Yearly Archives: 2006

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team takes Easter Weekend off

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Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team takes Easter Weekend off

There will be NO public paddling at Dragon Zone on Easer Sunday, April 16th.

Next practice Is TUESDAY, April 18th, 6pm
at Dragon Zone paddling centre, Creekside Park
(just south of Science World)

NO practice on Easter Sunday


We have just filled our roster  limit for ADBF – and are now starting a
second team.  Please continue to invite your friends to join a beginner
or recreation team.  This is ideal, as it allows us to run two boats on
Sundays, and have mini races.

If you haven't been out to a GHFC
dragon boat practice yet, please e-mail me to confirm your interest and
intent.  We would still like to have you included in our paddling group.

Deb and I attended the Team Managers & Captains meetings for ADBF
last night.  We have information on the June 17/18 festival and regatta
on Sunday June 2 afternoon.

There are also races in Burnaby at Barnet Marine Park on May 20.
I would really like to enter the team at this race.
http://www.lotussports.com/page.cfm?PageID=11

This is a FUN race limited to about 24 teams only with 3 races in the
day.  It was attended last year by Joe, Dan and Ernest. This is a
perfect way to be introduced to a race.
Cost will be about $30 per person, if you are already signed up for the ADBF races.

Happy Easter!!!

Chinese Cultural Centre Abruptly Scraps Chinese Calligraphic Art Show

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Chinese
Cultural Centre Abruptly Scraps Chinese Calligraphic Art
Show

I
have previously thought that the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver,
was for all Chinese descendants in Vancouver.  But I might be
wrong now.



I can remember witnessing the original models of the 3 finalist
architectural designs of the proposed Chinese Cultural Centre building, as my architect Joe Wai submitted his design with his
architect brother Wayne.  I was there when the sod-turning
ceremony happened following a Chinese New Year parade in 1978.  In
1986, We held the Saltwater City exhibition celebrating 100 years of
Chinese history in Vancouver, in the multipurpose Hall.  In 2002,
the CCC Museum and Archives held a show titled Three Early Chinese Pioneer Families which featured the family of my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan.  My name is even featured in the exhibit “From Generation to Generation.”



This week it was announced that the Chinese Cultural Centre was
cancelling the planned Chinese Calligraphic show, even though it had
already been posted on the CCC website.  The reason initially
cited, was because of a previous booking.  The CCC has now stated
that the exhibition can go on, if Gabriel Yu can come up with insurance
to cover the exhibit. 


“Kitty Ma (CCC Chair), told media that the reason for CCC declining BC Coalition's venue rental request is because the venue was pre-booked, ” wrote Gabriel Yui to me in an e-mail.  “Likewise, Kitty provided new
excuses for cancelling my show. She told media that if I could bear the
insurance and have it purchase by tomorrow, they could put it in
tomorrow's committee meeting. No one from the CCC contacted me about
this, I left a message to Ma and she haven't got back to me. Besides,
how can I buy insurance when the show is cancelled and no time given for appraisal?”

The CCC has also denied the BC Coalition of BC Head Tax Payers,
Spouses, and Their Descendants, from renting a room for public meeting,
citing that the issue is “too sensitive.”  This may because the
CCC Board has close ties to the National Congree of Chinese Canadians,
whose efforts to create the ACE program was undermined by wide spread
protest from Chinese Canadian Redress groups across Canada, including
the BC Coalition, of which Gabriel Yiu is a committee member.



Press
Release – 10.3.2006

 

Chinese
Cultural Centre Abruptly Scraps Chinese Calligraphic Art
Show

 

The Chinese Cultural Centre at Chinatown has suddenly decided to cancel a planned Asian Heritage Month exhibition “The Art of the Brush – Contemporary Calligraphy by Chinese Masters (in Gabriel Yiu's Collection).”


Regarded by Professor Johnson Su-Sing Chow as an important event in the Chinese cultural community,  “The Art of the Brush – Contemporary Calligraphy by Chinese Masters” is to be the Chinese Cultural Centre's participating event in the Asian Heritage Month (Professor Chow is the founding chair of the Chinese Canadian Artists' Federation and an advisor to the Chinese Cultural Centre).  The exhibition was suddenly cancelled less than a month before its opening.  Gabriel Uiu who lends his collection to the show, is totally shocked and disappointed by the abrupt decision. 


