Here's a new article at The Scotsman about Burns Dinners Around the World.
Guess who they name?
http://news.scotsman.com/features.cfm?id=119992006
This is a very interesting story about Burns Day dinners in Paris, Hong
Kong, and of course the infamous and internationally known Toddish
McWong's Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in Vancouver, Canada.
Gung Haggis Fat Choy goes Montreal
via Maisoneuve Magazine/website
Check out this interview I did for Maisoneuve Magazine with writer Christopher DeWolf
PIPING IN THE (CHINESE) NEW YEAR
HOW VANCOUVER’S CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION IS PROMOTING INTERCULTURALISM IN CANADA’S WESTERN METROPOLIS
http://www.maisonneuve.org/index.php?&page_id=12&article_id=2030
Christopher DeWolf writes about the different ways Chinese New Year is
being celebrated in Vancouver – but I will just get to the good stuff
here. Click on the links to visit the full article at Maisoneuve Magazine
This much is obvious when you talk to Todd Wong, the cheerful founder of Gung Haggis Fat Choy,
one of Vancouver’s newest and most intriguing cultural events. It all
started when Wong was a student at Simon Fraser University. “I was
asked to participate in the Robbie Burns Day celebration and nobody
wanted to. Nobody wanted to wear a kilt! It was too strange, it was too
weird. But I realized this is a multicultural statement. You’ve got a
fifth-generation Chinese-Canadian wearing a kilt. It really put a flip
on the stereotypes.” That was in 1993. Over the next several years a
series of small dinners with friends based around the
Chinese-cum-Scottish theme eventually ballooned into what is now a
600-person banquet featuring a twelve-course dinner, big-name guests
and a number of fun and prominent performers. Traditional Chinese New
Year dishes are served for dinner but the real star is the haggis which
finds itself transformed into wontons, lettuce wraps and spring rolls.
The cross-cultural culinary experience is upstaged only by the list of
entertainment. This year the long list of talent includes iconic
Japanese-Canadian author Joy Kogawa, who will speak to the audience
some time after Lala, a Chinese-Canadian artist who blends soul and hip
hop with traditional Asian and Canadian music, has performed. “We have
to have fun with multiculturalism,” says Wong.
But Gung Haggis Fat Choy isn’t just about multiculturalism; it’s about interculturalism.There’s
a fine but important distinction between the two. “It’s like a
marriage,” explains Wong. “When you have an intercultural marriage,
somebody’s actually coming into your family. For me, all my cousins on
my maternal side and half my paternal cousins have interracially
married. So we celebrate and everyone in the family is included.”
That’s a pretty apt metaphor for Vancouver, even in a literal
sense—last year, Statistics Canada determined that Vancouver is home to
the largest proportion of mixed-race couples in Canada. Vancouver’s
character is being built around cultural blending and exchange. “In
Vancouver’s search for its own identity, everybody gets to express
their own. We don’t have a long history—we are creating our history and
identity in this moment,” adds Wong.
Perhaps
inevitably then, in our lovely land of order and good governance, comes
the question of how to enshrine part of that identity in a legal sense.
Last year, a debate in Vancouver’s Chinese media about whether to make
the Lunar New Year a public holiday made it into the pages of the Vancouver Sun,
which asked, “Is it time to make it official?” Vancouver’s schools
already throw multicultural New Year celebrations and, last year, all
of the city’s high schools and half of its elementary schools closed
for Lunar New Year. So why not make it a public holiday? Both
Wong and Leung are skeptical. “It’s unfair to other cultural groups to
isolate a Chinese holiday,” says Leung. Wong concurs. “I think that it
is better presently to continue the status quo,” he says. “Should St.
Patrick’s Day and Robbie Burns Day become official holidays? Or Diwali?
or Persian New Year?”
