Category Archives: Vancouver Area Adventures

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

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

Leave a reply

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.

Photo Library - 2964
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

Leave a reply

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.

Celebrating BC Day Weekend in the Okanagan on Kalamalka Lake

Leave a reply

The best way to celebrate BC's 150th birthday is to do what BC does best…. Be in supernatural BC's nature! This weekend I am at Kalamalka Provincial Park.

Todd jumping into Kalamalka Lake to test his PFD – photo Deb Martin 2008

My buddy Craig and I left Vancouver just after 7:30am, Saturday morning. We drove up the Coquihalla Hwy, and had lunch at Merritt. Then we headed on the Connector in time for bumper to bumper traffic through Kelowna. I thought the new 5 lane Bill Bennett Bridge was supposed to make traffic go smoother and faster, but we were backed way up the hill.

Before you reach Vernon, you drive along Kalamalka Lake, also known as the “Lake of Many Colours.” The Highway starts off at lake level, as you pass through the town of Oyama, then it rises in elevation, allowing a great view down and across the lake. We checked the odometer, and it was about 9 miles long. We looked across the lake, and we could see our destination. One of the last houses on the point, beside Kalamalka Park – my girlfriend's parents' lakeside home. We arrived just after 1pm.

We are soon at their private dock, swimming in the lake. It is refreshing after the long drive. Kalamalka Lake is beautifully clean and clear tourquoise water. The high desert hills rise around it. There are micro-climates all around, evident by the dry barren Western shore, and the Ponderosa Pine laden Eastern Shore.

Lots of water skiers and wake boarders are riding behind power boats. Personal water craft are noisy Sea-doos. Quiet kayakers paddle past the dock, moving much faster than the relaxed canoe paddlers who all wave to us. It's definitely a busy holiday weekend on the lake.

We sun bathe, sip our cool drinks, read books, admire the scenery, and go for another swim. We watch bald eagles flying over head calling in staccato burtsts, “A-a-a-a-a-a-aaaaaa. A-a-a-a-a-a-a-aaaaaa…..”
– photo Deb Martin 2007

Sunday morning we are up around 9am. My friend Craig is having a hearty breakfast with lots of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. We feed him bacon, smokies and pan-fried mashed potatoes. He is going over to Okanagan Lake for a 42km outrigger canoe races with changes. This means that every 20 minutes, an accompanying power boat will drop off 3 paddlers into the water. These 3 paddlers will climb into the boat, as 3 other paddlers climb out, while 3 remaining paddlers keep the boat moving. It's an annual race organized by the Vernon Racing Canoe Club. He heads over at 10am, to meet his team of paddlers from Penticton. Their Mixed Race starts at 12 noon.

Meanwhile at 11:00 am, I hop into a cedar strip canoe with my girlfriend Deb and her friend Zsuzsanna. We paddle past Jade and Juniper Bays, and around Turtle Head Point. There are some cliffs here that people jump off into the deep water, but nobody is jumping today. Lots of power boats are driving by, on their way to Cousins Beach, and the waves rock our canoe. Zsuzsanna does a good job steering a canoe for the first time in 8 years. I am sitting in the middle relaxing with Tess, the little border collie, while my girlfriend paddles in the front. I drink my water and pass them drinks.

We paddle all the way into Cousins Bay, to the beach where I count 11 power boats pulled up to shore. We are the only canoe I see. Lots of mountain bikers and hikers have also made their way to the beach. I play in the water with Tess. She loves chasing the water splashes I send in her direction.

– photo Deb Martin 2007

On the way back, I paddle in the front of the canoe. Zsuzsanna remarks how fast the boat is moving, and it's great having a dragon boater paddle the canoe. Deb explains how important it is that 20 dragon boaters all paddle in time together. When I speed up, Deb tells me to slow down and relax, remarking “You're not in a race.”

Back at the house, we head up for a quick lunch, then back to the dock for more swimming, reading and sun bathing. We watch an osprey flying over the lake, then swoop down to pick up a fish. Unfortunately a sea-doo buzzes nearby with a boat towing a water skier, and the osprey flies away over the lake. It suddenly appears over our dock. It's white speckled body, a marvelous wonder to see, with its long dark pointed wings flapping overhead.

