Gung Haggis + PYROS Filipino team at ADBF 2006 after our races
Yearly Archives: 2006
Gung Haggis + PYROS Filipino team in action at ADBF on Sunday
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Gung Haggis + PYROS Filipino team in action at ADBF on Sunday
I finally found a picture of us on the net….
http://www.dragonboatwest.net/forum/index.php?topic=3497.msg35302#msg35302
Sunday morning race… The PYROS boat was packed with Gung Haggis
paddlers… I wish this could have been true for the Rec F final…
This picture is from the Rec F semi-final. The team came 1st, and
qualified for the Rec F Championship, where they won a Bronze medal.
While the top arm technique is varying… the timing is good.
We are out of the water all at the same time…
Look at the lead strokes and all the Filipino paddlers – notice how
their outside wrist is slightly curled inwards – this is an outrigger
paddling technique that helps hasten a quick exit from the water.
Notice how low their paddles are to the water, as they exit and start
their recovery – minimum wasted energy. Our paddles are flying
high all over the place!
We had a nice practice on the water tonight… we paddled all the way
to Granville Island, to the Alder Bay dock that the FCRCC uses.
On the way beside Granville Island, we did the “eyes closed”
exercise. The team kept good timing, and even did a power series
with eyes closed. When they opened their eyes, people were amazed
that they were no longer on False Creek's main channel, but around the
corner at Alder Bay, beside all the Southside condos.
For the last 30 minutes we gave the boat over to Joseph of the PYROS
team, and he gave some paddling instructions to give us more power.
Key thing – get the paddle in sooner and deeper. Big reach… and
quicker recovery. Joseph knows we can get much more power out of our
team.
I swear… the boat was really flying at times tonight. You could really feel a strong surge in the boat.
Looking forward to our next race!
no practice this Friday…. see everybody on Sunday 1pm.
June 22 Head Tax Apology Ceremony simulcast across Canada – Vancouver location is Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
June 22 Head Tax Apology Ceremony
simulcast across Canada:
Vancouver location is Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
What a long way we have come since November 26th, 2005, when Liberal Prime
Minister Paul Martin and his Parliamentary Secretary Raymond Chan refused to speak to
head tax descendants asking for an apology, as they made their way into the SUCCESS
Hall to sign an Agreement-in-Principle for NO Apology, and NO compensation.
On June 22nd, 2006, the Conservative federal government will simulcast Prime Minister
Harper's apology for the Head Tax and Exclusion Act legislation from the House of
Commons. This public event will take place at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver from
noon to 3pm.
The BC Coalition is arranging transportation for the elderly and those who need assistance.
Transportation will be provided from 10 am - 11 am,
from SUCCESS - 28 West Pender Street,
and will return from Hotel Vancouver to SUCCESS from 3 - 4pm.
Members of the BC Coalition will attend and witness this historical and, hopefully
celebratory occasion in the BC ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver at Burrard
and Georgia.
I will be attending and inviting my parents, my grandmother my cousins. I have
head tax payers on both parents's sides. My mother's father and grandparents paid
the head tax. And my father's mother... I am sure. His father actually arrived in 1886,
the year before the head tax was enacted. But grandmother had to come to Canada,
where she gave birth to two daughers and 4 sons. My father is the youngest, born in
1925, 2 years after the head tax was turned into the Chinese Exclusion Act.
When grandfather's 4th wife returned to China, with her Canadian born children,
they were unable to come to Canada until after 1947 due to the Exclusion Act.
My grandmother, #5 wife, stayed in Canada.
Vancouver Sun: Redress Train rolls by ghosts of the past
Vancouver Sun: Redress Train rolls by ghosts of the past
Vancouver Sun writer Ian Mulgrew is on board the Redress Train from Vancouver to Ottawa. He is accompanying head tax descendants on their journey to witness PM Stephen Harper give an apology for the Chinese head tax in parliament. 83 year old WW2 veteran, Gim Wong, son of a head tax payer is on the train with his wife Jan. Toronto lawyer and activist Susan Eng, head tax descendant is on the train with her mother. I saw them off in Vancouver on Friday.
