, my girlfriend and I had the
pleasure of meeting the organizer of Jackson's Vancouver visit –
Timothy Brook – principal of St. John's College UBC. Mr. Brook is
a professor of Chinese history, and we quickly discovered our
mutual friends such as Jan Walls and Sandra Sachs. A gracious
man, he invited us back to the college for a private reception with
D.D. Jackson. I may help set up some celebrations for St. John's
College for Asian Heritage Month in May.
Check out D.D. Jackson's web page at www.ddjackson.com
more later…
Vancouver Sun newspaper addresses the evolution of Chinese New Year
A Holiday in Everything But Name: Chinese New Year is now celebrated locally like never before – is it time to make it official?
Vancouver Sun – February 12 – page D1 & D19
The Vancouver Sun's Kevin Griffin addresses issues
around the evolution of Chinese New Year in Vancouver and Canada.
He asks the question: Should Chinese New Year become an official
holiday?
Griffin also cites how “the uniquely local Canadian
banquet Gung Haggis Fat Choy that mixes and matches Scottish and
Chinese New Year's traditions continues to grow and threatens to morph
into its own festival.”
Griffin interviews Dr. Jan Walls and explores the history of the
Vancouver Chinatown parade that originally emerged in the 1960's, faded
then re-emerged in 1974. He then addresses Toddish McWong's Gung
Haggis Fat Choy and its spin-offs. I have only included the parts about
Gung Haggis Fat Choy and Todd Wong.
“Another multicultural tradition that's 100 percent local is Gung
Haggis Fat Choy, the creation of fifth generation Chinese-Canadian Todd
Wong. The postmodern mix of chinese New Year and Robbie Burns Day
started seven years ago when Wong invited 16 friends for dinner.
Two weeks ago, about 600 people turned out for a feast that included
Haggis Wun-tun in maple syrup at Chinatown's Floata Restaurant.
This past year, Wong added something new to the mix: The first annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy Canadian Games
at SFU that started off with a Highland dance, a tune by a bagpiper and
a Lion Dance. The main event was dragon cart racing with teams
sporting names such as Haggis Hooligans and Fat Choy Chunkies.
Crystal Buchan had the honor of steering the winning team. At 20, she's in her second year in the theatre-finarts program.
Asked if Chinese New Year should be a holiday, Buchan said, “Sure, why not?.”
Todd Wong – aka 'Toddish McWong' – isn't nearly as certain.
'It depends on the will of the people.” Wong said. “It's hard to say at this point.”
In part, Wong's perspective comes from his own family history. He's a descendent of Rev. Chan Yu Tan,
his great-great-grandfather who came to B.C. from Hong Kong in 1896
when immigrants were actively discouraged and had to pay a head tax of
$50 (later increased to $500). Wong recalls growing up in the
1960's and 1970's when Chinese culture was maginalized.
Wong's family history spans the historiy of discrimination towards
Chinese immigrants and the complete prohibition of immigration from
china from 1923 to 1947 with the Chinese Exculsion Act.
Because the emphasis was on fitting in when Wong was growing up int he
late 1960's, his fmaily never celebrated chinese New Year.
He believes that the next challenge for Chinese New Year is not only
to integrate the old and new Chinese Canadian communities but to make
it a uniquely multicultual and Canadian event.
“That's where the future lies,” Wong said. “Canada is an evolving
culture. Lunar New Year will continue to grow and be inclusive –
not just limited to Chinese.”
For more of Kevin Griffin's story in the February 12 Vancouver Sun – pick up a copy or check www.vancouversun.com
The Evolution of Chinese New Year – Vancouver Sun reporter Kevin Griffin interviews Todd Wong
The Evolution of Chinese New Year – Vancouver Sun reporter Kevin Griffin interviews Todd Wong
Chinese New Year is evolving in Canada. No longer is it seen strictly as an ethnic holiday celebrated overseas or within Canada solely by ethnic ex-patriates. It is becoming a uniquely Canadian celebration in many urban centres such as Vancouver. And… it is becoming multicultural.