– photo Deb Martin 2008

I go swimming, wearing with my personal floatation device. I discover it's a great and easy way to float. I don't have to tread water. My girlfriend always teases me that I have so little body fat, I sink easily making it such an effort for me to swim. I have such fun floating and swimming with ease, I decide to swim over to Jade Beach in Kalamalka Park. Over at the park, there are lots of people swimming and having picnics. Two power boats are anchored just outside the swim area. Meanwhile, there are other power boats on the other side of Jade Bay. Lots of Sea-doos are racing around in mad circles. Some of them come dangerously fast close to the swimming area. It would be a tragedy if somebody lost control doing a fast turn and the machine careened into the swim area. Unfortunately such accidents always happen somewhere in the summer. Thankfully no accidents occur. But I find it noisy, and decide to swim back to our dock, where I play water splashing with Tess the border collie.

Todd bobbing in the water – photo Deb Martin

A small flotilla of kayaks and canoes paddle by, and I swim out to greet them, bobbing in the wake of yet another power boater or jet-skier. It's a BC Day long weekend, and a popular BC lake is BC crowded.

150 Ways to Love BC from Victoria Times Colonist

Leave a reply

150 Ways to Love BC. Happy Birthday British Columbia!

150 Years ago a colony was named British Columbia, in 1858. It wasn't until 1871, that British Columbia joined Canada and became a province.

Ian Haysom writes 150 reasons to love British Columbia

One reason for each of its years to love BC
Times Colonist – Victoria,British Columbia,Canada
… Joy Kogawa

Special notes

13. Great writers: Carol Shields, Joy Kogawa, Susan Musgrave.

14. The Okanagan, our desert. Blisteringly hot. (I am enjoying the weekend at Kalamalka Lake just south of Vernon)

34. Terry Fox. Would have been 50 this week.

48. Wineries: Okanagan and Island. (I visited 3 wineries last week – now to visit Summerhill and Sumac Ridge tomorrow)

84. The Royal B.C. Museum. (especially because “The Party” exhibit includes “Toddish McWong”)

117. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens. (first and only music video was shot of The Paperboys for CBC “Gung Haggis Fat Choy” TV performance special)

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

1 Reply

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

Okanagan Wineries: Mission Hill, Quail's Gate and Gray Monk

Leave a reply

The Okanagan Valley has some of the best wineries in the world.

For the past 4 years I always try to stop for a visit after dragon boat racing in Vernon. I first visited Mission Hill Winery back in 2001 after my first visit to the Kelowna Dragon Boat Festival. Mission Hill has always been a favorite wine of mine, ever since tasting their Grand Reserve Barrel Select Chardonnay that won the IWSC trophy for Best Chardonnay. The legendary story is that the judges couldn't believe it was a BC Canadian wine that won, and re-tested. Mission Hill won again.

This year's Okanagan road trip began last week on Friday July 25. On our way to a dragon boat race meeting at Kalamalka Lake, I thought there was enough time to stop at Gray Monk Estate Winery. It is just a 15 minute drive West to Okanagan Centre, just north of Winfield, between Kelowna and Vernon on Highway 97. We drove past Arrow Leaf Cellars, which also has some nice wines I have tried. We crested the hill, and looked out over the expanse of green vineyards overlooking a beautiful blue Okanagan Lake.

The wine-tasting service was very friendly at Gray Monk Estate Winery, and the tastings were free! There also a large new patio restaurant where we saw musicians setting up at for the 6pm dinner crowd. We tried the Chardonay unwooded, the Seigerebbe, Gewertztraminer, Reisling. For reds we tasted the Merlot . One of our friends doesn't usually drink reds, and the tannins really puckered her face. But she did try the Odyssey Series Merlot which was remarkably smoother. I walked out with the Gewertztaminer ($16.99) which had wonderful sweet lychee accents, as well as the Kerner Late Harvest ($16.99). My friends bought a Seigrebbe ($16.99) and a delicious Pinot Gris ($17.99) that we drank that night with dinner.

