Battery Opera AGM + Bob's Lounge performance with homage to Kate Bush
Here's a message from friends Lee Su-Feh & David McIntosh
this friday, september 16, 2005
battery opera respectfully requests your presence at
our town café
245 east broadway (just east of main street, adjacent to kingsway)
for the annual general meeting and event!
(another business/pleasure occasion for battery opera performing arts
society)
battery opera performing arts society is a non-profit organisation and
as such needs your support!
your membership and your attendance at our annual general meeting makes
a difference to us. it shows our funding bodies (in a measurable way) that there is
community support for the arts and support for companies such as
battery opera.
without it, our work would not be possible.
so, we invite you to join us for the AGM and stay for The Event. last
year's AGM/event was swell and featured BOB's Lounge (aka the battery
opera band), lederhosen, and guests. This year, watch out for more
special guests (including a lederhosen redux) and Bob's Lounge homage
to Kate Bush (!).
friday, september 16, 2005
6:30 pm registration
7:00 pm AGM business
7:30 pm the event!
the event features:
BOB's Lounge: two men, one horn, many drinks
with special guests
$10 (includes membership)
to RSVP, or for more information
contact us at 604.688.8583 or info@batteryopera.com
if you are unable to attend the AGM but would like to become a member
anyway, please contact us or send $5 (cheque payable to "battery opera
performing arts society") to:
battery opera performing arts society
#712 - 207 west hastings street
vancouver, bc
canada V6B 1H7
donations are also very welcome (via our secure website, or by mailing
a cheque as above).
battery opera is a non-profit society and a Canadian registered
charity.
tax receipts will be issued at your request.
About battery opera
The work of battery opera comes out of a dynamic dialogue between two
artists from different disciplines, cultures and histories. The
encounter between opposing tensions creates work that is beautiful,
jarring, sacred and profane. Winner of the 2003 Alcan Award for Dance,
battery opera has received international acclaim with its sometimes
challenging, always thought-provoking work.
Why battery? Because it is small, practical, yet contains within it the
polarities of positive and negative, male and female, yin and yang.
Why opera? Because it is big, impractical and contains within it the
polarities of life and death, love and fear, hope and despair.
thank-you.
Lee Su-Feh & David McIntosh
Artistic Directors
Joyce Rosario
Communications and Administrative Coordinator
Monthly Archives: September 2005
Terry Fox Run: TV stories… Darrell Fox on treadmill at BC Cancer Agency
My
friend Aislynn Drysdale paddled this year on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy
dragon boat team. She also works at the BC Cancer Agency, and
made arrangements for City TV to do a story with Darrell Fox. She is also planning on running the Terry Fox Run and is welcoming pledges. Here is her message…
Subject: We are on TV!
I secured Cindy Leung
from City TV to do a story on the treadmills with Dr Ling and Darrell Fox
running on them. Darrell Fox’s message is inspiring and Dr Ling
thanked myself and my colleague on Television which is wonderful as it will
probably help me boost my pledges! I would love to forward a picture of
the four of us-I will send it by email.
For the television story
it will air on City TV- on channel 13-they are doing three days of Terry Fox
stories and cancer research. Please watch. It will air either
today, tomorrow or Friday and should be around 6:20-
Aislynn Drysdale
As you know I have worked on the Terry Fox Run this
year. To boost training and fundraising for the run I have asked
Guideline fitness to donate treadmills to the research centre-we have fun
challenges going on like pledges to see other people run and to train for the
run coming up on September 18th, 2005.
Terry Fox ran 42 kilometres everyday for cancer research —how
far will you go for your co-workers, friends and family?
We have Jack Fm coming on Friday for a party and we will
be broadcasting live (community cruiser) on Friday, September 16 between 9 and
11 am if your available — listen in on what the research centre is doing to
highlight the run.
CTV has gotten wind of this and is now asking to do a story on
what is going on here ……
This year is the 25th anniversary of the marathon of
hope.. (I will let everyone know when the broadcast will air)
My friends Carl, Julie and I are going to be a part of this walk
and if anyone would like to pledge us that would be wonderful- I would love to
challenge and showcase Carl’s athletic ability why don’t we put a
challenge on?
As Terry said in
1980:
“If you’ve
given a dollar, you are part of the Marathon of Hope.”
