Category Archives: Chinese Canadian History

Phil Vernon's story about Chinese Canadians in WWI

Phil Vernon submitted a story to CBC Radio ' s BC
Almanac last month, as they were soliciting family stories. Mark Forsythe had
it read on the air and said it will be included in the
Stories of BC being collected as a part of the BC150 celebrations.

Phil also asked Mark to tell people I ' m looking for
stories from the Chinese Canadian side, and he added this to the posting on the
site:

Phil would also like to hear from
descendants of Chinese Canadians living in Vancouver at the time, to hear other perspectives on
the same events: philvernon@telus.net or call 250-653-9485.

Here's the story:

WWI Chinese Recruits

During the first quarter of the last century my grandparents were
medical missionaries in western China, first in Chungking and then in
Chengdu. When the First World War began my grandfather, Claude W.
Freeman, enlisted in the British Army and was assigned as medical
doctor with a Chinese labour battalion. These men were recruited by the
British to work as “coolies,” building roads as part of the war effort
in France.

Read the rest at: http://www.cbc.ca/bc/features/150/your-story.html

You can scroll down the story list and find what I wrote about the Rev. Chan Legacy, the story of my great great grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan – which was turned into a CBC documentary called Generations: The Chan Legacy

Heart of the City Festival: Stories of Chinese food from “Eating Stories” read at Chinese Benevolent Association historical building

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The Heart of the City Festival celebrates Chinese food and Chinese buildings – with stories of pioneers and their descendants

CHINESE CANADIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY WRITERS
Sunday November 2, 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, 108 E. Pender 3rd floor

Readings from the book “Eating Stories: A Chinese Canadian & Aboriginal Potluck” were featured at the at the Chinese
Benevolent Association on Sunday. The book was published by the Chinese Canadian Historical Society last year and quickly sold out its first printing. I was part of the writing workshops that helped to create this anthology of stories about food, culture and history.

Scheduled to read were moderator George Jung, Dan Seto, Larry Wong and Bob Sung. Also scheduled was Shirley Chan, but she asked me to fill in for her late Saturday…. so I was a surprise reader.

The reading started off with a welcome and an historical explanation of the Chinatown heritage buildings such as the Chinese Benevolent Association, and how the many clan associations served to help the pioneer Chinese in Vancouver and Canada.

Dan Seto was the first reader. He read his short story “Fong Luen Tong New Year Banquet” about the society set up for people with the names “Seto” or “Sit.”

Bob Sung read second. He read the story “A Lesson in Communication” about trying to impress a White Girl on a date in a Chinese restaurant, and how he kept mispronouncing the Chinese words so much that the waiter was laughing at him.

Larry Wong read third. He read the story “Evening With Pop (1949)” about how his father would always bring food home late at night to share with him and his sister.

I read fourth. I explained that my contributions were a blend of pictures and their descriptions. The first picture I showed was me with my grandmother and girlfriend at Mother's Day 2007.

The second picture was me when I was 16 years old, holding two freshly caught salmon. I explained how my mother's favorite way to cook fish was steamed with hot oil.

The third picture was the first picture ever taken of me wearing a kilt, back in 1993. I was a tour guide at Simon Fraser University, and volunteers were needed to help with the university's traditional Robbie Burns ceremony. This was when I first coined the phrase “Gung Haggis Fat Choy.”

The final picture was taken at the 2005 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner with me holding a large haggis on a plate, while then Mayor Larry Campbell stabbed it with a knife. I explained the origins of the dinner, and how it grew into a famous mix of cultural fusion of Chinese and Scottish food and culture.

George Jung was the final reader. George read his story “Applesauce” which described how 102 year old Mrs. Der had climbed two steep flights of stairs to demand “Where is the money, the frefund for the head tax that my husband paid?” He describes how Mrs. Der met Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and how the redress ex-gratia payment arrived too late after she dies.

I counted 18
current and past Gung Haggis paddlers + Hillary's mom – in the audience
– enough for a dragon boat team in competition! and 1/3 of the audience
.. Former paddler Elwin Xie had earlier in the day conducted his
Chinese Laundry Boy tour of Chinatown for the Heart of the City
Festival.

I acknowledged Savanah Walling in the audience – she is the
co-founder of the Heart of the City Festival. I met her in April when
we both received the BC Community Achievement Award.

Sunday Night, CCHS writer Shirley Chan gave a reading of some of her
writings from the Eating Stories book, following the presentation of
the documentary Mary Lee Chan Takes on City Hall. The film is about
how Shirley's mother helped to stop the demolition of Strathcona
neighborhood for freeway development. Shirley's daughter Emma paddled
on the Gung Haggis dragon boat team last summer.

See more pictures at:

Heart of the City Festival: Eating Stories at CBA historical building

Gung Haggis dragon boat team is busy… paddlers are reading at Heart of the City Festival and running for Vancouver Parksboard + paddling?

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Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team is BUSY this Sunday:
Paddler Stuart Mackinnon is running for Vancouver Parksboard
Paddler Dan Seto is giving a reading for Heart of the City Festival.

2008_Oct23 006 Gung Haggis paddler Stuart Mackinnon is running for Vancouver Parks Board. Here he poses with his good friend Andrea Reimer who is running for Vancouver City Council – photo Todd Wong

Dan Seto with fellow dragon boat paddlers turned authors Grace Chow and Todd Wong, for the book Eating Stories: A Chinese Canadian & Aboriginal Potluck – photo Deb Martin

For
the past two Sundays, Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team continues to paddle for fun and fitness, after our last “race” at the Ft. Langley Canoe Club Cranberry Festival Regatta. We have paddled to David Lam Park, then to
Granville Island, here we have docked the boat and gone for a
refreshing drink of juice, coffee, hot chocolate or even sake.

