Monthly Archives: May 2006

Raymond Chow celebrates latest artwork with May 11 presentation

Raymond Chow celebrates latest artwork with May 11 presentation

Raymond Chow is a nationally recognized artist.  I first became aquainted with 
his work in the early 1970's, when he painted older houses adding his own bit of
humour to them. His painting of my grandmother's Chinatown Victorian style
house now hangs in my grandmother's appartment, many decades after she left
that home.

Raymond's family paid the head tax, and lived in Richmond long before the recent
overwhelming Chinese immigration of Richmond of the last century.

"House of Joy" was a painting that Raymond did to celebrate and aid the "Save
Kogawa House" campaign. He based the painting on paintings of the House, and
of Joy when she was about 5 years old.

You are cordially invited to an exhibition featuring Raymond Chow's
latest artwork!

Date: May 11, 2006 (Thursday)
Time: anytime from 3pm to 9pm
Place: Nikkei Place, 6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby (604-777-7000)
Theme: Women in Kimonos, Landscapes of France, Hawaii, Vancouver
Inquiries: 604-274-3587 or clart@telus.net

* prize draws for original Raymond Chow's paintings
* refreshments + fun
* admission by donation

Raymond's web sites:
www.galleryartwerks.com
www.raymondchow.com

Raymond Chow's profile:
Raymond Chow is an internationally renowned artist based in Vancouver,
Canada. Graduated at UBC in Art Education, Raymond has been painting
over the last 50 years. He won his first painting award when he was 12.
He first became known in 1960s for his drawings of old Victorian homes
and buildings. His drawings of Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, Portland,
San Francisco and Los Angeles form a unique history of the heritage of
the pacific coast. His range of art media includes watercolors,
acrylics on canvas, limited edition lithographs and geeclay prints on canvas.

His paintings on canvas reached 15 galleries across Canada, Hawaii and
the USA. Raymond travels extensively to his subject locations and he
paints portraits on request of people as well as homes and buildings.
He has painted and exhibited in many cities of Europe, USA, Hawaii and
Canada. Collectors of Raymond's work have included Indira Gandhi, Paul
Anka, Raymond Burr, David Lam etc. His paintings and drawings now
decorate homes of prominent personalities, collectors and gallery
owners.

Finding your head tax tax certificate documentation at the Vancouver Public Library.


Finding your head tax tax certificate documentation at the Vancouver Public Library.




The Vancouver Public Library's
History Division has created a wonderful information sheet on how to
search for your head tax documenation on micro film. 


http://www.vpl.ca/ccg/Head_Tax_Info.html



The
Vancouver Public Library has created a wonderful website for Chinese
Canadian Genealogy, check out theses links to many of its features.


History & PioneersChinese-Canadian heritage



ChineseNamesTraditions and characteristics of Chinese names



Family Sources, Interviews and heirlooms



Documents & Records Archival and published information about your family





The following excerpt is from the VPL website – check out the full website at

http://www.vpl.ca/ccg/Head_Tax_Info.html

Chinese Head Tax

Introduction

Many
Canadians of Chinese origin are interested in finding records of the
head tax paid by their immigrant ancestors. This guide is designed to
help in the search for this information.

Historical Background

The
head tax on Chinese Immigrants was introduced by the Dominion (federal)
government in the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885. Initially, an amount
of $10 was proposed, but due to anti-Chinese agitation, this was
amended to $50 before the bill's final passage. The Chinese Immigration
Act of 1900 (which went into effect on January 1, 1902) increased the
tax to $100, and finally, in the Chinese Immigration Act of 1903, it
was raised to $500. Some Chinese were exempt. For example, under the
1903 legislation, there were six classes of persons who did not have to
pay: merchants and their families, diplomats, clergymen, tourists,
students, and men of science.