“This is a much anticipated event in the Chinese community and much of the preparation work has been completed.  The reasons provided by the Chinese Cultural Centre are astonishing: it said the collection is too valuable for the cultural institution and the exhibition never got approved by the board.  Ye the show has already been listed on
their website for some time,” said Yiu. 

Since the calligraphy does not touch on politics or social taboo, Yiu does not see it
as political censorship.  Yiu
surmises that it could be due to his strong opposition to the previous federal
Liberal government’s head tax settlement, which got the support of many Chinese
community organizations, including the Chinese Cultural Centre, as well as his
earlier challenge of the legitimacy of the Chinese Cultural Centre’s signing a
declaration in support of the Liberal government's no apology and no
compensation agreement. The Centre did not consult their board or members before
signing the support declaration.   

 

“If
those are the real reasons, this is an abuse of public trust and unethical
practice on the part of a public institution.  The community should take note of such
an unreasonable decision by an organization that claims to promote Chinese
culture,” said Yiu.

 

Yiu
said he sees the exhibition as his contribution to society and he is helping the
Chinese Cultural Centre to promote Chinese art. Rather than charging a fee to
defray expenses incurred by him in mounting the show, he was printing a
promotional leaflet and house program, as well as coordinating a talk and
demonstration for the show.  “In
view of the high attendance of my last show, the Chinese Cultural Centre would
lose considerable admission revenue in the cancellation.  It is also a cultural loss to the
public,” said Yiu. 


In
November 2003, the CCM Centre in Burnaby presented “Exhibition of 20th Century Chinese Painting Masters – In
the Collection of Gabriel Yiu” for one month. The exhibition attracted an
attendance of over 5,500 people.

 

-30-

 

Contact:
Gabriel Yiu 604-889-0696

 

Reference
materials

–
Chinese Cultural Centre 4/4 press release to Asian Heritage Month
organizer

–
Exhibition introduction by Prof. Chow Su-sing

–
Email correspondences with CCC staff on 3/4/2006
& 23/7/2005

 

——–


 
         
 The Art of the Brush – Contemporary
Calligraphy
                
by Chinese Masters on display at C.C.C.
 
Following the successful exhibition of 20th Century Chinese Painting
Masters in 2003, Vancouver
connoisseur Gabriel Yiu will once again present his valuable collection of
contemporary Chinese calligraphy for public enjoyment. Billed as The Art of the Brush – Contemporary
Calligraphy by Chinese Masters, the current exhibition will be held at the
On-Tak Cheung Exhibition Hall, Chinese
Cultural Centre
Museum from 6 May to 4 June, 2006. The exhibition will be
one of the Centre’s contribution to the celebrations of the May Asian Heritage
Month.
 
Focusing on the contemporary development, the Chinese masters presented
include Wu Changshuo, Qi Baishi, Pu Ru, Zhang Daqian, Chen Bending, Yang
Shanshen, Shi Lu, Hong Yi, Yu Yaoren, Kang Youwei, Lin Zexu, Lao She, Guo Moruo,
Qi Gong, Zhang Xiaohe, Wu Hufan, Jiang Jieshi, Fei Xiaowo, Zhang Ruitu, Jin
Nong, Zhao Zhiqian, Huang Tingjian , Chen Fengzi, Chow Su-Sing, Szeto Wah, Lau
Wai Yin and Chang Chun Chieh. Over 40 works will be shown and they cover a wide
spectrum of couplets, large horizontal scrolls, letters and rubbings from
stiles.
 
The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to study and appreciate the
development of the art of Chinese calligraphy. While most of the works are from
contemporary masters, there are also Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties
masterpieces.
 
 
———-
 
                          
 Introduction
 
I have known Gabriel Yiu quite early from his news comments on the radio.
I frequently tune on to it. I also read his special columns on the newspapers.
But I did not know that he is also a connoisseur until he came to my house with
his collection of art for consultation.
 
These years now, he visited me quite often to my “Ample Cottage” where we
discussed our interest in the arts. While he has an extensive troves of
treasures, I am more than happy to find his genuine interest in the Chinese
art.
 
Two years ago, his 20th
Century Chinese Painting Masters exhibition was regarded as one of the
important attractions in the city. Of equal significance will no doubt be the
current exhibition of The Art of the
Brush – Contemporary Calligraphy by Chinese Masters, presented by the
Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver.
 