Vancouver Sun reporter Kevin Griffin interviewed me yesterday over the telephone. I shared with him my experiences of Chinese New Year, growing up in a Canadian multi-generational family that really didn't celebrate the Chinese holiday, as our family had always tried to fit into Canadian society. My maternal grandmother's grand father Rev. Chan Yu Tan would tell his grand children who thought they should skip school like their other Chinese friends – “Go look at the calendar and if Chinese New Year is listed on the calendar as a holiday, then you don't have to go to school.” Of course it was a Canadian calendar in English, and this would have happened about 80 years ago when my grandmother and her brother Daniel Lee were children.
My early memories of Chinese New Year were going to my Aunt Lani's and Uncle Yani's. I called them “Goo Mah” (father's oldest sister) and “Goo Jeung” (father's oldest sister's husband). They had both been raised in Hong Kong – even though Goo Mah had been born in Canada. She married him in Hong Kong, and thus lost her Canadian citizenship rights, and was unable to return to Canada until the mid-1950's after the the Chinese Immigration Act which banned all Chinese Immigration from 1923 to 1947 was repealed.
Chinese New Year at Goo Mah's was filled with many strange foods that my 4th generation Canadian mother did not cook. But I learned to appreciate the wonderful delicacies through the years, and the traditions that Goo Mah brought with her, since my father's parents passed on in the mid 1960's and my mother's mother, also born in Canada, was very westernized.
more later….
My Uncle Daniel Lee, wants an apology from the Canadian Government for the Chinese Head Tax
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My uncle Daniel Lee, wants an apology from the Canadian Government for the Chinese Head Tax My Uncle Dan is one of the sweetest people you will For more information on the Chinese Head Tax – check out the Chinese Canadian National Council's web page for Head Tax Redress Check out the Vancouver Courier website and story by Mike Howell.
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War veteran Daniel Lee is sending off |
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Chinese senior says apology long overdue By Mike Howell-Staff writer At 84, Daniel Lee knows he doesn't have a lot of time left. But while he's still alive, the Second “I'm not asking for money, or any Since the 1980s, Lee has sent letters On Monday, he showed the Courier This year, more than any year, would At the time, the 600 were not When Lee's grandfather and father In Vancouver at the time, Chinese were A 1902 Royal Commission described Lee's father died in 1927, and his Lee pointed out a quote from Wong in During the war, Lee was an aircraft Janice Summerby, a spokesperson for “It would be very hard to comment on A spokesperson for Guarnieri's office, In May, Lee plans to be in Holland for “Over there, we get a lot more respect.” posted on 02/09/2005 |
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Here's another Vancouver Courier story that featured my Uncle Dan along with his friend Roy Mah
Vancouver Chinatown Chinese New Year Parade Feb 13
Vancouver Chinatown Chinese New Year Parade
Feb
13, 2005 (Sunday
12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m.)
Pender St & Carrall St. to Gore St. & Keefer St.
This
Sunday is the annual Vancouver Chinatown Chinese New Year Parade.
It starts at 12 noon and goes until 2pm. Starting from the
Chinatown Millenium Gate (designed by my cousin architect Joe Wai) at
the Western edge of Chinatown near Carrall St. and proceeding East
along Pender St. to Gore St. The parade then moves South to
Keefer St., then proceeds West along Keefer back to Carrall St.
Check out the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Assocation website:
http://www.vancouver-chinatown.com/index.html
Visit www.cbavancouver.ca for more info.
There will be many activities in both Chinatown and the Tinseltown
Complex. At 2pm, check out the Lion Dance demonstrations in the
Chinese Cultural Centre Courtyard beside the entrance to the Dr. Sun
Yat Sen Park.
Info: 604 – 681-1923
604 – 682-8998
World Poetry Gala Feb 11 @ Vancouver Public Library
A Special Invitation To World Poetry Gala Feb. 11!
The World Poetry Reading Series @ the Vancouver Public Library
Fourth Anniversary Gala Celebration!
February 11, 7:30 PM, 2003
Vancouver Public Library,
Alice McKay Room,
250 W. Georgia,
Vancouver, BC
FREE admission
Featuring:
Hosts: Ariadne Sawyer and Alejandro Mujica-Olea.
World Poetry Life Time Achievement Awards For: Addena Sumter Freitag, poet and actress
Dugald Christie, poet and crusader for justice.
World Poetry Special Group Recognition Award: Pandora’s Collective.
Bonnie Nish and Sita Carboni.
Blessings by: Reverend Christine Rowe, English, Shamas Umedaly, Arabic, Rene Hugo Sanchez, Quechwa, Ashok Bhargava, Hindi.
