– special from www.kogawahouse.com Thu, 2011-03-03 12:46 — Ann-Marie Metten
Love pours down on Joy Kogawa’s cherry tree
Sometimes all you have to do is ask. Earlier this winter
volunteers at Historic Joy Kogawa House asked knitters from across
Vancouver to help them cheer up the dying cherry tree that stands just
outside the back gate at 1450 West 64th Avenue in Vancouver.
“The 60-year-old tree was leaking sap, branches had been snapped
by passing trucks—it really looked sad this winter,” said Ann-Marie
Metten, executive director of the writing program that welcomes writers
to live and write at the house for three months each year.
But soon the tree will be a cloud of pink blossoms and an early
sign of spring. On Sunday, March 6, 2 to 3:30pm, local knit graffiti
artists Leanne Prain and Mandy Moore, authors of Yarn Bombing: The
Art of Knit and Crochet Graffiti (Arsenal, 2010), will cover the
tree with knitted blossoms. A fire truck and fire fighters from Fire
Hall No. 22 will be on hand to lift the writers into the tree so they
can safely sew blossoms in place.
Knitters from across Greater Vancouver have come together to
knit and crochet pink blossoms over the past two months. Knit-ins have
filled the tiny living room of the 1912 bungalow that Joy Kogawa writes
about in her children’s picture book, Naomi’s Tree, a story of
friendship, forgiveness, remembering, and love.
A knit-in Monday night in Council Chambers at Vancouver City
Hall had volunteers sitting in Councillors’ chairs as they spun pink
yarn into delicate blossoms. Young knitters at Bowen Island Community
School crafted beautiful blossoms under the guidance of local knitter
Anne Mann, who brought friends in to help the students with their
knitting.
Blossoms have arrived in packages from Oregon and California,
from across Canada, and from as far away as Kingscliff, New South Wales.
“The most rewarding moment was when three small children arrived at the
house and lifted a branch full of blossoms from the hatchback of their
mother’s car,” Metten says. The little cherry tree survived yesterday’s
wind and rain, and stands planted in the front garden at the house.
It is the mother tree standing behind the house that on Sunday
will show signs of the love that knitters and writers have showered upon
it.
Media interviews with the knit graffiti artists are welcome
before Sunday’s event. Thanks to Shaw Multicultural Channel, our media
sponsor.
Actual
Event
1:45
Authors arrive; we orient them to their locations in the house and outside at
the tree
1:55
Fire truck and fire fighters arrive; we set them in place at the cherry tree
2:00
People begin to arrive. They visit the cherry tree and then gather in the
living room to sew cherry blossoms into chains
2:10
Writers start reading while knitters are working. Let’s call this part of the
program “Lit and Knit”—they take turns reading from their work while people sew
blossoms together; then they take a turn outside sewing blossoms onto the tree?
Four writers—40 or 50 minutes
3:00
Everyone outside to see cherry tree work in progress
3:20
Thank-yous and wrap-up. Attendees encouraged to become members and make
donations
Electric Scotland come to SFU with performance by Vancouver's Gaelic Choir
Dr. Leith Davies cuts the haggis “with ready sleight” at the 2011 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner. – photo by Lydia Nagai
– message from Scottish Express and Dr. Leith Davies, director of Centre for Scottish Studies, SFU
Got an interest in Scottish history, genealogy, travel, etc? Come hear
Scotland Electrified at SFU:
The Centre for Scottish Studies is
pleased to invite Alastair McIntyre, the founder and editor of the
website Electric Scotland, to SFU. He will be giving a talk and
demonstration about the terrific resources available on Electric
Scotland. We will also be thanking Alastair for his continuing support
of the endowment fund for a designated Chair of Scottish Studies at SFU
and celebrating SFU's mirroring of the Electric Scotland site. A
performance from the Gaelic Choir starts us off. 8:00-9:30 (note
difference in time from other programs), Thursday, February 17, 2011:
Room 1400, SFU Harbour Centre, 515 W. Hastings Street.