I was fortunate to see the art works which Gabriel brought in for
consultation. Over 40 pieces of work from famed and treasured calligraphy
masters will be shown. It is indeed a rare opportunity.
 
This exhibition will undoubtedly contribute to further enhancement of the
art and cultural development in
Vancouver. Viewing the works of
different individual styles and expressions from different periods of time will
gain us a deeper understanding of history.
 
Chinese calligraphy is an exquisite tradition. Appreciation of its art
will help refine our character and intellectual spirit, while practicing it has
the effect of improving our health, like the conducive exercise of qi gong.  
 
Special thanks should be given to Paul Yeung for organizing this
exhibition and to Gabriel Yiu for his generosity and enthusiasm for sharing his
valuable collection with us.
 
Johnson Su-Sing Chow

Joy Kogawa reading tonight for Canadian Authors Association, at Alliance for the Arts Building

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Joy Kogawa Reading Tonight for Canadian Authors Association


– at Alliance for the Arts Building

see below from the Canadian Authors Association website

http://www.canauthorsvancouver.org/meetings.htm

Wednesday – April 12,
2006

Healing Words: a Reading and Talk

Joy Kogawa, a member of the Order of Canada, is a prize
winning novelist
and poet living in Vancouver. Her first novel, Obasan (1981) won the
annual novel prize for Canadian Authors Association, and First Novel Award from
Books in Canada. She has also written Iksuka (1992), The Rain Ascends
(1995), and Naomi's Road for children. Her four poetry books include Woman in
the
Woods (1985).

She has been active with the BC Heritage Foundation to save the demolition
of her childhood home on 64th West Avenue. in Vancouver.  This would be a
memorial to Japanese-Canadian citizens who lost much in WW II by being sent
to interment camps.  Writers across Canada are working and donating ” to
preserve the house and convert it to  public use as a retreat for writers of
conscience whose work focuses on healing and reconciliation.”

http://www.kogawa.homestead.com/

Admission is free for members, $10 for non-members.

Author speaks as the guest of the Canadian Authors Association. April 12, 7 pm, Alliance for the Arts (938 Howe). Admission $10, info 604-948-2654.

The doors open at 6:45 p.m. Meetings start at 7:00 p.m. and include Vancouver
Branch announcements and guest speakers (or events). There will be time for socializing
(and book signing) at the end of the evening.

Head Tax Survivor compensation story wrong…

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image
Head Tax Survivor compensation story wrong…

The story that was reported Monday in The National Post, Vancouver Sun,
and CanWest news services, about Chinese Canadian Head Tax survivors
and spouses being assured an individual compensation payment of $15,000
to $30,000 is WRONG.

Both the National Post, the Chinese Canadian National Council, went
into “damage control” along with the Federal Government.  
Parliamentary Secretary Jason Kenney denied the news report and that it
was premature to announce or recommend anything without consulting the
members of the Chinese Canadian communities across Canada.  There
will be meetings set up in major centres across Canada soon, as a
government announcement on Head Tax and Exclusion Act redress will be
expected before or on July 1st, 2007.

When the story broke many members of the Chinese Canadian National
Council and the different coaltion groups across Canada were surprised,
and wondered if the announcement of $15,000 to $30,000 was a pre-mature
leak, or a misquote.  The correct answer is misquote. 

Dr. Joseph Wong received many phone calls on Monday, and worked hard to
clarify his statements.  Sid Tan, president of ACCESS, gave an
interview on MultiVan, in Vancouver, to help clarify the
statements.  Victor Wong, executive director of the Chinese
Canadian National Council, similarly did a radio interview on the Dave
Rutherford Show in Alberta.  Courtesy of Kenda Gee's website, Here
is an mp3 of the interview:

www.asian.ca/redress/630ched-apr10redress.mp3

Below is a translated version of the SingTao Daily story where Dr.
Joseph Wong clarifies and explains the misquote.  He says that
Chinese Community groups are proposing a two stage framework. 
Apology first, before July 1st, followed by extensive consultations to
determine the amounts for individual compensation, and whether that
will be extended to descendants of head tax payers.  So far, the
government has promised an apology, and are favorable to individual
compensation to surviving head tax payers and spouses.

