Here's something from my friends in Toronto.
“Gracious”
is the word that comes to mind, whenever I describe Wayson Choy.
I got to know Wayson during the summer of 2002 when I was on the
inaugural One Book One Vancouver committee for the Vancouver Public
Library. It was an exciting time, helping to create the first
library “One Book” program in Canada.
Highlights
of the program included organizing a “Dim Sum with Wayson Choy and
Friends” at the Floata Restaurant where Larry Wong had secretly invited
some of Wayson's friends who had provided some of the character
inspirations for “Jade Peony” as well as a videotaped greeting from
Carol Shields, who was ill with cancer at the time.
On
the 4th Sunday of September, Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop created
the first ACWW Community Builder's Dinner, recognizing Wayson, Paul Yee
and Roy Mah – founder of Chinatown News.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
All That Matter: a Tribute dinner for
Wayson Choy
Toronto (May 12th, 2006) – Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS), in
partnership with CelebrAsian (formerly Gay Asians Toronto), is hosting a
fundraising dinner on Friday May 26th to pay tribute to Wayson Choy, renowned
award winning writer and an Order of Canada recipient. Featuring readings,
charity auctions and live entertainment, the 10-course Chinese banquet will be
at Bright Pearl Restaurant in Chinatown with
reception starting at 6:00 P.M. and dinner served at 7 P.M.
The proceeds from the fundraising dinner will benefit the participation
of ACAS in the upcoming XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto and the set up of Wayson Choy
CelebrAsian Writer’s Scholarship to support the development of queer Asian
Canadian writers.
Preparing for the International AIDS Conference (IAC) this August, ACAS
is planning a series of workshops, presentations and special international
forums for PHA (People live with HIV/AIDS) leadership to showcase our
innovative and important work and to share best practices with more than 20,000
delegates from all over the world.
An acclaimed Vancouver raised writer,
Wayson Choy is a Professor Emeritus at Humber
College in Toronto. His first novel, The Jade Peony,
spent six months on The Globe and Mail's national bestseller list, shared the
Trillium Book Award in 1995, and won the 1996 City of Vancouver Book Award. All That Matters, a
companion novel to The Jade Peony, was shortlisted for the 2005 Giller Prize and
won the Trillium Book Award in 2005.
Tickets for this event are $50 regular, $100 for patrons and $1,000 for
a sponsor table of 10, and must be purchased in advance. Partial tax receipts
are available for patron tickets and sponsor tables. To purchase tickets,
please call 416-963-4300 x 22 or email support@acas.org
. For further information and updates on the event, please visit www.acas.org/TributeDinner
– 30-
About ACAS:
Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) is a charitable, non-profit,
community-based organization in Toronto,
we provide HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and support services to the East and
South East Asian communities.
For more information on ACAS, please contact Duncan Lau, media
coordinator. Call 416-963-4300, email publicity@acas.org or visit www.acas.org