Fred Wah shines at Gung Haggis Fat Choy World Poetry night event at Vancouver Public Library


Fred
Wah held the audience in thrall as he read his poems at the recent Gung
Haggis Fat Choy World Poetry Night reading January 17, at the Vancouver
Public Library, Central Branch.  Wah read poems from his many
works such as Diamond Grill and the collection Waiting for Sasketchewan
which had won him the Govenor General's Award for Poetry.  Wah
chose many poems to fit the evening's hybrid theme, many of them about
food.  He spoke about how food transcended cultures and recalled
the foods he had grown up with.  Just over 100 people attended the
evening and listend to Wah speek about his experiences growing up
hybrid between his father's mixed Irish, Scottish and Chinese heredity
and his mother's Swedish family while growing up in Canada's not always
multicultural-friendly communities. 

The evening started drawing to a closing with a group poem by the World
Poetry collective titled the Ballad of Gung Haggis Fat Choy World
Poetry.  Alejandro, Ariadne, Shirley and Dugald were joined on
stage by James, Jacinta and Shirley's husband Trev Sue-A-Quan (featured
in 2004's event).  The poem recognized the origins of the event
with creators Toddish McWong, Ariadne and Alejandro, and how 
different cultures each bring something to the mosaic of Canada. 
To end the evening, Wong and McDonald lead a singalong where all 100
audience members stood up in a circle and joined hands to sing the
imortal word of Robert Burns,  “Should old aquaintance be
forgot…)

World Poetry and Gung Haggis Fat Choy come together for one night –
January 17th,
7:30pm at the Vancouver Public Library – Central
Branch – Alice McKay Room.  350 Georgia St. Vancouver.

Check out our fabulous GHFC World Poetry Poster

At 7:30pm bagpiper Joe McDonals will
“pipe” the performers into the Alice MacKay room at the Vancouver
Public Library, Central Branch.  The evening of poetry and music
will include singalongs, some poetry by Robert Burns and references to
Chinese New Year.  We blend together Canadian contemporary poets
born in Scotland, China, or of Chinese or Scottish ancestry.  Gung
Haggis Fat Choy World Poetry Night addresses what came before, what is
in-between and what is beyond.

Fred Wah is our featured poet –
retired University of Calgary English Professor and winner of the
Governor General's Award for Poetry for his prose poem collection
“Waiting for Sasketchewan.  Fred says his father was
Scottish/Irish/Chinese – Canadian and his mother was Swedish-Canadian.

Joe McDonald is our featured musician – bagpiper and leader of the ethno-fusion band Brave Waves. Joe
and Brave Waves were featured last year in the CBC TV special “Gung
Haggis Fat Choy.”  Joe is also a fascinating contemporary
singer/songwriter.

Dugald Christie is an activist
lawyer and champion of human writes.  He was born in Scotland and
writes poetry in Canada.  In February he will be given a life-time
achievement award by the World Poetry Society.

Shirley Sue-A-Quan is a writer, and
poet, born in China – she also writes for local Chinese language
newspapers.  She brings an insightful global vision to her work.  She
is married to writer Trev Sue-A-Quan, born in Guyana, who was featured
at last year's inaugural Gung Haggis Fat Choy World Poetry Night, as
well as the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner.

And… there will be a poems and words from co-hosts Toddish McWong, Ariadne Sawyer and Alejandro Mujica-Olea.  A specially composed original group poem will also be presented for the evening…

…and maybe a surprise!

World Poetry and Gung Haggis Fat Choy come together for one night –
January 17th, 7:30pm at the Vancouver Public Library – Central
Branch – Alice McKay Room.  350 Georgia St. Vancouver.

Check out our fabulous GHFC World Poetry Poster

Ariadne Sawyer, my co-organizer and host of World Poetry Night with Alejandro Mujica-Olea is very excited about our 2nd annual collaboration.

Fred Wah is our featured poet –
retired University of Calgary English Professor and winner of the
Governor General's Award for Poetry for his prose poem collection
“Waiting for Sasketchewan.  Fred says his father was
Scottish/Irish/Chinese – Canadian and his mother was
Swedish-Canadian.

Joe McDonald is our featured musician – bagpiper and leader of the ethno-fusion band Brave Waves. Joe
and Brave Waves were featured last year in the CBC TV special “Gung
Haggis Fat Choy.”  Joe is also a fascinating contemporary
singer/songwriter.

Dugald Christie is an activist
lawyer and champion of human writes.  He was born in Scotland and
writes poetry in Canada.  In February he will be given a life-time
achievement award by the World Poetry Society.

Shirley Sue-A-Quan is a writer, and
poet, born in China – she also writes for local Chinese language
newspapers.  She brings an insightful global vision to her
work.  She is married to writer Trev Sue-A-Quan, born in
Guyana, who was featured at last year's inaugural Gung Haggis Fat
Choy World Poetry Night, as well as the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner.

And… there will be a poems and words from co-hosts Toddish McWong, Ariadne Sawyer and Alejandro Mujica-Olea.  A specially composed original group poem will also be presented for the evening…

…and maybe a surprise!

Gung Haggis Fat Choy

World Poetry Night!

WHEN: 7:30p.m. Monday January 17, 2005WHAT:  A very special intercultural poetry night celebrating Robbie Burns day and Chinese New Year featuring

 Fred Wah, Governor General's Award for Poetry Winner (Waiting For Sasketchewan, Diamondback Grill, So Far, Music at the Heart of Thinking, Loki is Buried at Smoky Creek)

 Joe McDonald (left), Dugald Christie, Shirley Sue-A-Quan (Xiaoli Cao), Billy Yizhong,  Jacinda Oldale, 

Hosted by Todd Wong (creator of Gung Haggis Fat ChoyÔ ) and Ariadne Sawyer & Alejandro Mujica-Olea (Hosts of World Poetry Series)

WHERE: Vancouver Public Library, Alice MacKay Room (lower level), 350 West Georgia Street
ADMISSION: FREE
MORE DETAILS: Check out Todd's original post and the poster (PDF)

for more information contact Todd Wong 604-987-7124 or e-mail gunghaggis@yahoo.ca

Here is the 2005 poster for Gung Haggis Fat Choy World Poetry Night.

January 17, 2005, 7pm Monday evening.

Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch, 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver – Alice Mackay Room

Featured poets are:

Fred Wah, winner of Governor General's Award for Poetry for his collection “Waiting for Sasketchewan”, writer of 17 books including “The Diamond Grill” a bio-fiction work of prose poem examining growing up mixed race in a Chinese cafe in Prairie Canada.  Fred is a retired English professor from University of Calgary, and is the self-described son of a Canadian born Scottish-Chinese-Irish father and a Swedish born Canadian mother.

Dugald Christie, born in Scotland, winner of World Poetry Series Lifetime Achievement Award.

Shirley Sue-A-Quan, born in China, writer, jounalist.

Joe McDonald, born in Canada of Scottish ancestry, singer/songwriter and player of bagpipes, keyboards and harmonica.

Hosts are Todd Wong (5th generation Chinese Canadian and creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy), Ariadne Sawyer and Alejandro Mujica (respectively born and raised in Canada and Chile).