Also included below, is the original Vancouver Sun/CanWest story which
stated that individual compensation would be $15,000 to $30,000. 
These figures are based on discussions on what the government might
accept.  in 1988, Japanese Canadians who were interned were
eligible to recieve $21,000.  In addition, funding was also set up
to develop community projects such as the Japanese Canadian National
Museum.  In 1885, a $50 head tax was charged on each person of
Chinese ancestry entering Canada.  It rose to $100, then to $500,
before the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act was legislated, effectively
banning people of Chinese ancestry immigrating to Canada until
1947.  From 1947 to 1967, Chinese immigration was serverely
limited mainly to family sponsorships.  This was done to limit and
discourage the numbers of Chinese immigrants to Canada.

 


Newspaper: SingTao Daily

Date: April 11, 2006  Page A4
 
Dr. Joseph Wong makes clarification on recommending 15 to 30 thousand to the government –
Vancouver Sun’s report about individual compensation was untrue
 
By Reporter YuenMan YEUNG(yuan wen YANG)
 
Founding
head of the CCNC Dr. Joseph Wong denies a press report yesterday that
the govt has already given him the assurance that head tax payers will
get individual compensation.  Jason Kenney also indicates to SingTao
Daily that those related media reports will not affect the attitude of
the govt in solving the head tax matter.
 
In
reports by both the Vancovuer Sun and the National Post, Dr. Wong was
quoted as saying : “The Fed. Govt has accepted their recommendation to
give individual compensation to head tax payers.  The compensation
amount will be between 15 thousand to 30 thousand which will be paid to
those who paid the tax themselves or their spouse.” But Joseph Wong
gave clarification to SingTao yesterday that the related coverage
misquoted what he said.  “Of course that’s wrong, I never said that
from beginning to end.”
 
Wong
said what he had said at the time was: “The government appear to accept
our recommendation,  re how to resolve the head tax matter in two
phases, which is not to say there has been an acceptance of the
compensation amount.  They got it wrong.”
 
CCNC had earlier proposed this recommendation involving two stages, which comprise an apology before July 1st
and in the second stage to conduct extensive consultations, including
on the issue whether to give compensation to the descendants of head
tax payers.  
 
Wong
also said he was interviewed by a National Post reporter.  When asked
about the amount of compensation asked for, Wong based the fact that
the govt., in past similar resolution package had used a figure between
15000 to 30000 before, they felt that the Chinese Community might
accept this as compensation figure: “15000 to 30000 dollars (the govt)
for sure will accept…..but that doesn’t mean (the govt) has accepted
the suggestion. That’s not what I said.”
 
Secretary
Kenney also denied this news information, he also indicates he feels
unhappy about the report : “No news report will change our method of
addressing the head tax matter, absolutely not.
 

Kenney
also said, the govt. at the present time has not made any decision on
the head tax matter, no recommendation has been made to the cabinet
either: “We will shortly announce the consultation and input’s second
phase, hoping we can include consultation meetings.  It would be wrong
for the govt to make decision before obtaining the views of the Chinese
community extensively.”








Monday  April 10  2006
 
Head-tax survivors will get compensated

B.C. spokesman for Chinese-Canadians who paid discriminatory tax

welcomes move

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.

html?id=f5210538-f8a1-41bd-8832-afadb91d589a&k=97582
 
Jordana Huber and Jonathan Fowlie

CanWest News Service and Vancouver Sun

Monday, April 10, 2006
 
A group seeking redress for a head tax once charged on Chinese-Canadians says
 it has received assurances from the new Conservative government that survivors
who paid the tax will receive anywhere between $15,000 to  $30,000 in
compensation over the next few months.

“The government has accepted our proposal to compensate these survivors,”said
Dr. Joseph Wong, founding president of the Chinese Canadian National Council,
who met last week with Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda and Jason Kenney,
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.

“The compensation will be somewhere in the amount of $15,000 to $30,000 for
those who directly paid the tax or their spouse,” he said.  Government officials
could not be reached Sunday to comment on Wong's suggestion of a deal.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the head tax a “grave injustice,”
but declined to give details about the timing of an apology, or of the details of any
potential compensation. He said the government would consult with Chinese-Canadians
about how it would apologize.

On Sunday, however, Wong spoke not only of the compensation package, but said
officials within the Conservative government have promised him that an apology will
be issued by July 1st — 83 years to the day the Chinese Exclusion Act was enacted.

Hearing a report of Wong's comments, a spokesman for a group representing those
affected by the head tax in B.C. said the proposed compensation package, if true,
would mean an historic milestone.