Programme:
8:00-8:30
pm. Welcoming remarks and short performance by the Gaelic Choir
Gleann
Baile Chaoil Ian Cameron / arr. Stephen Smith
Westering Home
Hugh S. Roberton / chorus traditional / verses H.S. Roberton / arr.
Ken Johnston
O Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast Robert Burns / Felix
Mendelssohn
Na Maragan aig Ruairidh Traditional Strathspey / arr.
S. Mac an T-Sagairt
8:30-9:30 pm: Alastair McIntyre talks about
and demonstrates his website about the history of Scotland and the
Scots, Electric Scotland ( www.electricscotland.com )
9:30-10:00
pm Reception
Dr. Leith Davis Professor, Department of English Director,
Centre for Scottish Studies AQ 6111 Simon Fraser University 8888
University Drive 778 782-4833 Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 CANADA http://www.sfu.ca/personal/leith/ http://www.sfu.ca/scottish
Toddish McWong's Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinners come to Victoria and Nanaimo!
I have long wanted to do a Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner in Victoria and Nanaimo. These are both significant cities in BC history for Scottish and Chinese pioneers.
Victoria Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner – January 22nd, Golden City Restaurant Nanaimo Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner – January 23rd, Iron Wok Restaurant Seating is limited, and by invitation only.
I want to create small intimate dinners that were like the first restaurant Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner of 40 people, which followed the initial dinner of 16 people in a living room. At the very first dinner, I invited friends – many of whom had Chinese or Scottish ancestry. Each guest was asked to bring a song or a poem from Chinese or Scottish culture, or help present a Robbie Burns Supper tradition. I cooked most of the Chinese dishes that were served. I made a lemon grass winter melon soup, stir-fried snow peas with scallops, steamed salmon with garlic and hot oil, sticky rice. Fiona brought the haggis. Rod picked up the lettuce wrap from Chinese take out. Gina made a noodle dish.
And in between each dinner course, we read a poem or sang a song. I read Recipe for Tea, from the Chinese-Canadian anthology “Swallowing Clouds,” written by my friend Jim Wong-Chu, which described how tea first came to the UK from China via Scottish traders.” Gloria read the Burns poem “To A Mouse”. Her friend gave a Toast to the Laddies. Gloria even hired a bagpiper! It was a wonderful evening… the first Burns Supper I ever attended. And I only learned about the elements of a Burns Supper, by going to the Vancouver Library where I worked, and asking for details at the reference desk.
Rev. Chan Yu Tan is 4th from the left, standing beside his elder brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai, at the 50th Anniversary of the Chinese United Church in Victoria.
Victoria was the first port of entry for all the Chinese immigrants coming across the Pacific Ocean by boat. It once was one of the largest Chinatowns in North America, and the oldest in Canada. My great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan arrived in Victoria in 1896, following his elder brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai, who came in 1891 to help found the Chinese Methodist Church, which later became the Chinese United Church. This has now been told in the CBC documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy.
Meanwhile, on my paternal grandfather, Wong Wah, also came to Victoria, as a sixteen year old in 1882. He worked in a Chinese dry goods store for his uncle, and later managed the store as it became one of Victoria's largest Chinese merchant stores.
Scottish influence is found throughout Victoria. It is as easy as the street names of Caledonia, Balmoral and Craigflower. The first governor of British Columbia James Douglas was schooled in Scotland, due to his Scottish father's influence, even though his mother was a creole free black. It was Robert Dunsmuir, born in Hurlford Scotland near the town of Kilmarnock, that became one of the richest men in North America by being a coal baron. Dunsmuir served as premier of BC, as did his son. Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, was built by Dunsmuir as a gift to his wife, but he died a year before it was completed.