Tomorrow
Sunday Nov. 2nd is a very busy day, so it is important that we know how
many paddlers are coming. We have moved the 1:30 practice back to
3:00 to try to accommodate paddlers activities – so please contact
Stephen Mirowski to indicate if you can attend.

Some team members are
helping Stuart Mackinnon in the morning put his pamphlets in neighborhoods, as
Stuart is running for Vancouver Parksboard for the Nov. 15th
Civic election. If you would like to help – please contact Stuart or
Julie Wong:

On Sunday, Stuart will be speaking at the all candidates Parks board meeting at the Roundhouse community centre, while paddler Dan Seto does a reading at the Chinese Benovolent Society. I might also be reading along with Dan, as I have been asked to be a last-minute stand-in for fellow writer Shirley Chan. We will be reading from the book Eating Stories: A Chinese Canadian and Aboriginal Potluck.

Please check out both of these worthy events:

CHINESE CANADIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY WRITERS
Sunday November 2, 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, 108 E. Pender 3rd floor

ALL CANDIDATES MEETING for Park Board Commissioners.

presented by Roundhouse Community
Arts and Recreation Society
Sunday, November 2, 2008
2:00pm to 4:00pm
(Performance Centre)

Chinese Canadian Military Museum celebrates 10th Anniversary with dinner at Pink Pearl

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Important WW2 Canadian history is celebrated by the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, celebrating 10th Anniversary.

DSC_0742_91364 - Colour Party entrance by FlungingPictures.

DSC_0742_91364 - Colour Party entrance by FlungingPictures.

My grand-uncle Daniel Lee and his friend Ed Lee carry the flags for the colour party to help lead the procession of Chinese Canadian veterans to help begin the ceremonies for the 10th anniversary dinner for the Chinese Canadian Military Museum – photo Patrick Tam/Flunging Pictures.When Canada was fighting WW2, the Canadian government initially didn’t want any soldiers of Chinese ethnicity – even if they had been born in Canada. Several Chinese Canadians argued that they should fight for Canada and volunteered for service. This action later helped them lobby to give Chinese-Canadians the franchise to vote in 1947.

It was a wonderful evening at the 10th Anniversary celebration dinner for the Chinese Canadian Military Museum. I attended the dinner with my friends Stuart Mackinnon and George Jung. We sat with Chinese American WW2 veterans from Seattle. Peggy Lee-Wong, one of the first Chinese-Canadian women to serve in WW2, also sat with us.

Col. Howe Lee is the founder of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum. Congratulating him is Ellen Woodsworth, former Vancouver city counilor seeking re-election this fall. Both of these people are wonderful community builders, and I admire them greatly. – photo Patrick Tam / Flunging Pictures.

There was a special acknowledgement as Wesley Louie presented his father Victor Louie’s military jacket to Col. Lee and the CCMM. Wesley told the story about how his father, was granted an honorable discharge before he saw service in the Korean War. Victor later went on to run the Marco Polo Theatre Restaurant, where my father painted all the show cards. – photo Todd Wong

My friend Judy Maxwell gave a short talk about the history of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum. She has done a lot of research for CCMM. – photo Todd Wong.

Here’s a picture of the head table with guests. Mrs. and Col. Howe Lee sit beside MLA Jenny Kwan and media commentator Gabriel Yiu. Standing is MLA John Yap in the middle, with Ellen Woodswoth beside him. – photo Patrick Tam / Flunging Pictures

Last year, John Yap MLA for Richmond Steveston invited the veterans to the BC Legislature and highlighted the 60th anniversary of Chinese Canadian citizenship. The following is from his press release re-printed on the CCMM website.

“Today, I rise to speak about a very
important cultural institution in British Columbia, the Chinese-Canadian Military Museum. A non-profit organization established in 1998, the military museum is located in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown.”

Yap continues: “Howe Lee, President and Founder, had a vision to
preserve, collect and bring to light the artifacts, memorabilia and, most importantly, the stories of the Chinese-Canadian veterans that risked their lives in order to serve Canada during World War II, despite the blatant racism and indignities they faced at the time.”

He concludes: “Under the guidance of Howe Lee and Museum Curator Larry Wong, the Chinese-Canadian Military Museum proudly displays the stories of courage, sacrifice and patriotism of those who chose to fight for their country, Canada. I encourage everyone to visit the museum and learn about a widely unknown part of Canada’s military history.”

Read my article about the dinner event created last year to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Canadian Citizenship
Chinese Canadian Veterans dinner May 12 – celebrating 60th anniversary of Canadian Citizenship

How come it dook so long for Asians and First Nations to get the vote in BC?

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Event: Asians, First Nations and the History of the Vote in British Columbia

A Panel Discussion About the History of Exclusion and How It Has Impacted British Columbians

It's the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the colony of British Columbia. But First Nations people have only been voting for 48 years since 1960, Canadians of Japanese ancestry for 59 yeras since 1949, and Canadians of Chinese ancestry for 61 years since 1947. What took so long?

Come check out the following event and find out why.
Okay… I will try NOT to use the “R” word.

This should be an interesting panel discussion. Patricia Roy's book The Triumph of Citizenship: The Japanese and Chinese in Canada, 1941-67
was a BC Book Prize non-ficition nominee for 2008.

Larry Grant can be quite funny – he has a very witty sense of humour. He just did the First Nations greeting for the Chinese Canadian Military Museum 10th Anniversary Dinner on Friday Night – I would love to have him as a guest for the the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in 2009.

Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Location: Vancouver Public Library
Alma VanDusen & Peter Kaye Rooms, Lower Level
350 West Georgia Street

Time: 7:30 – 9:00 pm

Speakers:
Ms. Lily Chow (author), Ms. Masako Fukawa (writer/teacher), Mr. Larry
Grant (Musqueam First Nation), Mr. Harb Gill (Komagata Maru
Foundation), Professor Patricia Roy (University of Victoria)

Until
the mid-20th century Asians and First Nations were not allowed to vote
in British Columbia. It wasn’t until 1947 and 1949 respectively, that
citizens of Chinese and Japanese descent were granted the right to
vote, and only in 1960 was the same right granted to people of First
Nations descent.

Come hear five renowned British Columbia
academics, writers, authors, and activists discuss the significance of
the granting of the vote in British Columbia to minority groups and how
this exclusion of rights has affected British Columbia.

Chinese Canadian, wrestler Carol Huynh, wins Canada's first gold medal in Beijing Olympics

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Carol Huynh, Hazelton BC-born Chinese-Vietnamese-Canadian wins Olympic Gold, breaking Canada's medal drought

It seems ironic that while Canadian media has made much about Chinese-born Canadian athletes competing for Canada in fencing and table tennis, it was Canadian-born Carol Huynh from Hazelton BC, that wins Canada's first gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And it was also

There also have been stories in the media, both English and Chinese language, about where loyalties lie amongst Chinese-Canadians when cheering for Olympic medals. While it is understandable that recent immigrants will still retain emotional ties to their homeland, for born-in-Canada ethnic Chinese, there is clearly only one choice – Canada!

Huynh's father was born in China, and her her mother is Vietnamese. It's a heart-rending story about how the family became refugees 30 years ago, and were sponsored by the United Church and were placed in Hazelton, where Huynh was born and raised. She later attended Simon Fraser University for both academic and athletic study.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=b6700bba-a4eb-4910-ae8e-1b42ee060900

Many SFU students have been Olympic athletes, and I have been priveleged to meet some of them such as Justin Abdou, Greg Edgelow, Chris Wilson, Leah Pells, Jay Triano, and padder Kamini Jain. I have also met coaches Mike Renney, Alison McNeil, Jay Triano, Mike Jones, Dave McKay and Dr. David Cox – my sports psychologist professor. Carol's coach at SFU was Mike Jones, with whom I also spent some time on the SFU Wrestling team during my SFU time. Mike is a former Canadian national wrestling coach. Dave McKay from SFU is the present Canadian wrestling coach.
http://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/Stories/sfunews08050802.shtml

Hazelton really is proud of Carol, and even held fund-raisers to help her parents fly to China, so they could attend the Olympic Games to see their daughter compete.
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20080816146882/local/news/hazelton-wrestler-wins-canada-39s-first-gold.html
Hazelton thrilled for Huynh's wrestling gold

Olympic Games

Wrestling – Profile

Simply golden

B.C. native Carol Huynh used her lightning-fast attack to win gold in Beijing

Kristina Rutherford
CBC Sports

Canada's Carol Huynh poses with the gold medal she won Saturday in the women's freestyle wrestling 48-kilogram weight class. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

Two months before the Beijing Games, Canada’s national team coach used the word “dangerous” to describe Carol Huynh.

Looking at the five-foot-one, 115-pound wrestler, it seemed hard to believe.

“Other coaches who know Carol, they’re scared of her as a wrestler,” Leigh Vierling said. “They really are.”

Those who saw her win Canada’s first gold medal of the Olympic Games will know why.

The 27-year-old Hazelton, B.C., native, known for her lightning-fast
attack and quickness on the mat, went at her opponent immediately in
the 48-kilogram weight class final on Saturday.

Huynh didn’t think about the fact that she was up against the
reigning and three-time world champion. She didn’t think about the fact
that Japan’s Chiharu Icho had been to the Games before, had won silver
in Athens.

Icho won almost every international event since the Athens Games,
while Huynh had only two senior championships to her credit, most
recently the 2007 Pan-American Games. Icho was the odds-on favourite to
win.

No self-doubt

But Huynh attacked, and led from start to finish.

“I knew I wanted to go in with supreme confidence in my abilities
and not doubting myself one second,” a smiling Huynh said after the
medal ceremony Saturday. “That's what I did, and I wrestled the match
of my life, and it was awesome.”

After the referee held her arm up to indicate she had won, Huynh
buried her face in her hands and then ran over to hug her coach.
Members of the crowd passed her a Canadian flag and then Vierling
hoisted her on his shoulders and paraded her around the China
Agricultural University Gymnasium.

She wasn't the favourite, but it was clear early in the gold medal match that Huynh had the edge.

She didn’t even let Icho get on the board in the first period en
route to her 4-0, 2-1 victory. It was her fourth straight win Saturday,
a run that saw her surrender only four points, compared to the 19 she
scored.

That’s typical for Huynh when she's performing to her potential, her coach says.

“When she's wrestling her best, she is very, very quick, very tricky
to wrestle,” Vierling said. “People have a hard time getting a handle
on her. Carol is someone you can't relax on, because the second you do,
she'll pick you apart.”

Despite her abilities, Huynh's first reaction to her victories in both the semis and finals was to cover her mouth in awe.

“I'm just, I'm speechless,” she said after her semifinal win
Saturday. “I don't know what to say. I've been dreaming of this moment
for a long time and it's here. I'm just so proud to be Canadian.”