Efforts
to control Chinese immigration, including the administration of head
tax, were overseen by a federal Chief Controller of Chinese
Immigration. The Chief Controller's Department documented Chinese
immigration in detail, generating a large amount of corresponding
paperwork, including certificates, registers and other records. These
are held by Library and Archives Canada. Copies of selected records are
also available on microfilm at a number of libraries and archives
across Canada, including the Vancouver Public Library.

see more at http://www.vpl.ca/ccg/Head_Tax_Info.html

Chinese Restaurants – BEYOND FRONTIERS: Director CHEUK KWAN and Cinematographer KWOI in Attendance

Chinese Restaurants – BEYOND FRONTIERS:
Director CHEUK KWAN and Cinematographer KWOI in Attendance



Cheuk Kwan is a cool guy – so is his cinematogapher (camera man),
Kwoi.  Last year I watched his incredible documentary series
Chinese Restaurants.

Cheuk travels the world checking out Chinese restaurants, and getting
the stories behind them.  He is also an ardent support of Chinese
Canadian head tax redress.

I LOVE his “3 Continents” documentary.  It includes a visit of
“Noisy Jim Cook” at his small restaurant in Outlook Sasketchewan, where
Cook was a beloved town institution and encouraged to run for mayor.

Check out my previous article for thoughts and related reviews:
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2005/5/6/657681.html

MEDIA ADVISORY

for immediate release
 

 
Chinese Restaurants – BEYOND
FRONTIERS

British Columbia Premiere at explorASIAN 2006



Director CHEUK KWAN and Cinematographer KWOI in Attendance
 
Q&A with Cheuk and Kwoi follows each screening

May 9 – 7pm
(followed by Chinese Restaurants – THREE CONTINENTS at 9pm)

Special
members ticket prices in effect for this event!
Single Bill: $9.00
(students/seniors $7)
Double Bill: $12 (students/seniors
$9)

Membership in the Pacific Cinémathèque or the Vancouver Asian
Heritage Month Society required for this event.

Pacific Cinematheque or VAHMS memberships available
at the door.

Location: Pacific Cinematheque, 1131 Howe Street,
Vancouver
http://www.cinematheque.bc.ca/

 
BEYOND FRONTIERS
Filmmaker Cheuk Kwan travel to
India and Brazil delving into Chinese communities who transcend geographical,
political and social frontiers.
 
THREE CONTINENTS
Filmmaker Cheuk Kwan visits
Madagascar, Norway and Canada, exploring the meaning of “home” in Chinese
communities that have established themselves on three
continents.
– 30 –

7th Annual Asian Comedy Night – featuring OPM IV: Return of the Chung King

Here's a message sent to me from my friend Joyce Lam, producer and president of Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre. 

Asian Comedy Night is a great way to celebrate being Asian Canadian, by
sharing a common mind set, poking fun at stereotypes of Asians,
Asian-Canadians, White-Canadians, etc.  I have attended various
incarnations of ACN over the years, and many of VACT's
productions.  They give great insight to the Asian Canadian psyche
and identity.

Your white boyfriend or girfriend, says she just doesn't understand your Asian sense of humor?  Bring her/him down!

Your Asian girlfriend or boyfriend says they want to be more sensitive and supportive of Asian issues?  Bring him/her down!


 

OPM
Part IV: Return of the Chung King

7th
Annual Asian Comedy Night

image           
presented by

 

 

image

The
Show

 

Main
Course

Three-time
winners
of the coveted Rice Bowl, OPM (Open
People
s
Minds)
is back in town for only two
evenings of comedic aphorisms from an Asian slant

Featuring appearances by 50
Yen, Kimora Lee, Iron Chef Bobby Flay, North
Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il, and Savuri from
Memoirs of a
Geisha,
the nights performance will be charged
with new sketches from OPM
s latest show, Get Laughs or Die
Tryin

Side
Dish

Local favourite stand-up
comedian and CTV comedy star, Jeffery
Yu
, along with
Seattles funniest comic, Kermet Apio, will kick-off the night tickling your
funny bones

Hosted by Tom
Chin
, the night will surely have Auntie Mah shouting
Aiya!

Dessert

Party
On!

