Category Archives: Upcoming Events

Taiwanes Cultural Festival is exciting with lots of music + I take Gregor Robertson onto a Taiwanese Dragon Boat

The Taiwanese Cultural Festival is one of Vancouver's most exciting festivals.
It is truly a mixture of arts, culture, music and sports. And it features both local and international artists.

Name another cultural festival in Vancouver with it's own dragon boat races… Did you say Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival? That's really a dragon boat race with a festival attached to it. The Taiwanese Cultural Festival really stands on its own. Dragon Boat racing was only introduced as a side event 6 years ago. And…. these dragon boat races are special – no where else in Canada will you find a dragon boat race where you have to grab a flag before you cross the finish line. It makes for a very exciting race to watch.

Name another ethnic festival that features internationally known performers… Did you say the SUCCESS fundraiser at GM Place? True but it's not actually a walkabout festival and you would have to pay way more than the $10-$12 to get in. This is like the PNE – but for Taiwanese culture and history. And lots of entertainment in both Mandarin in English languages. This year's Taiwan Festival features Wu Bai & China Blue Concert Tour – only one of two North American stops.

On Saturday morning, I popped into the Taiwanese Festival in between races. I watched part of the opening ceremonies with all the VIP's sitting in the front of the stage. I recognized city councilors Raymond Louie and BC Lee. MLA Raj Chouhan and provincial candidate Gabriel Yui. It was also nice to talk to James Chou, one of the event organizers. The Taiwanese Cultural Festival has always played a big role in getting local politicians to attend. I can't think of any other ethnic festivals that would warrant enough attention in the ethnic community to warrant political parties having their own booths, but here there were information booths set up by the provincial NDP, and the civic COPE and Vision Vancouver parties.

Our dragon boaters always like to go visit the food stalls at the Taiwanese Festival. Dim Sum is available, as well as noodles, sticky rice and curried squid. My friend Dave and I shared shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings and sticky rice. It hit the spot nicely. Usually we recommend to our paddlers not to eat too much greasy food such as hamburgers and fries before racing. But these light foods satisfied the tummy just right.

In the afternoon, I was able to see part of the music performance of Eastern Legends by Chai Found Music Workshop. They have an exciting blend of Chinese traditional music instruments that thye use with rock music stylings and a great energetic dance moves.

I also was lucky to see Orchid Ensemble – one of my favorite cross-cultural fusion music ensembles. They always bring a high level of viturosity to their performances.

After the racing was done, I went back to the exhibit booths where I found Gregor Robertson, former MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, and now mayor candidate for Vision Vancouver. Gregor had attended this year's Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner, and I've met him a few times over the years. He had never seen a Taiwanese dragon boat before, so I took him down to the dock, just after the last races had finished. I explained how the Taiwanese dragon boat races were different than the other dragon boat races in Vancouver, and how we set up the first flag grabbing demonstration race between city councilor Raymond Louie and former Olympic Gold Medalist Lori Fung. If Gregor is going to be our next Vancouver mayor, it's also important that he understands how dragon boat racing is considered both an iconic and integral part of Vancouver's cultural diversity. We also briefly talked about the threat to False Creek by the accidental sewage dumps caused by the 2010 constuction in South East False Creek, and how it affects recreational boating for Vancouverites.

Here are some of the other featured performances at the Taiwanese Cultural Festival this year.

When Danny met Sophie
The Encounter of Erhu and Cello

“Justice Rocks” is highlighting music and social activism at Strathcona Park on Saturday June 30th.

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“Justice Rocks” is a FREE one-day concert in East Vancouver's Strathcona Park.

August 30th, 2008
12 noon to 8pm features live music.