Family members watching

Hours
later she became the first Canadian woman to win Olympic gold. She did
so in front of a crowd that included her husband, her siblings and her
parents.

“I knew they were basically right in the front row there, and
knowing that in the back of my mind was such a good feeling,” said
Huynh, smiling. “This year hasn’t been all that different from training
for worlds until I came here, and seeing everybody here, I think this
is the big difference. There’s so many people here and it’s just
amazing to see such support.”

Nowhere has she felt more support than in Hazelton, where
fundraisers were held in her honour to assist with her Olympic
endeavour.

“I just wanted to say thank you guys so much,” she said, speaking to the people of Hazelton. “You basically raised an Olympian.”

As the Canadian anthem played for the first time at the Beijing
Games, Huynh stood on the podium singing, the gold medal around her
neck, tears in her eyes.

Then there was no wiping the smile off her face.

“This is unbelievable,” she said, looking at the crowd. “I’m having such a fabulous time. This is so cool.”

“Toddish McWong” installed at the “Free Spirit” exhibition at Royal BC Museum

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Take
150 years of BC history, search through the historical, cultural,
athletic and social events to find 150 of the most interesting people…

Who would you invite to the Royal BC Museum for a party?

– photo Deb Martin (original photo by Richard Montagna)

Todd Wong aka “Toddish McWong” is now an “artifact” in the Royal BC Museum display for “The Party.”

How did this happen?

– photo Todd Wong

Every year, the Royal BC Museum has an interactive display that
visiting tourists can have their picture taken with. Last year it was
for their Titanic display. This is a great place for tourists. It
sits kitty corner to Victoria's Inner Harbour, and is on south side of
The Empress Hotel, and the East side of the BC Legislature buildings.

This year, you can stand next to some of BC's most interesting people. All of these figures are featured in the exhibit “The Party.”
In this picture above are some of my cultural heroes including Rick
Hansen, Chief Dan George, Emily Carr and my friend Joy Kogawa. My
girlfrend Deb Martin is standing right behind Joy (in red). We first
learned about “The Party” exhibit last summer, when Joy needed a full
length picture of her to give to the Royal BC Museum. We took this
picture for Joy, and were glad she was happy.

It's part of the “Free Spirit”
exhibition to celebrate the 150th birthday of British Columbia, founded
as a colony in 1858, and joined Canada in 1871 for the promise of a
coast to coast railway.

Joy Kogawa in “The Party” – photo by Todd Wong

Deb and I first visited the exhibit on April 23rd, earlier this year.
It was with great excitement that we went to the Royal BC Museum, and
up the escalator, searching for the picture of our friend Joy Kogawa.
We visited with writer friend Gary Geddes and David Kogawa, Joy's good
friend and ex-husband. Read our account of our visit here:
Todd's adventure in Victoria: Traveling to “The Party” at BC Royal
Museum
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/4/25/3659001.html

But this time we had a different reason to visit. This time, there was
a life-size picture of me, Todd Wong aka “Toddish McWong.”

At the exhibit, they had also asked visitors for nominations to fill
the remaining spots. I was voted in to “The Party” along with Trevor Linden, Dal Richards, Red Robinson, Ida Chong and Jennie
Butchart.

Deb and I arrived in Victoria after a late start on the 2pm ferry sailing from Tsawwassen.
We checked into The Empress Hotel, because we were also attending an
evening event there to celebrate “150 Years in Golden Mountain”, an
awards and dinner gala to celebrate 150 years of Chinese Canadian
history and achievement in Canada, BC and Victoria. See my account of
the evening here:
Victoria celebrates 150 years of Chinese Canadian History with a grand dinner and awards.

We walked over to the Royal BC Museum, enjoying the lovely sea breeze and the sunshine. The Empress Hotel, now known as the “Fairmont Empress” was designed 100 years ago by BC architect Frances Rattenbury, who also designed the BC Legislature buildings.

Todd stands in front of a modest Kim Campbell – the first female
Canadian Prime Minister and slightly behind Chee-ah-thluc, Chief of the
Songhess people from the 1840's to 1864, aka “King Freezy” (because of
his frizzled hair). – photo Deb Martin

There are video stations containing silouettes of each figure in the
display. You click on one of the figures, and a short biography pops
up on screen. This is the display for Todd Wong:

Photo Library - 2909 by you. – photo Deb Martin

This is the video display of the “Todd Wong bio.” The original photograph was taken by my friend Richard Montagna. Richard specializes in fine art, commercial, portrait, action, and landscape photography.

It reads:

Voted in by the visiting public, this person is seen as an important figure in BC history!

Todd Wong (1980- )
Passionate
about intercultural adventures, “Toddish McWong” founded Gung Haggis
Fat Choy, a Robert Burns / Chinese New Year event that has been
celebrating with an annual dinner since 1997.

Corrections:
No – Todd wasn't born in
1980. That would have made him only 13 years old when he first invited
the phrase “Gung Haggis Fat Choy” while wearing his first kilt for a
Robbie Burns celebration at Simon Fraser University. Sometimes museums
make typo mistakes too.

My girlfriend's favorite character in the display (besides me) is the Vancouver Island Marmot – photo Deb Martin

Victoria celebrates 150 years of Chinese Canadian History with a grand dinner and awards

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Chinese Canadian achievements feted at Victoria's Empress Hotel, attended by Hon. Norman Kwong, Sen. Vivienne Poy, Dr. David Lai, Dr. Wallace Chung and many others.