Rev. Chan Yu Tan also ministered at the Chinese United Church in Nanaimo. From there, he would often travel to the mining town of Cumberland to also minister to the Chinese labourers there. It was coal baron Robert Dunsmuir that owned the coal mines around Cumberland and Nanaimo. During a general strike at the mines, Dunsmuir used Chinese labourers as strike breakers. Although it is now little more than a ghost town of a few remaining buildings, Cumberland was once one of Canada's largest Chinatowns – so big that it could sustain two Chinese opera houses. Author Paul Yee's new play Jade in Coal was set in Cumberland.
I am looking forward to creating inaugural Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinners
in both Victoria and Nanaimo, as I have so much family history in both cities. The Victoria dinner will follow the board meeting for The
Land Conservancy of BC. TLC executive director Bill Turner has attended
many Gung Haggis dinners in Vancouver, and our TLC Board Chair Alistair Craighead was born near Glasgow Scotland. Vice-Chair Briony Penn worked for the National Trust of Scotland many years ago, and helped create “Tam O'Shanter Experience” that was featured at the Robert Burns National Heritage Park, that has now built the Robert Burns National Birthplace Museum to replace the “Tam O'Shanter Experience.”
The Nanaimo dinner will be a joint-venture with my friend Shelagh Rogers, CBC broadcaster, who now hosts The Next Chapter on CBC radio. Shelagh has been organizing Reconciliation dinners between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people. Awhile back, she asked me about creating something similar to a Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner, which she co-hosted with me in 2005. I said, “How about a Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pow Wow Dinner” that could embrace all three pioneer cultures? And that is exactly what we will have on January 23rd. We are inviting friends with Chinese, Scottish and First Nations ancestry and culture and having a dinner. We shall see what people bring to the table in songs and poetry that will reflect our desire for cultural harmony and fusion, as well as reverence for our shared but distinctive past.
A picture of Toddish McWong included in 150 of BC's historical and contemporary figures invited to “The Party” installation to help celebrated 150 years of BC History at the Royal BC Museum in 2008.
Patron Saint of Stanley Park, written by Hiro Kanagawa, is welcome addition to Arts Club Theatre's Vancouver's Holiday Theatre repertoire
The Patron Saint of Stanley Park Arts Club Revue Theatre written by Hiro Kanagawa Starring Jillian Fargey, Brian
Linds, Derek Metz, introducing
Valsy Bergeron and Joseph Gustafson
Director Stephen Drover
Think of Christmas in Stanley Park, and we normally think Bright Lights Christmas Train… but if it was December 2006, there was an ice storm that destroyed many trees in Stanley Park.
Now imagine that a teen-aged girl and her techno-geek younger brother are going to Stanley Park to lay some flowers in memory of their father who mysteriously disappeared on Christmas Eve last year, while flying his seaplane to Vancouver Island while dressed in a Santa suit. They are supposed to be taking the bus to their Uncle's Christmas Dinner on the North Shore. But their mother is pre-occupied working two jobs. They are each working out their grief in different ways, acknowledgement, denial and false hope.
We are introduced to Skookum Pete, a homeless man in Stanley Park, who speaks to the audience, breaking down the fourth wall. Pete talks about the park, the weather, and about the voices he hears – through his fillings! Brian Linds does a wonderful job playing Pete. He is friendly and the audience quickly builds trust, while laughing with Pete at his distorted yet perceptive view of society. Pete pushes a shopping cart and carries a torch with a cheese grater to protect his lantern.
Valsy Bergeron wonderfully plays the older sister Jennifer, on the brink of womanhood, looking out for her brother Josh, played by a young Joseph Gustafson. They easily capture the family dynamics of push and pull, caught between Jennifer's rebellion against her mother, and her wish to memorialize her father. Meanwhile Josh continually asserts that he believes that their father will turn up somehow, while recognizing that their mother is spending lots of her time at work.
The Arts Club has really developed a Christmas theatre repertoire for Vancouver. “It's a Wonderful Life” and “White Christmas” are currently playing at the Granville Island Stage and the Stanley Industrial Arts Alliance Stage. They have also brought original theatre to Vancouver for Christmas with Nicola Cavendish's “It's Snowing on Saltspring” and Ann Mortifee's “Reflections of Crooked Walking”, as well as “Beauty and the Beast” in past years.