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Publication: Vancouver Sun; |
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COLUMNIST
Redress
IAN
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Calgary Sun: “Apology a start”
Calgary Sun: “Apology
a start”
Here is an article from the Calgary Sun
Chinese
Canadians say head tax issue long overdue
By PABLO FERNANDEZ, CALGARY SUN
Prime
Minister Stephen Harper's apology for the Chinese head tax is a small step in
the start of the healing process for those who suffered from the injustice,
said Calgarian Mary Mah today.
Mah, 85,
was one of dozen Chinese head tax payers, spouses and relatives who boarded a
train in Vancouver,
dubbed the Redress Express, last Friday.
As it
crosses Canada,
the train will collect as many as 100 people who are Ottawa-bound to hear
Harper's official apology on Thursday for the institution of the head tax.
The
apology is important because it means the government will finally acknowledge
the tax was a law based on bigotry and racism, said Mah while waiting to
continue on to Ontario.
“The
government has to admit that law was racist, that what they did was wrong and
immoral,” she said.
“It's
about bringing all this out into the open so that the rest of the people will
know what happened.
“The
apology is the first step but closure is not going to happen overnight.”
The
Chinese head tax, which was implemented in 1885 and revoked in 1923, forced
every Chinese immigrant to pay, at its highest level, a $500 fee to enter the
country.
The tax
likely destroyed thousands of families, said Mah.
“The
tax meant that families were broken apart because fathers were forced to be
alone in Canada and their
wives and children were left in China,”
she said.
“It
was a very difficult solitary life … they were never allowed to bond with
their families and that was a very big injustice.
“The
apology is symbolic … for the tragedy that it was.”
Approximately
81,000 people had to pay the tax and of those, only 20 are still alive today,
said Ontario Coalition of Chinese Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendants
spokeswoman Avvy Go.
“This
comes 20 years too late,” said Go of the apology.
“Even
if the government didn't offer a formal apology, they should've done something
by now.”
Mah was 3
years old when she arrived in Victoria on May
16, 1923, making her one of the youngest persons ever to pay the tax and one of
the last Chinese immigrants to pay to enter Canada.
It cost
her father $1,000 to get her and her mother into the country, said Mah, whose
father was second generation Canadian but who was forced to pay to reunite with
his wife, whom he met when he returned to China as a young man.
BC Coalition of Head Tax Payers: “One certificate, one payment is fair”
BC Coalition of Head Tax Payers:
"One certificate, one payment is fair"
BC Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendants
For immediate release - Tuesday June 20, 2006
Vancouver, BC - The BC Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and
Descendants believes the position of "one certificate, one payment" is
principled, fair and inclusive. We are concerned with the federal
government's unilateral imposition of the upcoming Chinese Head
Tax/Exclusion redress settlement.
"Our request for a meeting to work with the government to discuss the
redress package prior to the June 22 announcement has been turned
down." states Karin Lee, BC Coalition spokesperson and grand-daughter
of head tax payers. "We are disappointed that the government has not
been open and transparent with redress groups across the country as
well as with head tax families, and are unnecessarily rushing through
the process. "
"When redress started over 20 years ago many head tax payers and
spouses were still alive," states Harvey Lee, a BC Coalition
spokesperson, senior and son of a head tax payer. "The government
should not be rewarded for their intransigence and failure to act for
the last two decades."
The BC Coalition would like to inform head tax families, the Chinese
community and all Canadians, that on June 22nd, 2006, the federal
government will simulcast Prime Minister Harper's apology for the Head
Tax and Exclusion Act legislation from the House of Commons. This
public event will take place at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver from noon
to 3pm.
The BC Coalition is arranging transportation for the elderly and those
who need assistance. Transportation will be provided from 10 am - 11
am, from SUCCESS - 28 West Pender Street, and will return from Hotel
Vancouver to SUCCESS from 3 - 4pm.