Hon. Norman Kwong, Lt. Gov. of Alberta, addressing the 150 Years in Golden Mountain dinner audience – photo Todd Wong

It was a night to recognize achievements in Chinese Canadian history, and it was best summed up by the Hon. Lt. Gov. of Alberta Norman Kwong. He told a story about how challenging it was being the first Chinese in the Canadian Football League, and how the Calgary Stampeders had given up on him.

“Don't ever give up,” he told the audience. The he proudly showed his Stanley Cup ring and mentioned his four Grey Cup victories, “And I'm Chinese!” he said.

David
Obee and Lucinda Chodan, Editor and Editor in Chief of the Vicotoria
Times Colonist stand with Todd Wong, Victor Wong and Daniel Lee,
holding up copies of the 12 page insert titled Chinatown that
celebrated 150 years of Chinese Canadian Chinatown history – photo Deb
Martin.

Archival picture displays of Chinese Canadian history greeted the audience for the “150 Years in Golden Mountain” gala event – photo Todd Wong

The evening had began with a reception in the Palm Court of the Empress Hotel. There were picture displays, music, food and mingling. I was finally able to meet Amanada Mills, the chair of the Victoria Chinese Commerce Association, who I had communicated with for months, as well as Sinclair Mar, the chair of the 150 Years in Golden Mountain Celebrations Committee. And I also finally got to meet Dr. David Lai, Victoria Chinatown historian, whom I have heard so much about over the years.

Todd Wong & Sen. Vivienne Poy – photo Deb Martin.

Senator Vivienne Poy is the patron senator of Asian Heritage Month
throughout Canada, and I first met her in Ottawa when I worked for
Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society. It's always nice to see
Vivienne, as her husband's late Aunt Cecilia had been married to my
grandmother's oldest brother Henry.

NDP leader Carole James & Todd Wong – photo Deb Martin

I chatted with Gabriel Yiu, news commentator, and Carole James, NDP Opposition Leader. I asked Carole about her family ancestry, and she shared with me that her father was First Nations. I thought it would be real cool if she became Premier, because then we would have both a Premier and Lt. Gov. of First Nations heritage! I got to know Gabriel when we were both active on the Chinese Head Tax Redress campaign. Unfortunately Jenny Kwan couldn't attend, as she is due with her second child in one month.

Many people traveled from Vancouver to attend this event. I bumped into Tung Chan, executive director of SUCCESS. We remarked that this was a great event and lamented that nothing of this scope was happening in Vancouver…. yet.

It was wonderful to see Dr. Wallace Chung and Dr. Madeline Chung of Vancouver. They have given so much to the community in Vancouver, the Chinese Cultural Centre, the Vancouver Maritime Museum and the UBC Asian Library. They are friends of my parents, and it was Dr. Madeline who delivered me as a baby many many years ago.

Deb Martin, Valerie Sing Turner & Todd Wong – photo Deb Martin

Actor/Writer Valerie Sing Turner was there with her family, as her father James Sing was an award winner. I had last seen Valerie's family at the opening of her theatrical production of Malaysia Hotel, when I helped promote it through Asian Heritage Month, and also find her some sponsorship.

Victoria councilor Charlene Thornton-Joe with Todd Wong – photo Deb Martin

Charlene Thornton-Joe came over to our table during the dinner to say hello. It was the first time I had met this Victoria city councilor, after reading about her efforts to preserve Victoria's Chinese heritage.

It was nice to speak with MLA Ida Chong, who brought greetings from the
Government of British Columbia, as Premier Campbell was in Beijing for
the Olympics. Ida Chong is one of the 6 newest invitees (along with
me) to “The Party” exhibit at the Royal BC Museum, which features
life-size photos of almost 150 of BC's most colourful and interesting
characters. Ida is the first Canadian-born MLA of Chinese ancestry.

150 Years in Golden Mountain Awards

My role at this dinner and awards evening was to represent the Rev. Chan Yu Tan family along with my grand uncles Victor Wong and Daniel Lee. We all sat at the same table, accompanied by Uncle Victor's wife Auntie Dorothy and my girlfriend Deb Martin.

Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe was the dinner Emcee, Hudson Mack of A-Channel was Emcee for the awards.

Norman Kwong, the Hon. Lt. Gov. of Alberta was invited to say a few official words of greeting, representing the Queen. But instead he turned it into his acceptance speech for his award. I guess there was some confusion, or else Mr. Kwong was very canny, because sadly there were no acceptance speeches allowed for the award recipients, as the program didn't allow for any on a very tight schedule.

But as each winner was escorted to the stage, there was a short video played on a large video screen with a voice-over, as pictures flashed before the audience. It was a lovely gesture and helped to give meaning to each person's contributions to history and why they were deserving of the award.

Here's what the program said about the winner of the British Columbia Lifetime Cultural or Multicultural Award:

This award goes to recognize Revernd Chan Yu Tan who came to Canada in 1896 and ministered to the Chinese pioneers who worked on the railroad, searched for gold, and became shopkeepers and labourers in Victoria, Vancouver, Nanaimo and eventually New Westminster where he eventually retired. Reverend Chan taught English to the Chinese and emphasized learning Canadian ways, espeically to his extended family. His son Jack loved golf and was the first Chinese Canadian to serve on jury duty. His youngest son Luke became an actor in Hollywood. The four sons of his daughters Rose and Kate enlisted in the Canadian armed forces in World War II, eventually helping Chinese-Canadians gain the right to vote and later helped organize the Chinese Canadian Veterans Associations. His four grandchildren who served overseas in World War II were Victor Eric Wong, and brothers Howard Lee, Daniel Lee and Leonard Lee. A great grand-daughter Rhonda Lee Larabee became First Nations Band Chief and great grandson Todd Wong created the event Gung Haggis Fat Choy, a mixture of Robbie Burns Day and Chinese New Year.