Join the performers and producers at 2 AFTER
PARTIES
:

è               
Friday
Night at SHIRU-BAY
with fighting Chef, Kodai Uno

è               
Saturday
Night at THE
DINER
(both within steps from the
theatre)

$5
gets you in. You hang with the comics and have a fun night out!
Cash Bar.      AFTER
PARTY Tickets available on-line

Show
Details

 

Location
& Dates

Return
of the Chung King

7th Annual Asian Comedy Night

è               
at
the Roundhouse Performance Centre

è               
181
Roundhouse Mews (
Davie
&
Pacific
Blvd
,
Vancouver)

è               
Friday
May 26 & Saturday May 27

è               
8:00
PM
,
doors open at
7:30
PM

Buy
Tickets

$18 in advance or $21 cash at
the door

Buy
Tickets:

è               
In
person at the Roundhouse,

è               
By
phone at (604) 713-1800 or

è               
Online
at www.vact.ca

Group
Rates

For more information or group
rates, please visit www.vact.ca or call
(778) 885-1973

Note: 14+ years, some coarse
language and suggestive material

Other
Event

 

Public
Forum

Also check out the Dissection of
Comedy
, a free public forum with demonstrations and discussions
on sketch comedy.  OPM, Jeffery
Yu
, and Kermet Apio will share their insights on their
processes and careers

è               
Saturday
May 27:
2pm at
the Roundhouse

 

Sing Tao: Jason Kenney tells his view of the Head Tax issue and tells Benson Li off

Sing Tao: Jason Kenney tells his view of the Head Tax issue and tells Benson Li off

Jason Kenney, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister addresses the Head Tax issue

in a letter to Sing Tao newspaper, criticizing it's columnist Benson Li.  Kenney knows his facts

and correctly identifies Li as one of the organizers of the Liberals failed ACE program, paid by

the Liberals as a “consultant” who recommended NO APOLOGY, and NO Compensation, and

money given to organizations not administered by head tax descendants.

Mr. Victor Ho, Editor-in-Chief

Sing Tao
Daily


VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL: victorho@singtao.ca


Dear
Editor:




In his April 27 column, Benson Li unfairly criticized the Chinese
Head Tax


redress consultations held by Canada's new government.



During
the recent election campaign, Prime Minister Harper made a commitment


to
offer a formal government apology for the Chinese Head Tax, and to


consult
broadly within the Chinese Canadian community to seek a consensus on


the
bestform of redress. His commitment for an apology was repeated in
the Speech from the Throne.





In March, Heritage Minister Bev Oda and I
launched our consultations as one



of the first actions of the new
Conservative government.  We met with the



leadership of major Chinese
Canadian organizations from across the country,



including both the CCNC and
the NCCC.





Since then we have held a series of open, democratic town hall
consultations



in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and
Halifax, together



with a virtual meeting with community members in St.
John's, Fredericton,



and Charlottetown.





These meetings have been
well-advertised and well-attended, with over 2,000



people attending. 
Everyone who has wanted to express themselves directly at



these meetings has
been able to do so. I am not aware of a single person who



was unable to offer
their opinion at these meetings.





We have done everything possible to
make these meetings accessible for



members of the community, from
providing transportation to seniors, to



simultaneous translation in both
Cantonese and Mandarin.  We have also made



a point of giving special
honour to elders in the community, and encouraging



them to tell their
stories.





In addition to the public meetings, Minister and Oda and I have
solicited



and received hundreds of letters, emails, and phone calls with
peoples'



suggestions, and we have held many private meetings with groups
or



individuals in the community.  For instance, in Vancouver I was
deeply moved



to meet with a dozen seniors and hear the often tragic personal
stories of



how families were divided and humiliated by the effects of racist
government



policies.





The extent and nature of these consultations
between the Government of



Canada and the Chinese-Canadian community is
totally unprecedented.  The



public meetings have also been a valuable
part of the reconciliation process,



giving those who were affected by the
Head Tax the opportunity to



speak directly to their government.





I am
gratified with the support that these consultations have received
from



members of the Chinese community.  In fact, Mr. Li's column is the
only



criticism that I have heard.  Perhaps that is because he was paid
by the



previous government to help with its failed approach to the issue,
which



included no grassroots consultation, no apology, and no redress, and
which



resulted in a deep division in the community.





After years of
Liberal inaction on the historic wrong of the Chinese Head



Tax, Chinese
Canadians finally have a government that is listening to them



directly, and
which will soon act in good faith to seek to heal the wounds



of the
past.