Members of the BC Coalition will attend and witness this historical
and, hopefully celebratory occasion in the BC ballroom of the Fairmont
Hotel Vancouver at Burrard and Georgia.
The BC Coalition is a volunteer multi-partisan organization, and works
toward a just redress for the families affected by the head tax and
the Exclusion Act. We are individuals and families who are head tax
payers, spouses and descendants of our early Chinese Canadian
pioneers. We at the Coalition also comprise more recent Chinese
immigrants from Hong Kong, China and elsewhere who believe that it is
important for all of us to work together for justice for the victims
of government discrimination. After all, we are all Canadian and all
Chinese.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
BC Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendants
Grace Schenkeveld English-language spokesperson (604) 506-1703
Harvey Lee English-language spokesperson (778) 883-2606
Karin Lee, English-language spokesperson (778) 773-1088
Gabriel Yiu, Chinese-language spokesperson (604) 889-0696
Vancouver Sun: Redress train rolls by ghosts of the past
Here's an article on the Redress Train, with interviews by Sun reporter Ian Mulgrew….
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Redress train rolls by ghosts of the past
Monday, June 19, 2006
Aboard the Head Tax Redress Train
As
the transcontinental train clattered eastward through the Rockies, Toronto's Susan Eng entertained tourists with stories of the 22-year struggle by Chinese Canadians for redress over the long-gone discriminatory head tax. More time, Eng told them, would have
allowed the groups involved to better organize the response to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's surprise announcement last week that he would apologize for the unique penalty imposed on the Chinese more than a century ago. “It would have been nice along the way on this
trip to commemorate the thousands of Chinese workers who gave their lives to build the railway,” Eng said. But the train rumbled
through Kamloops at midnight and most of the sites appropriate for a ritualistic nod to the ghosts of the past were also shrouded in darkness as the train sped by. Later, the
observation car filled with “ahs” at the appearance of Thunder Falls on the opposite side of mirror-like Moose Lake near the B.C.-Alberta border. “Wow,” Eng echoed, watching the spectacular spires
and rugged ranges through which her ancestors helped carve and blast a steel path. She said she hopes this thrown-together trip will
nevertheless focus Canadians' attention and help them understand why the prime minister's decision means so much to the minority community. James
Marr, 94, and his family had only two days notice before they boarded the Canadian in Edmonton late Saturday for the trip to Ottawa. “He's
quite overwhelmed,” daughter Lily Welsh said of her dad, who in 1923 was one of the last Chinese immigrants let into Canada until after the Second World War. “This is just such a once-in-a-lifetime event. He never thought he would see the day.” Marr sat in
his wheelchair smiling broadly, his eyes gleaming as the verdant prairie rolled by. Gim Wong and his wife Jan were similarly awed by the grandeur of the landscape and the attention of the media.
“I'm overwhelmed, just overwhelmed,” repeated the 83-year-old Wong, whose late father paid the tax.
The
Toronto-born co-chairwoman of the Ontario Coalition of Chinese Head Tax Payers and Families, Eng is riding the rails with her mother Chuey Eng in memory of her late father Tong, who paid the fee to enter the country in 1919. “This railway is part of the mythology of Canada,” Eng said as the Via train gently rocked its way across the continent.
“Every child learns that in our schools — now they will also learn about the Chinese indentured workers who did the hard jobs.”
Although
the Chinese were courted and welcomed to help construct the CPR, the federal government shunned them after it was completed in 1885. Those who were landed faced rampant, manifest discrimination and sporadic violence by the turn of the 20th century.
They
might have played a key role in building the Canadian Pacific line that ushered B.C. into Confederation, but the Chinese were not even invited to the celebration marking its finish. Of the 82,000 or so
estimated to have paid the head tax — imposed from 1885 until 1923 to staunch immigration — there remain only a score of aged survivors such as Marr and perhaps 200 of their spouses. There are, though,
an estimated 4,000 descendants, several hundred families whose ancestors paid the fee that was as high as $500. Eng and
eight others set out Friday from Vancouver, and were joined by another five, including Marr, in Edmonton. Two found the travel too onerous and disembarked, hoping to fly to Ottawa. None of the abiding ironies of the journey are lost on the participants.