Picture of Rev. & Mrs. Chan Yu Tan's 60th Wedding Anniversary, surrounded by their family and descendants – photo Deb Martin.

Rev.
Chan descendants Todd Wong, Daniel Lee, Victor Wong, stand beside
Celebrations Chair Sinclair Mar and Awards Emcee Hudson Mack from
A-Channel – photo Deb Martinev

Rev. Chan descendants Todd Wong, Daniel Lee, Victor Wong, stand beside Celebrations Chair Sinclair Mar and Awards Emcee Hudson Mack from A-Channel – photo Deb Martin

The evening's final award, the Golden Mountain Pioneer Legacy Award, was given in recognition to the Chinese Canadian Veterans. Both my grand-uncles Victor Wong and Daniel Lee went to accept it.

Here's an excerpt from the program about the veterans:

“…After WWII, they concentrated efforts in a lobby for the franchise and other civil rights. Sgt. Roy Q. Mah, the founding member and President of the Ethnic Associate Press of BC, Vice-President of Ethnic Press Federation of Canada nad owner-publisher-editor of the Chinatown News, went with a contingent of Chinese Canadian Veterans to Ottawa to lobby influential politicians and Members of Parliament. Their lobby was successful, and Paliament soon passed the bill giving Chinese Canadians both the franchise and citizenship. On January 1st, 1947, Chinese Canadian full rights as Canadian Citizens, including the right to vote, were finally recognized.”

Daniel Lee and Victor Wong stand onstage, as a picture of Victor Wong in India during WW2 is shown on the giant screen – photo Todd Wong

Uncle Dan and Uncle Victor proudly accepted the award, and the entire audience rose to give them a standing ovation. They represented one of the most important moments in Chinese-Canadian history. They both saluted the audience, the the applause grew louder. I am very proud of my uncles, because I know about all the work and devotion they have to keeping the legacy of the Chinese Canadian veterans alive.

Photo Library - 2949
Victor Wong and Daniel Lee, cousins and grandsons of Rev. Chan Yu Tan saluted the audience after accepting the Golden Mountain Pioneer Legacy Award on behalf of their fellow Chinese Canadian veterans- photo Todd Wong

Every November, Uncle Dan is out selling poppies in the streets of Vancouver and he is now 88 years old. He has helped organize the Armistice Ceremonies in Vancouver's Victory Square for many many years. Uncle Victor was interviewed for the CBC documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy, as he recounted stories about not only his grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, but also about being in the service, and that he had been a part of a covert force behind enemy lines that were to be assigned suicide missions. This is the legacy of the Chinese Canadian veterans – that even though the Canadian government wouldn't let them vote in the country they were born in, they were willing to lay down their lives to defend it.

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Giles, Amanda Mills (VCCA Chair), Serena, Sinclair Mar (Celebration Chair), Deb Martin, Todd Wong shared thoughts and company after the event at The Empress Hotel's Bengal Lounge. – photo Deb Martin

More pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53803790@N00/sets/72157606697779094/

Here is a complete list of the awards:

The Golden Mountain Achievement Awards:
“…the recognize persons of distinction in the Chinese community or for being intrumental in the growth and development of Chinese culture and business…”'

Canadian Lifetime Individual Achievement Award
Dr. David See-Chia Lam

Canada Lifetime Public and Community Serivce Award
Ron Lou-Poy, Q.C.

Canada Lifetime Public and Community Service Award
Senator Vivienne Poy

Canada Lifetime Entrepreneurial Achievement Award
Hon. Norman L. Kwong

Canada Lifetime Entrepreneurial Achievement Award
James Alan Loo Sing

British Columbia Lifetime Entrepreneurial Achievement Award
Hok Yat Louie (post-humous), Tong Louie (post-humous), Brandt Louie, H.Y. Louie Co. Ltd, and London Drugs Ltd.

British Columbia Lifetime Public and Community Service Award
Sgt. Roy Quock Quon Mah (post-humous)

British Columbia Lifetime Cultural or Multicultural Award
Rev. Chan Yu Tan (post-humous)

Inaugural Golden Mountain Achievement Awards British Columbia:
“For recognition of persons or businesses, who are persons of Chinese descent or an organization having “Chinese” roots, who have excelled in their field of endeavor benefiting the Chinese Canadian communities or Canadian society. These awards are to be for nominations in or related to British Columbia

BC Business and Entrepreneurial Achievement Award
H.Y. Louie Co. Ltd.

British Columbia Arts, Culture or Educational Achievement Award
Dr. Hua Lin

British Columbia Community and Public Service Award
Phillip J. Chan (post-humous)

British Columbia Online or Multi-platform Achievement Award
Mainstream Broadcasting Corporation

Inaugural Golden Mountain Roots Awards and All-Canadian Benefactor Awards:
“The 'Roots' awards are for recognition of distinguished work and dedication to preserving our heritage, culture, and or to advancing our economic impact or advancing business enterprises or projects or research, in or related to, or tied to Victoria BC and/or creating better understanding between Canadians of all backgrounds and/or advancing the entrepreneurial spirit emanating from our roots, Victoria, BC. they are the safekeepers of our heritage and roots in Victoria, the first Chinatown in Canada.