This sounds like a pretty cool happening event. I wish I could be there. . I was invited to take part in a presentation of Canta-Storia, which is an interactive activist theatre group that made presentations on the strike line during last fall's Vancouver civic strike. This event is also sponsored by CUPE BC, and CUPE 391 Vancouver Library Workers – I am a member-at-large on our union executive. Some of my friends who were active in CUPE 391 and CUPE 15 will be there,

From the press release and website:

“We wanted to hold a summer event that brings together music and ideas for social change,” said John Richardson, Executive Director of Pivot. “Justice Rocks is about showing how fun it can be to help make the world a better place .”

Justice Rocks will feature musical programming from noon to 8pm, as well as a variety of tents with displays and activities on the themes of social engagement, highlighting successful and innovative ways to make social change happen. A number of leading social and environmental organizations will showcasing their most innovative ways of using pop-culture to engage and educate the public, and prizes will be awarded for the most effective and thought provoking approaches.Featured musicians include: local indie musicians Choir Practice,
Curtis Santiago, Fur Bearing Animals, Run GMC and more!

Justice Rocks will be a family oriented outdoor event with activities during the day, and will offer a 'Kidz Zone', including a shaded child-oriented rest area, face painting, big bubbles, story-time hosted by children's librarians from the Vancouver Public Library, crafts and cooperative games for children of all ages.

Justice Rocks is a break-even event. All proceeds raised will go exclusively to paying the costs of event production, with any profits going towards the costs of Justice Rocks 2009.
If you have a question regarding Justice Rocks or would like to get involved, give us a shout!

You can call us at Pivot Legal Society at (604) 255-9700.
Ask to speak to Michaela Montaner (ext.105) or John Richardson (ext.110).

For more details check out http://justicerocks.org/ and stay tuned

“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

“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.

Madeline Thien is reading at UBC Thursday!

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Madeleine Thien, author of Certainty, gives reading Thursday at UBC,

Thien burst onto the literary scene with her short story collection Simple Recipes. It was nominated for Vancouver Book Award, and many others. She had a wonderful little children's story, The Chinese Violin, that was also turned into a short animated film. Her latest work Certainty, has also received many accolades. Great for her first novel!

I first met Maddy a few years ago in 2002, when we recognized her as a past winner of the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop Emerging Writer Award, at our first ACWW Community Builder's Dinner which honoured Roy Mah, Paul Yee and Wayson Choy.

There's going to be a Madeleine Thien reading at UBC this Thursday July
17 at 3:00-4:30pm. Besides UBC staff and students, various community
groups will be joining us for this reading, too. CCHS will be one of
them. I hope you can join us!

When:
Thursday, July 17,2008 – 3:00pm – 4:30pm

Where:
The Lillooet Room (301), Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

Admission:
FREE

The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre is located at
1961 East Mall, Vancouver BC
at the University
of British Columbia.

Harry Aoki Tribute concert July 20th, at Firehall Arts Centre

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Harry Aoki is one of Vancouver's musical treasures.

A Celebration of Harry Aoki

Harry was already high on the harmonica when he fell in love with
the double bass in the early 1940s, and the rest is history in the
making. For the past half-century he has been actively, sometimes
hyperactively, using classical, jazz, popular and ethnic music and
dialogue to promote the theme of harmonious diversity in culture and
identity. Join co-hosts Margaret Gallagher, Sherry Tanaka and Jan
Walls, together with Harry's old and new friends and fellow musicians
for an afternoon of musical, verbal and gustatory celebration of Harry
and his noble “work in progress.”

Musician/Composer/Ethno-musicologist Harry Aoki is truly a pioneer
of world music. Come join us to commemorate Harry's achievements with
an afternoon of multi-cultural music, storytelling and more! Join his
many friends in the creation of a Legacy to continue Harry's Dream!

Food and Beverages will be Served

Tickets: $26.00

Limited Tickets Available

July 20th
2pm
Firehall Arts Centre
280 Cordova Street

Todd Wong performing with Jessica Cheung, Masaki Watanabe & Harry Aoki, at the September 2005 Open House event at Historic Joy Kogawa House – photo D. Martin

I first met Harry Aoki through Asian Heritage Month events around 2002. Margaret Gallagher (CBC Radio) raved about Harry, as he sometimes performed with her.