Pledges can be made online and you can put them under mine or
Carl’s name—of course tax receipts will be issued by the Terry Fox
Foundation. Please just pick icon-donate to a participant.
Full names are Carl Sloane and Aislynn Drysdale of the BC Cancer
Agency
here is the link
http://www.terryfoxrun.org/english/Corporate/Company/Information/default.asp?s=1&CompanyID=4456
Fighting Cancer: Rev. Candace Frank
Fighting Cancer: Rev. Candace Frank
Tuesday evening, I went to see Rev. Candace Frank in the hospital. She's the wonderful minister for the
Centre for Spiritual Living. I love attending Sunday morning services and always get great hugs from her .
Last year, Candace paddled on the Centre for Spiritual Living/Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.
She had never ever paddled dragonboats before, but knew that I had created a "church dragon boat team"
before for the Celebration of Life Centre from 1997 to 2000. It was a great experience, many members from
CSL came to paddle including Candace's husband Chip Frank, CSL president Ernie Letawsky and also
his wife Judy Letawsky who was our special "ringer" - having paddled on the original Abreast in a Boat
dragon boat teams. I did my best to listen to Rev. Candace's services and to integrate each Sunday's
messages into the dragon boat training program - since it is all about personal and performance enhancement
- whether the performance is personal, spiritual or physically paddling a dragon boat.
It has been wonderful developing friendships with Rev. Candace and her husband Chip. She came to give the
Selkirk Grace at my Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in January - with her American accent!. And in March, she
wrote me a letter of support for a major award (I didn't get it), and she gave a grace for the inaugural GHFC
St. Paddy's Day volunteer appreciation dinner.
Candace Frank is a person who fills a room with light, vivacious and loving.. She lives in the moment, and fills
each moment with tremendous sense of spirit, inspiring all who come to know her. I have been blessed to have
her and her husband Chip in my life. I know that we are both mutually in awe of each other, and the spiritual
strength that resides in each of us.
This evening we did a prayer circle for Rev. Candace. It's a blessing to see so many people in our congregation
and to meet so many of her friends from her spiritual community across the USA - who are coming to see her.
It takes a great person to inspire so many people, and build community into a large growing congregation.
As I met others gathered at the hospital many people commented on the brand new Terry Fox Run t-shirt I
was wearing. I explained that as a Terry's Team member cancer survivor, I had spoken that morning at an
elementary school - giving words about overcoming adversity. It was amazing that Ministers Rev. Jacob and
Rev. Charles from Seattle and Los Angeles knew about Terry Fox, and were very excited recalling seeing a
movie about Terry.
Every year I stand up at Terry Fox Run sites, and thank the participants for supporting the Terry Fox Run.
I tell them that without the advances in cancer research made possible since Terry's 1980 Marathon of Hope,
I probably wouldn't be here today, having only been given a 50% chance of survival back in 1989. Cancer
touches the lives of so many of us. We don't know why, and we often question why those close to us have to
face this challenge. It is very symbolic to start the day speaking about overcoming adversity in the face of
cancer and Terry Fox at an elementary school, then to finish the day visiting a special friend in the hospital
who has been living with cancer for a long time. Someone from whom, I have drawn my spiritual inspiration
from when I have felt down and out of sorts... someone who's life is sharply threatened by cancer.
This year, I run and speak for my friend, Candace Frank.
Below are two pictues from the 2005 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner
Rev. Candace Frank reading the Selkirk Grace, to help bless the food for the 2005 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner.
In the background are co-hosts, Tom Chin, Shelagh Rogers & Todd Wong - photo Ray Shum
Rev Candace Frank being "interviewed" by CBC Radio's Shelagh Rogers, just prior to reading
a verse from the Robert Burns Poem "Address to a Haggis" - photo Ray Shum
Terry Fox Run elementary school visit: “Courage in Adversity” Sherwood Park elementary School
I spoke at Sherwood Park elementary in Deep Cove today for their 2nd annual Terry Fox Run assembly. I spoke there last year too. The theme was "overcoming adversity" so I spoke about being able to control what you can, when life is out-of-control... I asked the kids if they had watched Peter Pan... and what does
Peter say when Tinkerbell sprinkles you with pixie dust?