Victoria, British Columbia Individual or Family Victoria Heritage Award
Don Yuen

Victoria, British Columbia Individual or Family Heritage Award
Dr. Yuen-Fong Woon

Victoria, British Columbia Corporate or Organizational Heritage Award
Fairway Market

Victoria “Roots” Community and Public Service Heritage Award
Dr. David Lai

Victoria “Roots” Community and Public Service Heritage Award
Lee Mong Kow Family

British Columbia All-Canadian Benefactor Award
&
Victoria “Roots” Community and Public Service Heritage Award
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

Victoria “Roots” All-Canadian Benefactor Award
Victoria Chinese Presbyterian Church

Golden Mountain Pioneer Legacy Award
Chinese Canadian Veterans

150 Years in Golden Mountain
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story.html?id=ee16c99d-5863-44a9-a0ba-09aac28a6ade

Pageant will tell tales of Golden Mountain
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=867dcebe-097b-4652-9ac6-a4c65456d34c

Celebration Pageant
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story.html?id=ee16c99d-5863-44a9-a0ba-09aac28a6ade

“150 Years in Golden Mountain” – Gala dinner and awards in Victoria on August 8/08

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August 3-10 is Chinese Canadian Heritage Days, in honour of 150 years of Chinese Canadian achievements – throughout many municipalities on Vancouver Island.

http://www.150goldenmountain.ca/EN/main/18.html

Victoria Chinese Commerce Association is hosting two events Friday August 8, and Saturday August 9th to celebrate 150 years of
achievement of Chinese Canadians in Canada. August 8th is a gala dinner and awards event celebrating the achievements of individuals and organizations. August 9th is a theatrical “pageant” celebrating 150 years of historical events.

Victoria, British Columbia,
(which the Chinese call 'Dai Fau' or Big Port) is where the early
Chinese created the first Chinatown. Historically, Chinatowns were the
focal points of the early Chinese communities, each being a “haven” and
a base from which new immigrants could begin their new lives.

My grandmother's granfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan arrived in Victoria in 1896, following his elder brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai, who had come to Canada in 1888 at the invitation of the Methodist Church of Canada, to help found the Chinese Methodist Church of Canada. Many of Canada's pioneer Chinese all came through Victoria, as they traveled to Nanaimo, Vancouver, New Westminster, Barkerville, and throughout Canada to mine the Caribou goldfields, build the railway, or find other work.

The awards nominees represent some of the best, brightest and most creative Chinese Canadians ever. They are:

ANA vets
Pacific Unit #280, Philip Chan, Chinese Canadian Veterans, Denise
Chong, Wayson Choy, CHMB AM 1320, Hon. Ida Chong, Derek Chow, John
Chew, Adrienne Clarkson, Mel Cooper, Won Alexander Cumyow, Fairchild
Group, Chow Dong Hoy, Shouying (Sue) Jiang, Douglas Jung, Lee Mong Kow
Family, Larry Kwong, Hon. Norman Kwong,
Cynthia Lam, Dr. David Lai,
Dr. David Lam, Dorothy
Lam, Howe Lee, Jack Lee, Dr. Hua Lin, Dr. Victor Ling, Ronald Lou-Poy,
Q.C., Frank Low, Alan Lowe, Alexina Louie, H.Y. Louie Company Limited,
Hok Yat Louie, Tong Louie & Brandt Louie, H.Y. Louie Company Ltd
& London Drugs, Willis Louie, Sgt. Roy Quock Quon Mah,
Tak Wah Mak, Gary Mar, Hon. Inky Mark, Fairway Market, Wayne Ngan, Senator Vivienne Poy, Gordon Quan, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, James Sing,
Rev. Chan Yu Tan, Jack Tang, Victoria
Chinese Presbyterian Church, Victoria Chinese Public School, Milton
Wong, Sheung Wong, Dr. Yuen-Fong Woon, Don Yuen, & Jim Yu.

I am attending as a descendant of Rev. Chan Yu Tan, who was earlier announced as a Community Achievement winner. My grandmother's brother – Daniel Lee is representing Army/Navy/Airforce veterans Unit #280. My grandmother's cousin Victor Wong is representing Chinese Canadian Veterans of Victoria.

Today I talked with Amanda Mills, co-chair for the event. Amanda said that she is really pleased that everything is unfolding for a grand event that will be very special.

She told me that some of the “celebrity” Chinese Canadians attending on Saturday include: Hon. Norman Kwong, now the Lt. Gov. of Alberta – the famous “China Clipper” Edmonton Eskimos football player who not only won the Grey Cup, but also the Stanley Cup as an owner of the Calgary Flames.

Sen. Vivienne Poy, the patron senator of Asian Heritage Month in Canada is attending, from her home in Ontario.

MLA Ida Chong will be representing the BC Govermnent. Ida was also recently invited to “The Party” at the Royal BC Museum. She is the first Canadian-born BC MLA of Chinese ancestry.

MLA Jenny Kwan is also attending. Jenny was the first Chinese-Canadian MLA and cabinet minister. MLA Carole James, leader of the Opposition, is also attending.

It's going to be a star-studded night in Chinese-Canadian history.

Hmmm…. Should I go as Todd Wong, great-great-grandson of Rev. Chan Yu Tan, or as Toddish McWong and wear my kilt?

Amanda says she is looking forward to finally meeting me, after many phone and e-mail conversations. She is hoping I will wear my kilt.

Royal BC Museum invites 6 new people to “The Party” including Trevor Linden, Dal Richards, Red Robinson, Ida Chong and Todd Wong!

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Trevor Linden, Red Robinson, Dal Richards, Ida Chong and Todd Wong are the newest invitees to the Royal BC Museum's exhibit “The Party” to celebrate BC's 150 year history.

If you could invite 150 of BC's most colourful citizens throughout it's 150 year history to “The Party” who would you invite?