“The Patron Saint of Stanley Park” was commissioned to Vancouver area playwright/actor Hiro Kanagawa as part of the Silver Commission, helping to develop new work. Kanagawa is probably more familiar to Vancouver television audiences on many Vancouver filmed shows such as Caprica, X-Files, Highlander, Smallville (as Principal Kwan), and Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven. Kanagawa often appears on stage, and was recently in “After the Quake” at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. His past work has also included “White Balance” and he wrote “Tiger of Malaya.”
This family Christmas tale fantastically integrates Science Fiction, mythology and Stanley Park icons. It is amazing to think there once really was a signal tower and bunker on Prospect Point, as there houses along Brockton Point. Kangawa wanted to incorporate elements of Vancouver such as seaplanes into the play, to help build Vancouver's own theatrical references and recognizability. And the audience loves it! People can relate to the huge trees in Stanley Park and imagine the trees crashing down during the infamous 2006 windstorm that dramatically re-arranged the landscape of the park.
The multi-leveled stage is plain, covered with grays. At first it appears boring. But it soon comes to life, full of surprises as “trees” drop from the ceiling, darkness envelopes the theatre during the storm sequence, and bright lights appear in unexpected places. Stage direction is clever and inventive, making good use of the levels, and the projections into the audience. I am also pleased to note that music is by Noah Drew, whom I've known since he was a child 24 years ago. Drew has matured into one of the city's finest theatre sound composers. His work is subtle and unobtrusive, while being ambient and enhancing to the action on stage.
The play development is good. At the end of the first act, the children have been rescued during the storm by Skookum Pete, meanwhile their mother is frantic and trying to reach her children by phone. This perfectly sets up the second act for revelations for each of the characters, as well as resolutions to their issues. There are some wonderful surprises in the second act which I won't reveal. This play is definitely suitable for families, as the young characters carry the play along with Skookum Pete. But as expected of a Christmas play, we are encouraged to empathetically share emotions with the characters, and discover what makes Christmas meaningful for each of us, while recognizing what is also meaningful for others.
Evelyn Lau will receive the ACWW Community Builder Dinner at the 15th Anniversary Ricepaper Magazine Dinner
Evelyn Lau recently received the City of Vancouver Mayor's Arts Award for Literary Arts.
On Saturday December 11th, Evelyn will receive the ACWW Community Builder Award. This award was first created for 2002, and awarded to Roy Mah, Wayson Choy and Paul Yee.
Lau is the youngest person to have received the Governor General's Award for poetry. She has published poetry, short stories and non-fiction. Her first memoir, Runaway: Diary of a Street Kid, set her on the national and international literary stages. It was turned into a movie Diary of Evelyn Lau, where her character was played by Sandra Oh, the award winning Korean-Canadian actor who has starred in the movie Sideways and tv series Grey's Anatomy.
Evelyn was congratulated by Todd Wong and Patricia Lim after the awards. Todd is ACWW vice-president and Patricia is Managing Editor of Ricepaper Magazine.
Ricepaper magazine is celebrating its 15th anniversary at Foo’s Ho Ho Restaurant on Saturday, December 11, 2010
Ricepaper 15th Anniversary Poster
Ricepaper magazine, the Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop
and Friends of Foo’s Ho Ho cordially invite you to participate in the
celebration of Ricepaper‘s milestone 15th anniversary at Foo’s
Ho Ho Restaurant, the oldest surviving Chinese restaurant in historic
Chinatown, for a taste of pioneer-style Chinese food.
Ricepaper is Canada’s only nationally-distributed literary
magazine devoted to showcasing Asian Canadian artists, writers,
performers and innovators. For 15 years, Ricepaper has
published important work for and about Asian Canadian community
luminaries such as David Suzuki, Fred Wah, Denise Chong, and Evelyn Lau
while also providing opportunities for new and emerging talent to
publish their work.