Sincerely,





Jason Kenney, MP



Parliamentary Secretary to
the Prime Minister

David Suzuki addresses environment and racism at CBC Radio One Book Club

David Suzuki addresses environment and racism at CBC Book Club




May 7th, Sunday 1pm



CBC Radio One Book Club

written by Ian Hughes (special to www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com)


A lucky one hundred and twenty contest winners were fortunate enough to attend an intimate presentation of the CBC Studio One Book Club featuring Dr. David Suzuki reading excerpts from his latest book,
David Suzuki: The Autobiography,
published by Douglas McIntyre books. 
The format of the show was a combination of round-table discussion,
with hosts MacKay, Sheryl from CBC Radio One's North By Northwest, and
John Burns of the Georgia Straight.  Don't miss the two part broadcast beginning on May 27th and concluding
on May 28th, broadcast in Vancouver on CBC Radio One 690 am.

“We’re living in a chemical soup!” he states at one point during the presentation,
but “Nature can be unbelievably forgiving if we give her a chance.”  Anyone who has read Dr. Suzuki’s books A Sacred Balance and Good News for a Change knows that he is an expert at both sounding warnings and encouraging solutions. 

When Dr. Suzuki wasn’t championing the environment, he was speaking
about how he was personally affected during his time in the
Japanese-Canadian Internment
Camps, and how institutional racism affects victims long after racist
legislation passes.  He said that he still has a very hard time
watching himself on television because he is reminded of the hateful,
stereotypical, anti-Japanese propaganda that he witnessed as a child
during and after the Second World War.  For a long time after the
war, he still had a problem looking into the mirror, and seeing a
Japanese face – even if it was his own.

Suzuki told the audience assembled that he still feels like an
outsider, and at one point actually considered entitling his
autobiography “The Outsider”.  Reflecting on the current situation with
our First Nations peoples, Dr. Suzuki said he felt that it is no wonder
current generations grow up to feel like worthless second-class
citizens.  Racism, especially racism experienced at an early age, is a
lifelong devastation that can never be fully reversed.

He told a heartbreaking story about one of his first encounters with
racism.  It was in the internment camp.  It wasn't from white
people.  It was from other Japanese-Canadian children.  And
it was because he couldn't speak the Japanese language.  His
parents had always spoken to him in English, integrating into Canadian society.

I really can’t express how wonderful it was to hear this man – a man who we all grew up watching on CBC
Television's The Nature of Things

– attack each topic with such passion and conviction.  It should come
as no surprise that the majority of the discussion focused on
environmental concerns.  He frequently apologized for going overtime
with his answers, but anyone who has seen Dr. Suzuki on television or
at various events knows that’s just the type of speaker he is; more
than willing to express joy or astonishment or anger in front of any
group, usually at length.

The afternoon was amazing.  Dr. Suzuki went wonderfully over his time
limit by about a half an hour, answered a considerable number of
questions at length, and after the show was good enough to sign
autographs and meet his fans.

This was my first time meeting him in person.  My girlfriend
Venus, whose family is originally Japanese from Okinawa was also
thrilled to me one of the greatest living Asian Canadians. 
Myself, I regard him as one of the greatest living Canadians, period!

When it came time for Dr. Suzuki to sign the book I presented to
him.  I told him that it was for my friend, who had once given
David Suzuki a ride home from a Burrard Indian Longhouse ceremony,
where they had presented Dr. Suzuki with an eagle feather.  Suzuki
smiled in rememberance as if recalling the event in his
mind.  

“You had recommended to Todd to go visit Haida Gwaii.  He did, he
loved it, and it changed his life.” I shared with Dr. Suzuki, as he
signed the book for my friend with a knowing nod.

My impression is that Dr. David Suzuki is really a wonderful warm man.
very giving of his time and his ideas.  He knows what it takes to
change the world, one idea at a time… one person at a time.

Next on CBC Radio One Book Club – On May 17, Paul Yee,
presents his newly revised edition of the award winning Saltwater City,
in which there should be a picture of “Gung Haggis Fat Choy” (or so he
told Todd…)

Check out the David Suzuki Interview by John Byrnes in the Georgia Straight  David Suzuki turns up the heat on Harper

Presented by

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