Dragon Boat weekend was spent mostly consuming Peach Cider and lager beers.

But on Monday, we headed to Mission Hill Winery. This is definitely a recommended stop for any Okanagan vacation. My traveling mates Dave and Brooke were excited to visit these Northern Okanagan wineries. It was Brooke's first time in the Okanagan. If you can take the tour, you will see a commissioned Chagall tapestry, and see a video that identifies the top wine growing areas in North America as Napa/Sonoma Valleys in California, the Williamette Valley in near Portland Oregon, and BC's Okanagan Valley. A rose garden greets visitor's arrival. And an archway marks the entrance to the winery grounds. On Monday night, Mission Hill was also hosting a music concert in it's amphitheatres.

It's now a Gung Haggis dragon boat team tradition to take a group picture in front of the Archway, with any of our winery tour travelers on the Monday. We had 11 people for our picture, all made more exciting because of the recent engagement of two of our paddlers who met on the team in 2006. Richard offered to take some “engagement” pictures of Wendy and Jonas at the winery grounds.

Inside we tried the 3 tastes for $5, sharing with each other to try some of the other wines. The wine sommelier asked if we were a tour group. When we identified ourselves as a dragon boat team, she said that Mission Hill had a brand new dragon boat team. We offered a race duel for a wine prize!

I chose to sample the 2005 Reserve Merlot, 2005 Reserve Shiraz, 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. With my friends I also sampled the Reserve Pinot Gris, as well as the 2004 Oculus ($69.99), Mission Hill's signature blended wine. The Oculus is a very smooth full-bodied wine that is saved for special occasions. I opened a bottle of of the 2002 Oculus in Victoria, when we celebrated my receiving the BC Community Achievement Award. It seemed fitting to celebrate BC excellence together. I walked out taking the Reserve Cab Sauv and the Reserve Shiraz with me.

Next we went to Quail's Gate Winery, which is a short 2 km from Mission Hill. Both wineries also have restaurants. But last year, Quail's Gate opened up a new tasting room and wine store, as their previous “cabin” had been outgrown. This year it had been Mission Hill's turn to expand their wine store and tasting bar, nearly doubling their space. But it is Quail's Gate's tasting bar that has a large window that overlooks Okanagan Lake. It is so tempting to just stay there all afternoon sipping wines and gazing at the scenery.

Quail's Gate serves up samples of their dessert wines in little chocolate tasting cups. As a special engagement treat, I bought tastings of the Riesling Icewine ($34.99) an Optima ($32.99) for Wendy and Jonas. The wine host slowly poured the icewine into the chocolate cups until it just rose just above the edge. He said to be careful handling the cups, and described it as “liquid gold.” Wendy really liked the icewine. My girlfriend usually likes the Optima because it is less sweet.

Wendy and Jonas bought the Gerwertztraminer, and we decided to have a dinner party and I would bring the Gray Monk Gerwertz for comparison tastings.

Nice wines… always good for an excuse to go dragon boat racing in the Okanagan

vancouveriam.com video of SUCCESS “Walk with the Dragon”

Leave a reply

“Walk with the Dragon” is one of Vancouver's biggest Stanley Park events. It is an outdoor fundraiser for SUCCESS.

Here's a great video of the event, by Vancouveriam.com VJ Becky with a interviews with SUCCESS executive director Tung Chan.

Check out my friend Patrick Tam's pictures on his flickr site.

According to news reports, over 13,000 people attended, raising more money than last year to help this immigrant support service organization. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=a02c8cba-a127-40c0-a1a1-4a58fda21252

Earlier this year I had bought a 12 foot long dragon that we used in the St. Patrick's Day Parade… and I thought it would be great to bring down to the “Walk With The Dragon Event.“

I have never attended the event because unfortunately, I am usually out of town or dragon boat racing.