Soon
after, Harry came and performed at Todd's Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie
Burns Chinese New Year Dinner events, including the inaugural Gung
Haggis Fat Choy Seattle dinner in 2007. A friendship was formed and
Todd soon played at Harry's First Friday Forum. Harry has been a big
supporter of the Save Joy Kogawa House campaign which Todd was one of
the organizers of, subsequently Todd has joyfully invited Harry to
perform at a number of events including the 2006 Canadian Club
Vancouver “Order of Canada” luncheon where Dal Richards introduced
himself to Harry, and the first open house event at Historical Joy
Kogawa House in 2006, captured on film for the CBC documentary
Generations: The Chan Legacy. Songs they have played together included
“A Highland Lad”, “Hungarian Dance #5”, and “Chinatown My Chinatown”,
“Until We Meet Again”.

Harry Aoki performing on harmonica with musical friends, cellis Kira and percussionist Themba, at his First Friday Forum at the Nikkei Centre in Burnaby – photo Todd Wong

Here's a letter invitation from Wayne Soon to come to the Harry Aoki Celebration Concert.

Dear friends of Harry Aoki,

On
behalf of the Harry Aoki Celebration Committee, I would like to tell
you about an afternoon celebration with Harry Aoki and his friends.
This special celebration with Harry will be held on

Sunday July 20th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Firehall Arts Centre, 280 Cordova Street. (corner of Cordova and Gore Streets).

Harry Aoki is Vice –President of the GVJCCA and
also a special member of the Japanese Canadian and multi-ethnic, and
musician communities. On the first Friday of each month at Nikkei
Place, Harry has collected many professional musicians together for an on-going series of evenings of
music and dialogue. This dialogue may examine diverse cultures and ways
they indicate similarities and common roots. Or there may be discussion
about world events and how they affect different ethnic groups in the
community.

Many within the community have decided
to pay tribute to Harry for all his kindness and energy in developing a
strong communication link within our multi-ethnic community through his
music and dialogue. Over the past few months there have been concerns
regarding his health, so a plan was developed to honour Harry for his
efforts and contributions in music and to the community, and also to support his dream of continuing the First Friday concept.

Harry’s
committee of friends who are organizing this event consists of members
of various organizations like the GVJCCA, musicians, academics and
others who support and admire his work. Some members of the committee
are also working with institutions such as the University of BC to
ensure that Harry’s dream of continuing the First Friday concept and
encouraging ongoing cross cultural understanding through dialogue and
music may be maintained through a legacy foundation. Tickets to this
event will cover the cost of the staging, light refreshments, and
staffing of the event. The balance of the money collected will go
towards establishing Harry's legacy foundation.

A limited number of tickets are being sold. To order your ticket, phone the Firehall box office at (604) 689-0926.
I hope you can join us and many of his multi-ethnic friends at this
Celebration in honour of Harry Aoki on July 20, 2008 at 2:00 at the
Firehall Arts Centre.

Sincerely,

Wayne Soon

Co-chair, Harry Aoki Celebration Committee

The ODD COUPLE is presented by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre, Asian style!

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What would happen if a well-known Neil Simon play “The Odd Couple” was played with an almost all-Asian cast?

I've always wondered if West Side Story could be set in Vancouver East Side, but instead of Italians and Puerto Ricans… what would happen if the gangs were Italians and Chinese? East Side Story!

If the story is really good, does the actor's race really make a difference?
Look at Lucy Liu in Charlie's Angels?

If the acting is good, does the actor's race really make a difference?
Look at Kirsten Kreuk in Smallville?

If Vancouver's population is largely Asian, doesn't it make sense to have a regular Asian theatre series? With Asian actors?

Vancouver Asian Theatre is continually challenging the predominently Caucasian-minded Vancouver theatre community and audience. This month, they take a beloved traditionally caucasian theatre script and cast it entirely with Asians, with Chinese subtitles…. and runs in Richmond and Vancouver.

Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre challenged Vancouver audiences by presenting Sex in Vancouver, Vancouver's first serial soap opera theatre, running over a few episodes. VACT has also pioneered Asian Comedy Night bringing Asian stand-up and sketch comedy to a developing audience.

Now… Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre… is changing the face of Vancouver Theatre… again!
They are going after 3 audience target groups at the same time. 1) their established audience of young 20 to 30 something Asians born in Canada or raised in Canada, 2) All Canadians who love Neil Simon's 1965 comedy The Odd Couple, and 3) Asians who want to see Asian actors in an Asian-Canadian theatre company.

Hmmm…. now what would Shakespeare look like, done with an all-Asian cast, and set in Aberdeen Centre in Richmond? or Oakridge Centre in Vancouver? or Metrotown in Burnaby?

Check out their media release.

For
Immediate Release

MEDIA RELEASE

Latest
VACT comedy asks:

Can
two polar-opposite Asian guys live together?

*THE
ODD COUPLE July •
17–27 &
August
13-21, 2008

VANCOUVER,
BC (June
16, 2008)
– This summer, Vancouver Asian Canadian
Theatre (VACT) is bringing a fresh and unique twist to the classic Neil
Simon play, THE ODD COUPLE. In this
hilarious version, the cast will be predominantly actors of Asian-heritage – and for the
first time for the theatre company, all performances will include Chinese subtitles. Also, the show will
run in two locations – in both
Richmond
and Vancouver.
Through July 17 to 27, the play will
be at the Richmond Cultural Centre
and through August 13 to 21, the
production moves to Vancouver’s
Roundhouse Performance Centre.
Tickets are available in advance online at www.vact.ca and at the
door.

VACT,
now in its ninth season continues its run as Western
Canada’s
only theatre group devoted solely to staging cultural stories focusing on the
modern Asian experience in North
America.
With its new production of Neil Simon’s 1965 smash hit, THE ODD COUPLE, VACT is hoping to bring
several segments of the community together. “We really have an opportunity here to grow
our audience base in a big way,” says producer and VACT president Joyce Lam. “This production appeals to our core
audience of first generation and “Generation 2.0” young acculturated Asian
Canadians, but we think we’ll also attract recent immigrant Chinese especially
those living in Richmond, plus older Asian Canadians and parents especially
those who are familiar with the works of Neil Simon, and then finally every one
else who aren’t Asian Canadian but are looking for a unique and entertaining
cross-cultural experience.”

THE
ODD COUPLE, first performed in 1965, is about two men – one divorced and one
estranged and neither quite sure why their marriages fell apart – move in
together to save money for alimony and suddenly discover they’re having the same
conflicts and fights they had in their marriages. Oscar is a messy, slovenly sportswriter
who takes in Felix, a neurotic neat
freak news writer. They skip the honeymoon phase of their new arrangement and go
straight into the hilarious bickering.

THE
ODD COUPLE is directed by actor/director Raugi Yu. Most audiences will recognize
him as the hilarious gangster Kam Fong from the CBC Television series, jPod.
Oscar is played by actor/journalist Ron
Yamauchi and Jimmy Yi plays
Felix. In the supporting roles as the poker buddies are Sean Cummings (Speed) and past Sex In
Vancouver members Jono Lee
(Murray),
Tom Chin (Vinnie) and Ed Fong (Roy). And rounding out the
cast as the sexy Pidgeon sisters are Carmine Bernhardt (Gwen) and Lissa Neptuno
(Cecily).

Event Details

The
Odd Couple

by
Neil Simon

Venue #1

Richmond Cultural Centre

7700
Minoru, Richmond

July
17 through 27

All
evening performances at 8:00
PM,
matinees at 2:00
PM

Thursdays
to Saturdays
(evenings) + Sundays
(matinees)

Venue #2

Roundhouse Performance
Centre

Pacific
Blvd
& Davie
(Yaletown), Vancouver

August
13 through 21

All
evening performances at 8:00
PM,
matinees at 2:00
PM

Tuesdays
to Saturdays
(evenings) + Sundays
(matinees)

Ticket
prices

$23
in advance (www.VACT.ca)

$25
by reservation (cash only, pickup at the door) (Phone
778-885-1973)

$25
at the door (cash only)

Service
charges are included

Please
call for Group Rates

For
more ticket information please visit http://vact.ca.