Think Happy Thoughts!
And what happens... "You fly!"
We can only control our thoughts, and how we think - when we go through adversity.
Next I told the audience that I was going to share with them, something I had never told a group
before...
When I went to see my doctor, after five months of chemotherapy... and he told me that he was pronouncing me cancer free. I was very happy... so happy that I felt like I could fly.
It was great to see the kids today, two spoke about Terry Fox and about his running shoe. One holding the
new pair of Adidas Terry Fox shoes. Two teachers also spoke about Terry, and what it means to go through adversity. They also showed the film "I Am Terry Fox" - that I saw unveiled at the Canadian Mint celebration for the Terry Fox $1 coin.
CTV Terry Fox Movie: Sunday Sep 11
Tonight premieres the brand new Terry Fox movie starring Sean Ashton.
7pm, Sunday Sep 11
CTV
Advance notice on the movie is pretty good, focussing on Terry's
internal journey instead of merely reporting what happened. We
all are very familiar with the events, but what actually went on in
Terry's head, or the social dynamics with his brother Darrell and best
friend Doug Alward are stories to be revealed.
CBC started a documentary about Terry Fox, produced by my friend Moyra
Rodger (CBC's TV performance special Gung Haggis Fat Choy). Moyra
was very excited earlier this year when I saw here filming clips during
the Canadian Mint unveiling of the Terry Fox $1 coin. Darrell Fox
was very up on the production, and we both shared praises of Moyra.
All that is in jeopardy with the CBC lock-out, that Canadian cultural
expert Max Wyman told me “is such a waste!” Canadians are
deprived of Canadian culture, and all the support that CBC gives to our
artists and events.
The Fox Family was featured on Shelagh Rogers' Sounds Like Canada for
the anniversary of Terry's dip into the Atlantic Ocean – broadcast live
from New Foundland, as CBC did an incredible job on radio and
television focusing on Terry's achievements, 25 years later.
If you love Terry Fox, and want to see the television documentary, and
hear CBC radio tell more stories about Terry – Call your local MP,
write letters to your newspaper, and to CBC management. I think
the CBC lockout is a travesty to the trust and legacy of Canadian
culture and artists. As grateful, as I am to both CBC radio and
television for promoting and documenting Gung Haggis Fat Choy, I know
the difference between the producers, radio hosts and national
management decision makers.
This week on Saltwater City TV Sep 11 – Sep 15
a message from Sid Tan about his community TV show Saltwater City which
highlights events in Vancouver's Chinese Canadian community.
Karin Lee, Wayson Choy, Rita Wong, Sean Gunn with musical group Running Dog Lackeys are featured.
Cheers, Todd
Television this week on $haw cable 4.
Sunday September 11
12
15 @
Saturday September
Dad, an experimental documentary film about her father Wally Lee and the
communist bookstore he ran in the downtown eastside. The film is
very enlightening on the waxing and waning of ideas,
revealing glimpses of the filmmaker and an inside look at
our Saltwater City. We hope our presentation does
too.
request, a repeat of Rita Wong talking with Wayson Choy about queerness and
activism. There's good chemistry as they talk about outing “isms” and how outing
one can help out them all. Rita took on interviewin Wayson just minutes prior to
tape. Terrific job.
Total Mess to close the show. Taped at the Interurban Gallery, the
Lackeys are Sean Gunn on electric bass, Wayne Soon on drums and Keegan Chen on
electric guitar. Rock and roll at its rawest.
For
more about ICTV and to volunteer, go to www.vcn.bc.ca/ictv or call 604.254.5844.
Both ICTV, a co-operative, and ACCESS, a society, are volunteer
managed and operated so please have a little patience.
Take
care. anon Sid
Order of Canada 2005 recipients: Wayson Choy, Wallace Chung and Alexina Louie
Order of Canada recipients for 2005
were named last week. I am happy to say that I have met Wayson
Choy, Dr. Wallace Chung, and Alexina Louie, all prominent Chinese
Canadians with strong Vancouver family connections.
Dr. Wallace Chung was named for his contributions in philanthropy, such as the Wallace Chung Collection at UBC Library. He has also made significant contributions to the Vancouver Maritime Museum and the Chinese Cultural Centre.