I was planning on attending this year, but had to move the Gung Haggis dragon boat team practice into the morning because I was a performer for the Harry Aoki tribute event in the afternoon.

Oh well… there's always next year

Did Chinese discover BC first? Oldest new immigrants? DNA connections? Georgia Straight tackles the question?

Leave a reply

Did the Chinese discover North America 1000 years before Columbus?

“Who were BC's first seafarers?” is the cover feature on this week's Georgia Straight?

Daniel Wood writes a very interesting feature that addresses the Chinese legendary land of Fu Sang, interviews underwater acheologist enthusiast Tom Beasley, and explores the Gavin Menzies book 1421, the Year China Discovered the World.

I have written about connections between First Nations and Chinese people when Storyscapes was exploring the oral history of such meetings: Vancouver Storyscapes: Where the Chinese met the First Nations peoples

It's not unfathomable that the Chinese discovered North America first. Afterall, ancient Chinese civilization and science was much further advanced than European civilization circa 500 AD. According to Menzies, the Chinese had huge boats 5X the size of Columbus' flagship. A lot of trade and knowledge migrated to Japan from China, and Japanese glass fishing floats have regularly made their way to BC's shores, due to ocean currents.

I have often spoke with BC's First Nations people about Chinese-First Nations connections. Afterall, my mother's blood cousin is Rhonda Larrabee, chief of the Qayqayt (New Westminster) First Nations. Larry Grant, Musqueam elder, is half Chinese, like cousin Rhonda.

When I was up in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), I spoke with Haida people about the shared “mongolian birthmark” that both Chinese and First Nations people are born with.
Check out my stories:

Storyscapes Chinatown premieres on Saturday – check out my “Creation Story”

Storyscapes Chinatown: “Spiritual Kinship” – Todd Wong

Check it out:
http://www.straight.com/article-152876/who-were-bcs-first-seafarers?

Kitsilano Showboat has great summer show line up with lots of cultural diversity

Leave a reply

I saw a bagpiper playing beside Cornwall Ave. by the Kitsilano Showboat on Tuesday evening.

I walked back to discover there were Scottish dancers from the Stave Falls Scottish Dancers from Mission BC. Imagine my surprise to find a dancer with both Japanese and Scottish heritage.

It was fun to watch the dancing. There was a sword dance, country dances, and even some vaudeville numbers. It's always amusing to watch the little ones dancing and trying to keep in time. The older dancers are much more competent and doing well for a non-competitive dance group, so you know they genuinely are dancing for the love of the activity.

After the show I talked with Barry Leinbach, executive for the Kitsilano Showboat Society. Barry was MCing the event as he is taking over from his mother Bea Leinbach who has helmed the Kitsilano Showboat for decades. Beatrice Leinbach has volunteered her time to this venerable Vancouver summer cultural institution for over 60 years, and has recived the Order of BC and the Order of Canada.

I used to watch the shows at the Kitsilano Showboat when I was a young child in the '60's, when my parents would bring our family down to Kitsilano Beach. It was always amazing watching the performers on stage, wiht the ocean and mountains in the background.

The Showboat season only started on Monday. Thank goodness the weather has been good.

On Tuesday, The Vancouver Firefighters Band performed with firefighter/opera singer Andy Greenwood. But sadly I was unable to attend. Andy has been a friend of my girlfriend's parents for the last few years. It's amazing what you can find when you walk around in your neighborhood.

Check for upcoming FREE shows starting at 7pm
There are lots of ethnic cultural groups performing and even some surprises!
www.kitsilanoshowboat.com

Gung HAGGIS Fat Choy

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

Category Archives: Vancouver Area Adventures

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

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

Celebrating BC Day Weekend in the Okanagan on Kalamalka Lake

150 Ways to Love BC from Victoria Times Colonist

Okanagan Wineries: Mission Hill, Quail's Gate and Gray Monk

vancouveriam.com video of SUCCESS “Walk with the Dragon”

Did Chinese discover BC first? Oldest new immigrants? DNA connections? Georgia Straight tackles the question?

Kitsilano Showboat has great summer show line up with lots of cultural diversity