“I think it would help to heal the wounds of the Chinese community,” said Bill Chu,
spokesman for the B.C. Coalition of Chinese Head Tax Payers, Their Spouses and
Descendants. “It's justice finally being done, and I think we all should be happy.” 

Chu, who met Oda and Kenney in Toronto last month along with about 17 other
Chinese leaders from across the country, said he had not heard anything onthe issue
of compensation from the government.

Speaking from his home in Vancouver on Sunday, Chu added he believes Harper is
committed to dealing with the issue and commended the new government for its swift
action.

“Even before the election [Harper] made this as a promise to the Chinese community,”
said Chu. “He himself had made the promise and he is simply making good on his
promise and doing the honourable thing.”

When asked if he thinks the proposed $15,000 to $30,000 would be enough to satisfy
members of the community, Chu said he does, though he was quick to explain the issue
reaches far beyond money.

“The success of this redress is not about achieving a certain dollar figure,” said Chu.
“It is about achieving the elimination of discrimination against any people, in this case
the Chinese.” 

Following the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1881, and, in response to
growing immigration during the B.C. gold rush, the federal government tried to stem
the flow of immigrants from China by imposing an average $50-500 head tax. Between
1885 and 1923 Ottawa collected more than $23 million from an estimated 81,000
Chinese immigrants who entered the country.

There are fewer than 300 Head Tax payers still alive in Canada, while several thousand
descendants have registered with the CCNC, said Wong.  Wong made his comments on
Sunday in Toronto where he joined NDP MP Olivia Chow for the first of several
information sessions set to take place in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver on
head tax redress.

“The NDP and Bloc have made themselves clear on this issue,” said Chow after speaking
to a crowd of more than 400 gathered to register relatives or spouses who paid the tax.

“The Conservatives need us in a minority government. Given how clear we are,  I think,
I have some confidence there will be adequate action on this issue.”  Also attending that
meeting was Landy Ing Anderson, who was there for her 106-year-old grandfather
believed to be the oldest surviving Head Tax payer in the country.

“When an apology finally comes it will right the wrong,” said Ing Anderson, wiping away
tears.

(c) The Vancouver Sun 2006

Rafe Mair's Family Secret – his connection with Japanese Canadians

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Rafe Mair's Family Secret

– his connection with Japanese Canadians

We
all have family and personal secrets.  Things we would rather not
share with strangers.  But they also help define the kinds of
people that we become.  Rafe Mair, the tough talking right wing
media commentator who served as a cabinet minister in the former Social
Credit provincial governments has recently written to very revealing
articles about his personal connections with the internment of
Japanese-Canadians.  I admire him for his stance and the courage
to make these articles public knowledge.

Rafe Mair was the first
person who ever interviewed me on radio.  It was in May 1993, and
I had just recieved the Simon Fraser University Terry Fox Gold
Medal.  Rafe Mair had a reputation for being a very tough
interviewer.  But with me he was very gentle. He has a soft side,
and he shared with me his stories of meeting Terry Fox and Rick
Hansen. 

Many years later, I heard him speak about the
challenges he faces going through depression.  I was going through
depression at that time too.  The doctors told me it was normal
after cancer survival, to have post-traumatic depression.  A few
years ago, I had the opportunity to thank him personally for speaking
openly and candidly on his radio show about his depression.

Rafe Mair wrote a letter of support
for the Save Kogawa House campaign last week.  In this letter he
revealed that his personal reasons for supporting Kogawa House, as well
as how his family had a personal connections to Japanese Canadians who
were interned in World War II.

Check out Rafe Mair's latest column in The Tyee:

Japanese-Canadians in a wartime BC concentration camp.

My father 'legally' stole assets from interned Japanese-Canadians.

http://thetyee.ca/Views/2006/04/10/MairFamilySecret/



By Rafe Mair



Published: April 10, 2006

 

TheTyee.ca

Two things happened to me this past week that took me into a small corner of my brain that I don't like visiting.

First, there was an email from a sometime editor of mine telling me that efforts were being made to save the childhood home
of internationally-acclaimed writer Joy Kogawa, located at 1450 West
64th Avenue. Then, on the weekend, I read a review of the autobiography
of Dr. David Suzuki.