Key speakers and presenters:
Janice Douglas, Director of Programming, Vancouver Public Library.
Naeem “Nick” Noorani, Publisher of The Canadian Immigrant Magazine.
Michelle Lee Williams, editor of The Afro Newspaper.
The Honourable Mr. Justice Duncan Shaw, BC Supreme Court Justice.
Mary Duffy, Children’s Librarian and board member of Pandora’s Collective.
World Poetry Ambassador Medallion:Anita Aguire Nieveras
Woven Word Tapestry Group Poem:
“Oh, Canada” by Alejandro Mujica-Olea In 18 languages.
Music by:
Seamus Gagné, one the top ten Scotish Harpists in North America.
David Campbell, famous Guyana musician, poet and songwriter.
Tamdin Tseten, Traditional Tibetan Singer.
Rene Hugo Sanchez, Award winning musicain and poet from Peru.
Mayo Landicho, Well known singer, singing a song in Tagalog.
Melic Thrum, Vancouver based band.
Tommie Olajide, talented young African drummer.
Contact Person:
Ariadne Sawyer,MA
For media information and general enquires:
Phone: 604-526-4729
ariadnes@uniserve.com
www.ariadnescoaching.com
Asian Canadian Jazz: D.D. Jackson with Peggy Lee & Brad Turner at VCC King Edward Campus
D.D. Jackson with Peggy Lee & Brad Turner
VCC King Edward Campus Auditorium (1155 East Broadway) 8:00 PM
Feb 5th, 2005
Ottawa-born, New York-based jazz pianist/composer D.D. Jackson is one
of the most exciting artists on the contemporary music scene. He is
part of a new generation of players who, while respectful of jazz
tradition is also seeking to move the language forward. Over the course
of eleven CD releases, Jackson has developed a musical lexicon which,
while hinting at a variety of styles and influences, is nevertheless
very much his own, at times rhythmically charged, at other times
graceful, soulful and delicate.
Jackson has received several awards including the National Jazz Awards
Socan Composer/Songwriter of the Year, six JUNO Award nominations, the
2000 JUNO for Best Contemporary Jazz Album, and has been voted #1
Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition for Piano in the Down Beat
Critics Poll. This year Jackson was awarded Canada Council Grant to
orchestrate his major large-scale work for jazz/classical ensemble
called Suite for New York. As a sideman, the pianist has performed with
some of the most important names in contemporary jazz such as David
Murray, Jane Bunnett, James Carter, Chico Freeman and Dewey Redman.
In 2003 Jackson premiered a new jazz opera entitled Québécité (libretto
by the acclaimed Canadian poet George Elliot Clarke) at the Guelph Jazz
Festival, followed by performances presented in Vancouver by Coastal
Jazz & Blues Society. Both Brad Turner and Peggy Lee were members
of the opera’s five member musical ensemble and played significant
roles in the opera’s critical success.
Brad Turner is a JUNO Award winning Vancouver-based musician and one of
the most prominent jazz players in the country. Although primarily
recognized as a terrific trumpet player, Brad is also an excellent
pianist and drummer. The Globe and Mail wrote “he’s kind of a Miles
Davis, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett rolled into one” Besides
leading his own groups he co-leads the highly popular electric quartet
Metalwood. Turner has also performed with such artists as Wynton
Marsalis, Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Mino Cinelu, Renee Rosnes and Joe
Williams.
Peggy Lee is a magnificent Vancouver-based cellist and one of Canada’s
leading improvisers. Her wide ranging credits include Talking Pictures,
new music ensemble Standing Wave, singer/songwriter Veda Hille, and the
Vancouver Opera. As an improviser she has shared the stage with many of
the world’s best players: Dave Douglas, Louis Sclavis, Butch Morris,
John Wolf Brennan and Barry Guy. She plays with astonishing dedication
and intense lyricism. Writing in the Georgia Straight Alex Varty
remarked that “Lee has won an international following for the strength
and beauty of her improvisational style.” Since 1998 Lee has led her
own six-piece group that performs her original compositions that
explore the interesting area between the melodic and the abstract.
Tickets $12/10 Students, Snrs., Jazz Friends at Ticketmaster, Highlife Records or through the Jazz Hotline at 604 872-5200.
D.D. Jackson web site www.ddjackson.com