They
even carry a Last Spike, one of the souvenir steel pegs distributed at the initial ceremony marking the historic moment when the eastern and western crews laying down the Canadian Pacific line met. The
spike was a gift to the redress campaign from the late author, Pierre Berton, whose books documented the building of the railway and its importance to the building of the nation. Eng plans to bring it to the ceremony Thursday when Harper will deliver on behalf of Canadians the long-overdue “sorry.”
Though
the tax was abolished in 1923, from then until 1947, Canada simply refused entry to Chinese immigrants and denied their families the right to reunite. The hardships that caused for many remain a
caustic memory discussed among those on the trip — which proved a chance for those involved to strike up new friendships and share emotional bouts of heart-felt reminiscence about family and friends long gone. “My father tried to bring us here after Japan
invaded China in 1937, but the act wouldn't allow it,” recalled Howe Chan, of Richmond, his eyes welling as he fingered a faded photograph. “My
brother died of tuberculosis before the Japanese surrender and my sister died of meningitis a month before I came here. I didn't see my father from the age of one to 14 — to me he was a total stranger when I arrived here.” Like others on the train, he was
flabbergasted by Harper's decision — a staggering symbolic gesture no one in the community expected. He scrambled to ensure he was aboard the so-called redress train. imulgrew@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
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“REDRESS EXPRESS” ROLLS INTO TORONTO
MEDIMEDIA ADVISORY – FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“REDRESS
EXPRESS” ROLLS INTO TORONTO
(En route to Head Tax and
Exclusion Act Apology in Ottawa)
TORONTO, June 19, 2006 – The
“Redress Express”, carrying Chinese Canadian Head Tax payers,
spouses and families to Ottawa, will make a scheduled stop at Toronto Union
Station tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET.
More than 100
additional passengers from Head Tax families and redress-seeking groups are
expected to join the train Wednesday for the final leg of the journey to the
House of Commons to hear Prime Minister Stephen Harper deliver a Parliamentary
apology for 62 years of legislated racism against Chinese Canadians.
“I think this trip is incredibly
important, especially the apology,” said Head Tax payer Mrs. Mary Mah,
85, of Calgary, who boarded a special car on VIA Rail’s The Canadian train in Vancouver last
Friday to begin the cross-country journey.
Mrs. Mah, whose father paid $500 each for his wife and daughter to enter Canada
in May, 1923, just weeks before the Exclusion Act was imposed, carried a
ceremonial “Last Spike” donated by the late Canadian historian and
author Pierre Berton.
The iron spike, one of several commemorative items given to dignitaries
witnessing the driving of the actual Last Spike at Craigellachie, B.C., and
completion of the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885, was handed
off by Mrs. Mah to Mr. James Marr, 94, when he boarded the train in Edmonton on Saturday.
(Mrs. Mah disembarked in Edmonton but plans to
attend the apology in Ottawa.)
Mr. Marr will be joined Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. ET at Toronto Union Station by
more than 100 other Head Tax payers, spouses and families when the
“Redress Express” (VIA Rail Train 42, departing at 9:20 a.m. ET)
starts the last leg of the journey to Ottawa.
Parliament convenes on Thursday, June 22, at 3:00 p.m. EST to hear the apology.
“This historic cross-country train ride, made possible with the kind
support of VIA Rail, is significant for all Canadians,” said Susan Eng,
co-chair of the Ontario Coalition of Chinese Head Tax Payers, Spouses and
Descendants.
“It focuses national attention on a dark stain on our nation’s
history and the current Government’s efforts to restore justice.”