They have a point, but
it’s helpful to remember that, unlike Robbie Burns Day or even Diwali,
the Lunar New Year is celebrated by a huge number of Vancouverites. Not
only is it a traditional festival for the Chinese, Korean and
Vietnamese population, many non-Asians celebrate it by attending
parades, the CFCC fair or by simply getting together with friends for
dinner. Making it a public holiday in Vancouver would be an important
symbol of the city’s dynamic character, one that is just as Asian as it
is European. Still, making the Lunar New Year a holiday would
ultimately be a token gesture; Vancouver’s character will continue to
evolve regardless. “When I travel through Vancouver,” says Wong, “to me
it’s intercultural. I don’t want to go to all the traditional dances
and all that; I want to see what’s exciting. How do we create our own
culture? How does Vancouver create its own identity by drawing on all
its ethnic ancestries?”
The answer will be
something for future generations to discover. In the meantime, have a
good Year of the Dog. Gung Hay–er, Haggis–Fat Choy!
Does Robbie Burns have Chinese descendants?
What would he think of Gung Haggis Fat Choy?
People have often asked "What would Robbie Burns think about Gung Haggis Fat Choy?"
I am pleased to share that the Burns Club of Vancouver definitely approves of my combined
Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
In 2006, Dr. Ian Mason of the Burns Club of Vancouver spoke at Gung Haggis Fat Choy World
Poetry Night at the Vancouver Public Library, January 16th 2006. As well Ian also came to
the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner event at the Floata Restaurant on January 22nd, bringing with
him his wife and Burns scholar Dr. Andrew Noble.
Last night I attended the Burns Club annual Burns Supper, and was seated beside Dr. Noble,
who was the keynote speaker giving the Burns eulogy. All were very enthuasiastic about my
cross-cultural event and Burns Club members Don Mackenzie and Tony Breen also raved about it,
stating that it really reflects Burns' philosophy that "A man's a man for all that and all that."
Dr. Noble commented with me about Burns's job as an exiseman (tax collector), and his disdain
for having to collect taxes for the English government from his fellow countryment. No doubt,
we could have made more comments at the 2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner, interviewing
Dr. Mason and Dr. Noble about what Burns might have thought about the Canadian head tax
for Chinese immigrants, and the present redress movement.
Grant Hayter-Menzies just found this on a site that lists all known descendants of Burns:
http://www.burness.ca/p2697.htm#i26970
Click on the link "Descendants of Robert Burns" and you'll see Ching-Lin Chang, wife of Peter
Jack Gauld, parents of Andrew Jade Gauld and Arran Ethan Gauld.
Fred Wah reading at Capliano College Feb 6th
Fred Wah, poet, winner of Governor General's Award for Poetry,
acclaimed author of Waiting for Saskatchewan and Rattlesnake Grill….
is reading at Capilano College on February 6th. Monday. 12:30pm
12:30-2:30 in LB 321. Last year Fred Wah was our featured poet
for both Gung Haggis Fat Choy World Poetry Night at the Vancouver
Public Library, as well as Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's
Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner on January 30th, 2005
“Pop Goes the Hood: Writing and Reading the Neighborhood.”
Respondents will include Stan Persky, Ryan Knighton, and Aurelea Mahood.
Fred Wah is an acclaimed writer of poetry, fiction, and criticism. Fred was one of the founding editors of the poetry newsletter TISH. His book of prose-poems, Waiting for Saskatchewan won the Governor General's Award in 1986. With Frank Davey, he edited the first ever online literary magazine, SwiftCurrent. Recent publications include Diamond Grill, a biofiction about growing up in a small-town Chinese-Canadian café; Faking It: Poetics and Hybridity, a collection of critical writing that won the Gabrielle Roy Prize for writing on Canadian literature; and a chapbook called Isadora Blue. Until recently he taught poetry and poetics at the University of Calgary. He lives in Vancouve
Push Festival: Sexual Practices of the Japanese – created by
Maiko Bae Yamamoto, Hiro Kanagawa, James Long and Manami Hara
Maiko Bae Yamamoto, Hiro Kanagawa, James Long and Manami
Hara have been creating interesting theatre productions in Vancouver
for the past few years. Hiro's well-received Tiger of Malaysia
was presented at Richmond's Gateway Theatre last May during Asian
Heritage Month. I have seen Maiko in numerous productions such as
The Concunbine's Children and she has also read some of her works at
readings organized by Asian Canadian Writers's Workshop. This one
looks very cool.