Our paths significantly crossed with the moment of my birth, as I was
delivered by Dr. Madeline Chung, wife of Dr. Wallace. In 1986,
Dr. Wallace Chung was chair of the Chinese Cultural Centre and helped
to open the Salt Water City exhibit, celebrating Vancouver's centenial
with 100 years of Chinese Canadian history ( I worked on the organizing
committee). Dr. Chung has an active interest in Chinese Canadian
history, and has a wonderful slide show presentation that was featured
at the Vancouver Public Library in 2002 as part of a program I created
called “Stories from Chinatown II” for the One Book One Vancouver
program featuring Wayson Choy's novel Jade Peony. “Wally” is an
incredible person, generous of spirit and enthusiasm.
Wayson Choy grew
up in Vancouver, and in 2002 his first novel The Jade Peony was the
inaugural selection for Vancouver Public Library's award winning
program One Book One Vancouver, for which summer long programming tries
to make the book come alive. I was on the inaugural OBOV
committee, and helped to program lots of events throughout the summer
and integrating it with Asian Heritage Month celebrations. We
also created the inaugural Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop “Community
Builders” dinner featuring Wayson, fellow writer Paul Yee, and
Chinatown News founder Roy Mah. “Gracious” is the word I always use to
describe Wayson. Oh… we also organized a “Dim Sum with Wayson Choy and friends”
event that turned into a bit of a roast – very heart touching.
His latest Novel “All That Matters” was nominated for the Giller Prize
in 2004.
Alexina Louie is
one of Canada's premier musical composers. I have known her
father Alec since I was a little boy. Louie family owned
busineses were prominent in Vancouver's Chinatown. Her father
managed the Le Kiu food store, while her uncle Victor managed the Marco
Polo Restaurant. My sign painter father did signs for both
businesses. I met Alexina at a conference around 1985 about
Asians and First Nations people in the Arts. Her composition The
Ringing Earth, was premiered at the opening gala concert for Expo 86 in
Vancouver. She has won many many awards and is a leading advocate
for contemporary music, while she still finds ways to incorporate her
Chinese heritage into her music and identity.
Oh… and one of my favourite musicians was also nominated. I have every Diana Krall
album. She isn't Chinese Canadian, but she was born and raised in
Nanaimo BC, where my great-great-grandfather was pastor of the Chinese
United Church. Okay… it's a tenuous connection.
Terry Fox: SFU basketball jersey is retired
Everybody has a dream. In 1980, Terry Fox wanted to raise $1 from
every Canadian for cancer research. But in 1976, when he
graduated from Port Coquitlam Secondary School, Terry's dream was to be
a member of the SFU Varsity Basketball team.
Terry was a walk on. He just showed up, he wasn't an invited
scholarship athelete. He wasn't a gifted athelete. He was a
determined athelete. And that is how he was named Port Coquitlam
athelete of the year, playing soccer and basketball for high school.
In 1993, I became a Terry's Team member – cancer survivors who are
living testament that cancer research makes a difference. Terry's
youngest brother Darrell challenged me to start a Terry Fox Run that
September at SFU. I got to know the SFU Atheletic Director, and
the very first SFU Terry Fox Day was planned for the following year in
1994. Along the way I met Stan Stewardson, Terry's former SFU
basketball coach.
Stan showed me Terry's jersey that he had saved. And I told him
that for 1994, Terry's SFU jersey for the 1000 mile club was being put
on display at SFU. That sparked the idea that Terry's basketball
jersey could be on display at SFU. Over the years I informed the
athletic and recreation directors at SFU, that Terry's basketball
jersey was in Stan's good hands, and that it would be a good idea to
put it on display and to retire the number. Over the years, I was
told things like Terry had only been a member of the Junior Varsity
team, and that he hadn't been a starting or outstanding ball player.
But this week, the extraordinary happened. I read in the
Vancouver Sun newspaper yesterday that Terry's basketball jersey was
retired. Number Six. Stan presented it to SFU for the 25th
Anniversary of the Terry Fox Run. Dreams do come true, and they
happen all the time.
The Terry Fox $1 Coin, and me at SFU beside the Terry Fox statue
on the day of the coin release, with Darrell Fox beside coin display at
SFU.