–30–
TIMETABLE FOR “REDRESS
EXPRESS”
Arrive in Toronto (VIA Rail Train 2 “The Canadian”) on Monday,
June 18, 2006, at 8:00 p.m. ET
Depart from Toronto (VIA Rail Train 42) on Wednesday,
June 21, at 9:20 a.m. ET. Delegation to meet in VIA Rail Station at 8:30 a.m
ET.
Arrive in Ottawa Wednesday, June 21, at 2:05 ET.
Prime Minister’s Apology set for
3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 22, in the House of Commons.
MEDIA
For more information, please contact:
Avvy Go, legal counsel, Ontario Coalition
of Chinese Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendants 416-971-9676
Keith Wong, Ontario
Coalition, 416-835-7623
Catherine Kaloutsky, VIA Rail, corporate
communications (Toronto
area),
416-956-7683
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team meets sucess and challenges at Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team meets sucess and challenges at Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
Combined Gung Haggis Fat Choy Kogawa House and Pyros dragon boat teams at ADBF 2006 – photo courtesy of Deb Martin
Thank you very much to the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Kogawa House dragon boat team for one of my
most fun and challenging dragon boat weekends. I love that our paddlers are
enjoying the experience and are not only exploring new opportunities –
but also want to do better!
It was a weekend full of promise and fun with lots of highlights.
– we were interviewed by CBC French Television & Radio
– proud that Constance stood up and did a wonderful media interview in French
– we had extra races with Philipino team – winning a bronze medal
– Ann-Marie becoming the “Keeper of the Dragon Puppet”
– dinner at the Foo's Ho Ho restaurant on Saturday night – good bonding
and chinese history lessons + watching Edmonton beating Carolina on TV!
– we got new kilts and sashes
– Jim wearing Kilt and sash with pride, and introducing his parents who
took pictures (another parent introduction – following Deb's mom, and
Jonas' parents)
– we were bagpipe serenaded with “Scotland the Brave” by corporal Norris
– Steven Wong paddled on a 50+ team and won!
– Friday night at Brasilia Exotica – the team is serenaded by Todd and Marian on accordion.
– Having friend/steers/co-coach Bob Brinson join us for the weekend.
– Kristine, Dave, Gurmeet, Teresa, Jennifer and Marian hanging out with us, even though they were rostered on other teams.
– introducing Gung Haggis to the many coaches and paddlers that I have
previously coached or worked with – who are on many of the top teams
now.
There were also challenges that arose, and we had to rise to meet them.
And in the end… Maybe our views of dragon boat paddling and teams
have changed, and maybe we are ready for that next level. It was great
to watch the final Championship races and the “Gut and Glory” race with
so many of our team members. And have Deb yelling for “Wasabi!” –
cheering on our friends.
As
a team, I know we have grown. Many of us openly and willingly make
contributions and sacrifices for our team. And that is good.
Todd Wong displays his new Fraser “sport” tartan, beside dragon boat buddy James Yu, who wears his “sarong.” – photo Deb Martin
Hosting the Philipino team was both an added bonus and distraction.
Helping to manage and roster the team for each race, took energy away
from our team, but it also gave our paddlers opportunities to: paddle
more races; step up individual and team leadership; and have an added
sense of purpose! To see our paddlers spontaneously trading or
giving their Gung Haggis shirts with the PYROS paddlers was wonderful.
It truly demonstrated that I have always described our team as
“good-hearted people with good spirits”.
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Kogawa House dragon boat team finished 5th in our
morning race on Saturday and 7th in our afternoon race. There had
been a near collision, in lanes 2 and 3, which probably resulted in us
finishing 5th in the race, instead of our seed 8 position. It
probably bumped us up to Division E, instead of F.
For our Sunday morning race, we loaned about 10 paddlers, + drummer to
the Phippine team races at 8:55. They finished in 1st
place, setting them up to race in the Recreation F Division
championships.
Our strongest paddlers were already warmed up when we raced for the
Division F semi about 30 minutes later. It was a good race, and while 4
boats finished ahead of us, we had to wait to find out who if our 5th
place finish was faster than the other 5th place finisher, which turned
out to be the O2P team.