The evening will be co-hosted by actor Patrick Gallagher (Glee, True Blood)
and actor, radio broadcaster, and comedian Tetsuro Shigematsu and will
include an 8 course meal, special celebrity guests and a raffle draw.
Price: $40 donation includes a 1-year subscription to Ricepaper magazine
For reservations and tickets please contact Friends of Foo’s Ho Ho
(Jacqueline): (604) 395-4274 or Ricepaper office (Patricia): (604)
872-3464 or reserve your spot online via paypal:
Raffle prizes include:
– A gift certificate from Ganache Patisserie
– Thai-Pantry-in-a-Box (culinary starter kit) from South China Seas Trading Co.
– Two complimentary tickets to Great Expectations – a February 2011 Gateway Theatre production.
– Vanessa Lowe (artwork). See Vanessa’s Eastside Culture Crawl profile here
– A set of books from Nikkei Place – Two bottles Australian Yellowtail Cabernet red wine
– Two bottles Australian Black Swan Cabernet Red wine
– Two bottles Concannon (USA) Sauvignon White wine
Ricepaper 15th Anniversary celebration ticket
Note: we will be contacting you for address information for the subscription included with this ticket.
There are different types of diabetes, and no two people with diabetes are the same. So there isn’t a one-size-fits-all ‘diabetes diet’ for everyone with diabetes. But we’ve come up with tips that you can use to help you make healthier food choices. Read more about alpilean weight loss.
These healthy eating tips are general and can help you manage your blood glucose (sugar), blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They can also help you manage your weight and reduce the risk of diabetes complications, such as heart problems and strokes, and other health conditions including certain types of cancers.
“Making healthier food choices is important to manage your diabetes and to reduce your risk of diabetes complications. We know that not everyone agrees on what is the best diet.
This is why we’ve reviewed all the evidence to put these tips together. We’ve focused on specific foods, to make it easier for you to put these tips into practice and to complement whatever diet you decide to follow.”
– Douglas Twenefour, Specialist Dietitian and Deputy Head of Care
We’ve based our tips on research involving people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If you have a different type of diabetes, like gestational, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes or MODY, some of these tips are relevant to you. It’s important, whatever kind of diabetes you have, to see your dietitian for specific advice. This is how alpilean works.
If you or someone you know is self-isolating, find out how to eat healthily whilst staying at home. And you can get even more advice about eating healthily with diabetes in our interactive Learning Zone, including simple and realistic food hacks you can make.
What does eating right mean for you?
If you have type 1 diabetes, carb counting is really important to keep your blood glucose levels steady. This is where you estimate how many carbs are in your meal and match it with how much insulin you need to take.
If you have type 2 and you’re overweight, finding a way to lose weight is important as it really improves diabetes management. This is because it can help to lower your blood glucose and reduce your risk of other complications. There are different ways of doing this like the low-carb, Mediterranean or very low-calorie diets. Losing weight can help you lower your blood glucose levels, and we now know that substantial weight loss can even put some people’s type 2 diabetes into remission.
Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you might need to lose, gain or maintain your current weight but it’s important to make healthier food choices while you’re doing this.
Portion sizes are important to think about whether you have type 1 or type 2. It makes calculating nutritional facts when you’re carb counting or managing your weight a lot easier. Remember, portion sizes are different for everyone, so what’s right for someone else might not be right for you. Try out red boost.
If you feel overwhelmed about your feelings about food and diabetes, we have plenty of information to help you.
Our top 10 tips
Download our top tips (PDF).
1. Choose healthier carbohydrates
All carbs affect blood glucose levels so it’s important to know which foods contain carbohydrates. Choose the healthier foods that contain carbs and be aware of your portion sizes.
Here are some healthy sources of carbohydrate:
whole grains like brown rice, buckwheat and whole oats
fruit
vegetables
pulses such as chickpeas, beans and lentils
dairy like unsweetened yoghurt and milk.
At the same time, it’s also important to cut down on foods low in fibre such as white bread, white rice and highly-processed cereals. You can check food labels when you’re looking for foods high in fibre if you’re unsure.