Unity Within Diversity: Chinese Canadian vets at Vancouver Library

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Chinese Canadian Vets + Douglas Jung film at VPL

Here is an interesting event that Wesley Lowe has put together to celebrate Asian Heritage Month.

UNITY WITHIN DIVERSITY
May 31st, Saturday
4pm
Vancouver Public Library

Hello Everybody – please find attached the invitation to the “Unity
Within Diversity” event next Saturday, May 31st at 4:00 pm at the
Vancouver Public Library.

It promises to be a special event. In particular, we are happy that
Major Harjit Sajjan who spent eight months in Afghanistan and Peggy Lee
who was with the Women's Ambulance Corps during WWII will be fielding
questions. We will also see a short video clip of the late Douglas
Jung, WWII Veteran and Canada's first Chinese Member of Parliament.

During the reception, there will be ample opportunity to meet and
mingle with Asian Veterans of many heritages. We will also have on
display the Display Panel of Chinese Canadian contribution to WWII and
there will be the Western Canadian premiere display of the Japanese
Diversity Panel.

The ever-able “Fiddlers on the Roof” string quartet will entertain us
and light refreshments from the “Lazy Gourmet, ” voted BEST
CATERER FOR 2007 AND 2008 will be served.

An RSVP is not required but if you are coming, let us know.

Look forward to seeing you there.

THREE EVENING EVENTS at “Tracing the Lines: A Symposium on Contemporary Poetics and Cultural Politics to Honour Roy Miki”

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THREE EVENING EVENTS at 
“Tracing the Lines: A Symposium on Contemporary Poetics 
and Cultural Politics to Honour Roy Miki”:

Wednesday May 28: 7:30 PM: 
Reading by Roy Miki
Reception to follow 
@ Studio 41, CBC Building 775 Cambie Street (at Georgia)

 Note:
 1) seating is limited at this venue (because of fire laws)
 2) sign-in is necessary
 3) if you have not pre-registered for tracing the lines, it is a good idea to arrive early to
 ensure that you get a seat

Thursday, May 29, 8:00 PM: 
Gala launch/reading of West Coast Line,
 
The Roy Miki issue. Readings by Marie Annharte Baker, George Bowering, Colin Browne, 
Jeff Derksen, Louis Cabri, Roger Farr, David Fujino, Daphne Marlatt, Nicole Markotic, 
Garry Thomas Morse, Kim Minkus, Mark Nakada, Baco Ohama, Renee Rodin, Jacqueline Turner, 
and Jonathon Wilcke
 @ The Anza Club, 3 West 8th (between Main and Cambie)

Saturday, May 31, 7:30 PM: 
Talk by Smaro Kamboureli. 
“‘i have  altered the tactics to reflect the new era’: Intellectuals,  Accountability, and Politics.”
 @ St. John’s College, 2111 Lower Mall, University of BC

  All evening events are free and open to the public

 See http://tracingthelines.net  for more information.

Gung HAGGIS Fat Choy

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

Category Archives: Upcoming Events

“Justice Rocks” is highlighting music and social activism at Strathcona Park on Saturday June 30th.

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

Madeline Thien is reading at UBC Thursday!

The ODD COUPLE is presented by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre, Asian style!

MEDIA RELEASE

Event Details

Venue #1

Richmond Cultural Centre

Venue #2

Roundhouse Performance
Centre

Unity Within Diversity: Chinese Canadian vets at Vancouver Library

THREE EVENING EVENTS at “Tracing the Lines: A Symposium on Contemporary Poetics and Cultural Politics to Honour Roy Miki”