THEATRE REPLACEMENT (Vancouver)
Sexual Practices of the Japanese WrittenJan 24-28 8pm
Vancouver East Cultural Centre
Directed by James Long & Maiko Bae YamamotoA“James Long and Maiko Bae Yamamoto are two of the most talented young theatre artists in the city.”Considered
Stephen Harper reiterates his pledge of an apology and appropriate redress for Chinese Canadians
Stephen Harper just held a news conference where he announced that the
new Conservative Government would be sworn in on Monday Feb 6th.
He also took the occasion to acknowledge Chinese New Year (with Gung
Hay Fat Choy to all Canadians) and recognize the contribution of the
community and reiterated his pledge of an apology and appropriate redress.
PM Stephen Harper:
CTV
Newsnet Live: Harper speaks from Parliament
document.write(format_clip_duration('00:07:48.46')); // see common.js
7:48
If you can’t open it. Try www.ctv.ca and find the feed.
The BC Coaltion of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendants will be making a response soon.
24 Hours has called Gabriel Yui for a
response. Fairchild TV and Channel M TV will also interview Thekla Lit for a
response which she says will be the following:
1.
Welcome
this apology and pledge for acknowledgment and redress and good to have Conservatives
to honour their election promise.
2.
This is
only the first step. The apology must be done in the Parliament to be
follow by individual and community compensation. Because apology with proper
compensation is hypocritical and compensation without apology is unethical.
3.
No one
should ever give up other people’s right for a just compensation. Then,
a consensus of compensation will be able to worked out.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VANCOUVER/TORONTO/MONTREAL, January 26, 2006 Chinese
Canadians groups are applauding Prime Minister Designate Stephen Harper’s restatement
of his commitment to Chinese head tax redress in time for the Chinese Lunar New
Year. In his first news conference today as Prime Minister Designate, Mr.
Harper stated: “The Chinese Canadian community deserves
an apology for the Head Tax and appropriate acknowledgement and redress of
that wrong.”
“This is a wonderful beginning
– Mr. Harper shows that he can keep an election promise.”
said Susan Eng, co-chair of the Ontario Coalition
of Chinese Head Tax Payers and Families, (Ontario Coalition), which along with the
B.C. Coalition of Head Tax Payers,
Spouses and Descendents (B.C. Coalition),
Chinese Canadian Redress Alliance and the
Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC), called on the newly elected Prime
Minister and other party leaders to recommit to their election pledge to fully
support head tax redress. “Once again,
Mr. Harper is the first party leader to respond to our appeal. This bodes very
well for finally getting justice for head tax families and to closing a dark
chapter in Canadian history. We can now stop having to explain our grievances
for past injustice and look forward to working with the new government for full
and proper redress. ”
Mr. Harper was also the first party leader to issue
formal support for head tax redress during the election campaign as early as a
December 8th news release issued to foreclose any further support by
his caucus member, Inky Mark, [Dauphin–Swan River—Marquette] for the
Liberal’s much maligned position of “no apology, no
compensation”.
In response to the demands made by Chinese Canadian
groups during the election, the Conservative Party, the NDP and
the Bloc Quebecois committed in writing to support a Parliamentary Resolution
to apologize, direct redress for the 250 surviving head tax
payers and spouses, rescinding of the $2.5 million deal under the ACE program
and open, transparent and inclusive consultations and negotiations with head
tax families and the broader Chinese Canadian community as to the nature and
extent of redress.
“Mr.
Harper’s strong and immediate commitment, especially coming as it does on
the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, will be treated as solemn promise to
Chinese Canadians, young and old.” said Dr. Joseph Wong,
founder of CCNC.
“This is a statement of
Canadian values. We are now very optimistic that immediate action will be taken
before it is too late for the surviving head tax payers and spouses.” said Avvy Go, counsel
for the Ontario Coalition.