2. Eat less salt
Eating lots of salt can increase your risk of high blood pressure, which in turn increases risk of heart diseases and stroke. And when you have diabetes, you’re already more at risk of all of these conditions.
Try to limit yourself to a maximum of 6g (one teaspoonful) of salt a day. Lots of pre-packaged foods already contain salt so remember to check food labels and choose those with less salt. Cooking from scratch will help you keep an eye on how much salt you’re eating. You can also get creative and swap out salt for different types of herbs and spices to add that extra flavour.
3. Eat less red and processed meat
If you’re cutting down on carbs, you might start to have bigger portions of meat to fill you up. But it’s not a good idea to do this with red and processed meat, like ham, bacon, sausages, beef and lamb. These all have links with heart problems and cancers.
Try swapping red and processed meat for these:
pulses such as beans and lentils
eggs
fish
poultry like chicken and turkey
unsalted nuts
Beans, peas and lentils are also very high in fibre and don’t affect your blood glucose levels too much – making them a great swap for processed and red meat and keeping you feeling full. Most of us know that fish is good for us, but oily fish like salmon and mackerel are even better. These are rich in something called omega-3 oil, which helps protect your heart. Try and aim to eat two portions of oily fish a week.
4. Eat more fruit and veg
We know eating fruit and veg is good for you. It’s always a good thing aim to eat more at meal times and have them as snacks if you’re hungry. This can help you get the vitamins, minerals and fibre your body needs every day to help keep you healthy.
You might be wondering about fruit and if you should avoid it because it’s sugary? The answer is no. Whole fruit is good for everyone and if you have diabetes, it’s no different. Fruits do contain sugar, but it’s natural sugar. This is different to the added sugar (also known as free sugars) that are in things like chocolate, biscuits and cakes.
Products like fruit juices also count as added sugar, so go for whole fruit instead. This can be fresh, frozen, dried or tinned (in juice, not in syrup). And it’s best to eat it throughout the day instead of one bigger portion in one go.
5. Choose healthier fats
We all need fat in our diet because it gives us energy. But different types of fat affect our health in different ways.
Healthier fats are in foods like unsalted nuts, seeds, avocados, oily fish, olive oil, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil. Some saturated fats can increase the amount of cholesterol in your blood, increasing your risk of heart problems. These are mainly found in animal products and prepared food like:
red and processed meat
ghee
butter
lard
biscuits, cakes, pies and pastries.
It’s still a good idea to cut down on using oils in general, so try to grill, steam or bake foods instead.
6. Cut down on added sugar
We know cutting out sugar can be really hard at the beginning, so small practical swaps are a good starting point when you’re trying to cut down on excess sugar. Swapping sugary drinks, energy drinks and fruit juices with water, plain milk, or tea and coffee without sugar can be a good start.
You can always try low or zero-calorie sweeteners (also known as artificial sweeteners) to help you cut back. Cutting out these added sugars can help you control your blood glucose levels and help keep your weight down. If your diabetes treatment means you get hypos, and you use sugary drinks to treat them, this is still important for your diabetes management and you shouldn’t cut this out. However, if you are having regular hypos it is really important to discuss this with your diabetes team.
Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.
1/22
Before you tear into that bag of potato chips, drink a glass of water first. People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger, so you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really all you needed. If plain water doesn’t cut it, try drinking flavored sparkling water or brewing a cup of fruit-infused herbal tea.
Tip No. 2: Be choosy about nighttime snacks.
2/22
Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax. Snacking in front of the TV is one of the easiest ways to throw your diet off course. Either close down the kitchen after a certain hour, or allow yourself a low-calorie snack, like a 100-calorie pack of cookies or a half-cup scoop of low-fat ice cream.
Tip No. 3: Enjoy your favorite foods.
3/22
Instead of cutting out your favorite foods altogether, be a slim shopper. Buy one fresh bakery cookie instead of a box, or a small portion of candy from the bulk bins instead of a whole bag. You can still enjoy your favorite foods — the key is moderation.