For the afternoon, I would have loved to have put many of our paddlers on the Philipino
team to race for a medal in F division final – but it was impossible –
teams were on different boats, and the races were back to back. If we
had paddled well enough in our morning race to make the E Final… then
we could have done it (returning in a Gemini boat, and hopping to the
next Gemini boat). This is fun racing… getting in as many races as
you can… and we will be able to do it at smaller festivals throughout
the summer – like we did at Barnet earlier this year.
For the Philipine team, I selected our paddlers who were dedicated to
the Philipine team + additional paddlers from Chilliwack, O2P,
Conquering Waves and Roli. They meshed toghter 5 different team
styles and made it to 3rd place finish despite paddle classhes, paddle
pullouts and a messy timeing. But they all received medals for
their efforts.
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team had a tougher go for the Rec E
finals… Despite being a favored seed (lane 5), we fell behind
at the midpoint, and finished 8th.
I thank the team for trusting me to make the best decisions
possible for our rostering for Gung Haggis and PYROS races, plus our
Gung Haggis team activities and events. The PYROS paddlers have been
invited to our next practices and King, has offered a coaching session
(he lives in Vancouver now and hopefully he may join our team!)
Working with other teams.
At Barnet Race, we assisted with a Chilliwack team, at the Women's
regatta we paddled with a Tacoma team, at ADBF we assisted with the
PYROS team. Last night after the races… I was asked if I would bring
the team down to Portland for the 6-16 dragon boat race at Sellwood
Park. This invitation is from Jim Ketcham who paddles with Wasabi and
the US National team, and paddled with us in Portland in 2003. Jim
said that if we don't have a full team – he will top us off with
ringers. Jim McArthur of Lotus club was enthusiastic when I asked him
if we can bring the team and the Philipino paddlers to try some
outrigger canoe paddling at Barnet Marine Park with Lotus Club.
This is an example that top organizers, paddlers and teams love what we
do as a team in terms of community building, and it gives us the
opportunity to work with some great teams and paddlers.
Coach and Steers Todd Wong, with
drummer Deb Martin – the management team of Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon
boat team – photo courtesy of Deb Martin's camera
Coming up –
July 1st – Barrel racing in Seattle – with Tacoma DBA
July 15th – Seattle / Kent Dragon boat Race (Tacoma wants to “host” us
July 22/23 – Vernon DBF – canoes and kayaks at Deb's parents house
Aug 12 – Women's regatta at Cultus Lake
Sept 2/3 – Vancouver International Taiwanese Race (which Bob Brinson and I helped to found)
Sept 9 Penticton or Sept 10 ? Portland???
Please bring $$$ for summer paddling.
$100 per person includes: boat rental / coaching + 1 event.
other events are $30 each.
I want to have 2 teams for Taiwanese race (advanced + beginner).
Edmonton Sun: Apology expected Chinese head-tax payers head to Ottawa Edmonton Sun: Apology expected Chinese head-tax payers head to Ottawa
this Edmonton Sun article was online ahead of the train arrival in
Edmonton.
June 17, 2006
Apology expected Chinese head-tax payers head to Ottawa
By Sun staff
An historic train ride stopped in Edmonton Saturday to pick up one of
only
a few surviving Chinese head-tax payers.
James Mar, 94, will ride the VIA Rail train to Ottawa where several
Chinese-Canadian groups are expecting Prime Minister Stephen Harper to
apologize for the head tax during a speech in the House of Commons on
Thursday.
The federal government hasn’t committed to that, nor any compensation.
“We’re really not sure whether the settlement will be acceptable or
not,”
said Kenda Gee of Edmonton, chair of the Chinese Head Tax Exclusion Act
Redress Committee.
More than 81,000 Chinese paid the head tax ranging from $50 and $500
between 1885 and 1923.
But just 20 of those who directly paid and another 260 of their spouses
are still alive.
About 4,000 descendants of the head tax payers have registered with
advocacy groups.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2006/06/17/pf-1638622.html