“It was clear that head tax redress issue galvanized Chinese
Canadians right across the country,” Bill Chu, spokesperson for the BC Coalition added.
“Even the Liberals eventually agreed to an apology during the
election campaign,” William Dere, spokesperson for the Chinese Canadian
Redress Alliance added. “Now it’s up to the Harper government
Canada's
“National Dream” was realized when
the Last Spike was driven to complete the transcontinental railway in 1885.
Instead of gratitude for the Chinese railway workers – thousands of whom
gave their lives to the building of this country – the government imposed
a head tax on all new Chinese immigrants, collecting more than $23 million by
1923. That year, the government passed the Chinese Exclusion Act to stop all
Chinese immigration to Canada. The racist legislation was
not repealed until 1947.
–30–
Janice Wong featured on Fanny Kiefer Show Friday on Shaw TV Cable
In the Cowichan Valley on Shaw TV Cable 4 4:00pm Weekdays
Robbie Burns Day in Canada
-by Todd Wong
It’s Robbie Burns Day in Canada
Celebrated like no where in the world
Bagpipes play and haggis is all served
The best supper ever to attend
It’s Robbie Burns Day in Canada
Wear your kilt and bonnet too!
Dance highland flings, squares and reels
Sing songs of old and songs of new
I like Robbie Burns Day…
It's
now been 13 years since I first wore a kilt for Robbie Burns
celebrations up at Simon Fraser University. That was the time that I
first coined the term Gung Haggis Fat Choy, and the first time that I
coined my alias “Toddish McWong”. You can read about the origins here.
It
is indeed fun to bring cultures together, and to see them in new
ways. That is why it is important here in Canada, for us to
explore the different cultures that make up our shared heritage.
Travelling to Quebec City and Montreal, and learning to speak French,
really helped me to understand Canada better. By exploring
Scottish culture and Robbie Burns Day, I have been able to explore the
importance and history of Scottish Canadians, particulary Simon Fraser.
I
enjoy exploring the South Asian neighborhoods along Main St. and Fraser
St., Powell St. Festival in old Japantown. The Chinese shops in
both Richmond and Vancouver's Chinatown. We are an immigrant
society, new and old.
But for Robbie Burns Day in Vancouver,
January 25th…. I will attend the Burns Supper for the Burns Club of
Vancouver. I have gotten to know some of the members over the
past few years, since I bumped into then president Robert Barr.
This year Ian Mason current president was a guest speaker at both
the Gung Haggis Fat Choy World Poetry Night at the Vancouver Public
Library, and the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner at Floata
Restraurant. At the dinner, I also saw Scot Tony Breen and his
Chinese Canadian wife Laurie. All great people… but not enough
time to chit chat.
After the Burns Club Supper, I may drop by at
Doolin's Irish Pub. I had a great time there last year.
Promotions manager Christine Van, who is Vietnamese-Canadian, wore a
tartan kilt, and hoisted up drams of whiskey. The Halifax Wharf
Rats played Scottish and Maritime tunes. And I was glad to have my own
kilt.
The official Doolin's Robbie Burns Day Celebrations take place on Thursday January 26th.
Grace Chan's “Patriot in Search of a Country” musical drama
Grace Chan's “Patriot in Search of a Country” musical drama
Dear Friends,
My friend Grace Chan has sent me this notice about her first one-woman musical drama. Grace is an incredible mezzo-soprano and helped to create roles in both Naomi's Road and Iron Road operas. Each were the first operas to ever present Chinese-Canadian and Japanese-Canadian historical stories. Hope you can attend…
PUENTE
Theatre Presents The Premiere of the Innovative Musical Drama, Patriot In
Search Of A Country,
January 27, 28,
8 PM at the Metro Studio
Theatre, 1411 Quadra St, Victoria.
Tickets : $20 – Students and
Seniors $15.-
available on-line at
www.IntrepidTheatre.com , by phone at
(250)383-2663 or at the door.