Tip No. 4: Eat several mini-meals during the day.
4/22
If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you’ll lose weight. But when you’re hungry all the time, eating fewer calories can be a challenge. “Studies show people who eat 4-5 meals or snacks per day are better able to control their appetite and weight,” says obesity researcher Rebecca Reeves, DrPH, RD. She recommends dividing your daily calories into smaller meals or snacks and enjoying most of them earlier in the day — dinner should be the last time you eat. Check these Red boost reviews.
Tip No. 5: Eat protein at every meal.
5/22
Protein is the ultimate fill-me-up food — it’s more satisfying than carbs or fats and keeps you feeling full for longer. It also helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning. So be sure to incorporate healthy proteins like seafood, lean meat, egg whites, yogurt, cheese, soy, nuts, or beans into your meals and snacks. Visit https://www.wtkr.com/brand-spotlight/alpilean-reviews-shocking-customer-complaints-must-read-this-before-buying.
Tip No. 6: Spice it up.
6/22
Add spices or chilies to your food for a flavor boost that can help you feel satisfied. “Food that is loaded with flavor will stimulate your taste buds and be more satisfying, so you won’t eat as much,” says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Malena Perdomo, RD. When you need something sweet, suck on a red-hot fireball candy. It’s sweet, spicy, and low in calories.
Hope you can come to VAFF for the 7pm show Jeff Chiba Stearn's short
animated film “What Are You Anyways” was featured at the 2006 Gung
Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
Order your
tickets in advance – as it should be a sell-out!
Festival favourite Jeff Chiba
Stearns, an independent documentary and animation filmmaker born in
Kelowna, BC of both Japanese and European descent, explores the
complexity of family and heritage in this program. Stearns’ latest
feature film ONEBIG HAPAFAMILY tackles
themes of race and identity which are expressed through his unique
style of mixing traditional documentary footage with animation and
humour. Preceding ONE BIG HAPAFAMILY is
Stearns’ whimsical short ODE
TO A POST-IT NOTE
in which a
Post-it Note decides on Father’s Day to search for its roots.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Jeff
Chiba Stearns
Jeff Chiba Stearns is an independent
documentary filmmaker and animator born in Kelowna, BC, of Japanese and
European heritage. After graduating from the Emily Carr Institute of Art
and Design with a Degree in Film Animation in 2001, he founded
Mediating Bunny Studio Inc., specializing in creating animation,
documentary, and experimental films aimed at children and adults that
combine different philosophical and social elements together to create
humorous, inspiring stories. His animated shorts, KIP ANDKYLE (2000), THEHORROR
OF KINDERGARTEN
(2001), WHATARE YOUANYWAYS? (2005) and YELLOW STICKYNOTES (2007)
hve been the official selection of hundreds of film festivals around
the world, garnerered various awards and accolades, and broadcast on the CBC, Discovery Latin
America,
Shaw, Sundance
Channel, Movie Central, Air Canada and Movieola.
Director/Writer: Jeff Chiba Stearns | Producer:
Ruth Vincent
Documentary | HDCAM |
Colour |
2010 | 85 min |
Canada
After a realization at a family
reunion, half-Japanese Canadian filmmaker Jeff Chiba Stearns embarks on a
journey of self-discovery to find out why everyone
in his Japanese-Canadian family married interracially after his
grandparents’ generation.
This feature-length live action and
animated documentary explores why almost 100 per cent of
Japanese-Canadians are marrying interracially, the highest of any
ethnicity in Canada, and how their mixed children perceive their unique
multiracial identities.
The stories from four generations of a
Japanese-Canadian family come to life through the use of innovative
animation techniques created by some of Canada’s hottest independent
animators, including Louise Johnson, Ben Meinhardt, Todd Ramsay, Kunal
Sen and Jonathan Ng. ONE BIG HAPAFAMILY
challenges our perceptions of purity and makes us question if we are
approaching the end of multiculturalism as we know it.