Governor James Douglas or Pamela Anderson? Architects George Rattenbury, Arthur Eriksen, or James Cheng? Athletes Joe Sakic, Karen Magnusson, Steve Nash or Nancy Greene? Artists Emily Carr, Toni Onley, Jack Shadbolt or Robert Davidson? Community Activists Nelly McClung, Rosemary Brown or the Raging Grannies?

Inspirational icons Terry Fox or Rick Hansen? Politicians Svend Robinson, Grace McCarthy, Dave Barrett, Kim Campbell or Amor de Cosmos? Musicians Bryan Adams, Diana Krall, David Foster or Sarah McLachlan? Authors Jane Rule, Douglas Coupland, Dorothy Livesay or Joy Kogawa?

Actors Chief Dan George, Yvonne De Carlo, Kim Catrall or Bruno Gerussi? Environmentalists David Suzuki or Roderick Haig Brown? Business leaders Tong Louie, Jimmy Pattison or Nat Bailey? And what about “Hanging Judge” Begbie, Expo Ernie or Mr. Peanut?

The Royal BC Museum's website says”

The history of our province is filled with fascinating people. Find out who they
are. Uncover their stories. These are the guests invited to The Party so far.

All of the above are all invited as guests… and now… Gung Haggis Fat Choy founder Todd Wong has joined them along with new invitees Trevor Linden, Ida Chong, Dal Richards, Red Robinson, and Jennie Butchart – the inspiration behind the Butchart Gardens.

Todd Wong stands beside BC hockey player Sakic, beneath author & friend Joy Kogawa, activist Betty Krawcyk, and nearby Gov. James Douglas, when he visited the exhibit on April 23rd – photo Deb Martin.

To see the picture of me in the exhibit check out http://www.freespiritbc.ca/virtualexhibition/theparty.aspx
and scroll to the far right. The picture was taken by my friend
Richard Montagna. So far only six of the most recent invitees are on
website. The official press release announcement will be on August 6th.

Read Todd's August 8th account of visiting his picture at the Royal BC Museum:

“Toddish McWong” installed at the “Free Spirit” exhibition at Royal BC Museum

The Royal BC Museum website says:

Todd Wong

“Passionate about intercultural adventures, “Toddish McWong” founded Gung Haggis Fat Choy, a Robert Burns / Chinese New Year event that has been celebrating with an annual dinner since 1997.”

It is indeed an honour to be included with so many illustrious and
creative BCers. It's amazing to think that Gung Haggis Fat Choy has
created such an impact, inspiring dinners in Seattle, Whistler, Ottawa, Wells BC
and Santa Barbara California (that I know about). As well there has been the 2004
CBC television performance special “Gung Haggis Fat Choy“, and the SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival.

I had visited the exhibit on April 23, when I traveled to accept my BC Community Achievement Award. We were excited to see the picture of Joy Kogawa, which I had taken. Joy was one of the original 132 persons chosen for the exhibit, but it was challenging to find a full length picture of her, so I volunteered myself and girlfriend as photographers for her.

Check out my story about bout finding Joy's picture and visiting the exhibit “The Party”:

Todd stans in front of “The Party” in front of his friend Joy Kogawa. – photo Deb Martin

Todd's adventure in Victoria: Traveling to “The Party” at BC Royal
Museum

I guess it is time to write that “Gung Haggis Fat Choy” book I have wanted to for awhile… or a theatrical play about the mythical Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner called “Gung Haggis Fat Choy.”

I personally really think it is time for post-multiculturalism, when we can embrace a mix of cultures as well as creating our own new cultures and traditions out of that mix.

150 years ago, James Douglas was BC's first governor. But a lot of people don't realize that he was born of mixed Scottish and Creole bloodlines in Guyana. He married a Metis woman, Amelia Connolly,
whose father
was an Irish-French fur trader and whose mother was a Cree Chief’s
daughter. Author and friend Terry Glavin told me that Douglas had envisioned a new land where people from all over the world could come and live harmoniously in peace.

Racial and cultural issues have always been part of our province's history, whether it was wars between the Haida and the Kwakiutal, Black American or Chinese miners coming to BC for the gold rush, the Potlatch Law, the Chinese Head Tax, the Komagata Maru incident, the internment of Canadian born Japanese-Canadians during WW2, or even the present day First Nations treaty negotiations, migrant farm workers from Central America, nurses and nannies from the Phillipines, rising immigration from Hong Kong and China.

Here are the write-ups for my fellow newest invitees to The Party.

Ida Chong:

This Victoria native first entered politics in 1993 and three years later became the first Canadian-born person of Chinese ancestry elected to the British Columbia legislature.

Dal Richards (1918 – )
A member of the Kitsilano Boys Band in his youth, this Vancouver native began his professional musical career 70 years ago, and is now playing more gigs than ever.

Red Robinson (1937- )
At the age of 16, he was one of the first Canadian disc jockeys to play Rock'N' Roll. He is a member of the Canadian Broadcast hall of fame, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Trevor Linden (1970 – )
This National Hockey League All-star played 16 of his 19 seasons as a Vancouver Canuck. A holder of many team records he retired in June 2008.

Jennie Butchart (1866-1950)
Wife of Portland-cement pioneer Robert Butchart. Her inspired creations of Butchart Gardens in the limestone quarry at Tod Inlet became a world-renowned destination for visitors to British Columbia

http://www.freespiritbc.ca/virtualexhibition/theparty.aspx

Gung HAGGIS Fat Choy

Toddish McWong's Misadventures in Multiculturalism: through arts, culture, food, dragon boats, travel + more…

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