BC PREMIERE
| DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE
Previous
Screenings/Awards: OMNI TV (3 part
series)
Director/Writer/Producer: Jeff Chiba Stearns
Animation | HDCAM |
Colour | 2010 |
5 min |
Canada
On a cluttered office desk plastered
with Post-it Note ‘to do’ lists, one little Post-it Note escapes on an
incredible journey of self-discovery to find its ‘father’.
There are some very interesting films scheduled for the 14th Annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival.
Catching my eye are the films that cross cultural boundaries or deal with Chinese Canadian history.
Check out the programs for
FESTIVAL PROGRAMS
Thursday
1. Opening Night
Friday
2. Promise Lands
3. Places and Spaces Fri. Nov. 5th, 9:30 PM
– These films explore place and identity. Dark and urban New York City is explored by lonely souls in WORKS OF ART and EMPIRE CORNER. In I DON’T SLEEP I DREAM, the protagonist must navigate a surreal, deserted road and in TAKEO the idyllic rolling landscape of midwestern United States is contrasted by a struggle for survival and revenge. But Hawaii's Oahu island is the setting for Ajumma! Are You Krazy?? – a study about the 'older ladies' who are addicted to Korean tv dramas and will stop at nothing to meet their latest heartthrob, hunky Korean superstar Michael Park.
Saturday
4. An Activist's Life: AOKI Sat. Nov. 6th, 11:00 AM
Did you know that a Japanese American man is one of the founders of the Black Panthers, in the USA? Find out how Richard Aoki, a Japanese-American internment descendent, grows up in African-American dominated Oakland, and becomes a leading figure in the Asian-American Movement.
5. Lt. Watada
6. Lost and Foundations
7P. Mighty Asian Shorts Sat. Nov. 6th, 4:30 PM
– This is always lots of fun. Vancouver area aspiring film makers create quirky shorts. This year one of my my library colleagues was part of a team that won first prize. Catch the Ko-Ni-Chi-Wa, which explores what happens when an Asian-Canadian woman witnesses White Asianphiles hitting on Asian ESL students… she dresses up as an ESL student and guess what happens?
8. Loss and Reunion
9P. Love Wins Out
10. Centrepiece: Sing China!
11P. Au Revoir Taipei
12. It's a “Mad, Sad & Bad” World
Sunday
13. Made in Vancouver
14. Canada Apologizes
Redress Remix: Canada’s Apology For The Chinese Head Tax – I attended the special preview for this film which interviews our family friend WW2 veteran Frank Wong. I was part of the Vancouver committee for Head Tax Redress descendants. Trevor Chan (No Luck Club), created a very interesting mash of hip hop beats and people's quotes. Also interviewed from Toronto are Dr. Joseph Wong the founding president of the Chinese Canadian National Council; and Simon Li, former CBC radio host who now teaches Chinese Canadian history to students in Hong Kong.
15. Closing Night Sun. Nov. 7th, 7:00 PM
– I got to know film animator Jeff Chiba Stearns when he created “What Are You Anyways” which comically explored the relevations of mistaken assumed ethnic heritage, when you grow up Hapa, or Half-Asian/Half-Caucasian. I quickly invited Jeff to share “What Are You Anyway” with the audience at the annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner – especially when the main character was drawn with a Chinese coolie hat, and holding bagpipes. ONE BIG HAPA FAMILY explores the journey when Jeff attends a family reunion, and explores why everybody in the family is in a inter-racial relationship, thus creating generations of Hapa children.
Generations: The Chan Legacy” is the top feature of the Vancouver Sun's “Festival at a Glance”
Generations:
The Chan Legacy – features the history of Chinese Canadians told
through 5 generations of descendants from Rev. Chan Yu Tan who arrived
in Canada in 1896, following his elder brother's footsteps to minister
to Chinese pioneers.… Community service is a featured story in each generation of this CBC documentary.
Great news – Vancouver Sun ran a story on the front page their Arts Section. They featured a sidebar story “At a Glance” and the first event listed is Generations: The Chan Legacy!
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