Let me first paint a picture of British Columbia in the early months
of 1942. On the 7th of December, 1941, the Japanese had attacked the US
Naval base in Pearl Harbour, causing large scale damage to capital
ships and death to many Americans. This devastating attack drove a
stake of fear into Americans and Canadians living on the West Coast.
But it was more than just Pearl Harbour. Japanese soldiers had
committed atrocities (perhaps too mild a word), in their undeclared war
in China. Between December 1937 and March 1938, approximately 400,000
Chinese civilians and prisoners of war were slaughtered by the invading
troops. An estimated 80,000 women and girls were raped; many of them
were then mutilated or murdered.

The prejudice against Japanese-Canadians was also part of the
prevailing mood and social fabric. “Japs” or “Nips,” as they were
always called, kept to themselves and were obviously not to be trusted.
Long before Pearl Harbour, politicians and newspapers were warning of
the “Yellow Peril”.

In 1942, I was in my 11th year while David Suzuki, a third
generation Japanese-Canadian, was six and Joy Kogawa, who was second
generation, was seven. They, along with all Canadians of Japanese
origin, were deported to concentration camps, mostly in the interior of
BC, where they remained interned until the war ended in August 1945. A
little girl in my class at Maple Grove Elementary, Michiko Katayama was
amongst them.

My family secret

But there was more to it than that. A “trustee” was set in place to
hold all the internee's holdings. He then sold them all for as low as
10 cents on the dollar, with the money going for the upkeep of the
prisoners. And here is where I'm forced into the distant recesses of my
mind, for my Dad bought a paper box company from the trustee at a 90
percent discount, so it's fair and accurate to say that I was fed,
clothed and educated on assets literally stolen from the true owners.
It is part of me that I can never be rid of. My dad would have been 100
this July, my mother the same age in November, so I feel I can finally
talk about this without opening old wounds.

It must be clearly understood that my dad didn't do anything
wrong by the standards of that day. Indeed, this sort of thing was seen
as a form of patriotism since it got even with the Japs and kept people
working. And that's a key point. With the exception of the Winches,
father and son of the CCF (later called the NDP), few expressed any
horror at what had been done. Indeed, it was quite the reverse.
Government MPs from BC badgered Prime Minister Mackenzie King, who had
been told by the commissioner of the RCMP that the Japanese-Canadians
posed no threat, to go along with the deportations. The local
newspapers egged the politicians on.

In a curious twist, at the conclusion of the war, the federal
government offered all the prisoners a one-way passage to Japan, a
country few had ever seen. Many came home, however, to start again from
nothing and while Joy Kagawa and David Suzuki are shining examples of
forgiveness and achievement, they're by no means the only ones who
returned to live useful lives.

Read more of:   My father 'legally' stole assets from interned Japanese-Canadians.

Read www.Rafeonline.ca

Canadian Land Trust Calls for Global Action in Saving Author’s Threatened Home

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NEWS RELEASE             
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 10, 2006

Canadian Land Trust Calls for Global Action
in Saving Author’s Threatened Home

VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA – A coalition of friends, writers groups and The Land Conservancy (TLC) are asking global citizens to help save the childhood home of Canadian author Joy Kogawa from demolition.

TLC and the Save Kogawa House Committee have until April 30 to save the historic Joy Kogawa House. The goal is to raise $1.25 million to purchase the house, fund restorations, and establish an endowment for a writer-in-residence program.

Phone calls, letters of support, and donations have been received from across Canada, but a call for help is being asked on an international level. To date, $217,000 has been raised from 340 donors.

“We’re calling on everyone who has been touched by the past treatment of the Japanese community during World War II,” says Bill Turner, Executive Director of TLC. “This house will stand as a symbol of the wrongs that were committed in the past, but also as a symbol of what an international community can achieve when it pulls together.”

The historic Joy Kogawa House is located in Vancouver. Kogawa and her family were removed from the home in 1942 as part of the Government’s policy of internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II. Over the years, the house has become a symbol of lost hope and happiness and a central image in Kogawa’s award-winning novel Obasan. The home is also featured in the sequel Emily Kato and the children’s story Naomi’s Road.

“This is a story that needs living symbols so people remember this happened in Canada,” says Kogawa. “We need to show the world that we are not afraid to hide from our history, and we can work towards reconciliation among our own citizens.”

The historic Joy Kogawa House first came to TLC’s attention in early 2005 through the Save Kogawa House Committee. On November 30, 2005, the City of Vancouver granted a 120-day delay on the demolition permit for the house. In early December, TLC announced they would spearhead the campaign. On February 8, 2006, the Kogawa House was listed on Heritage Vancouver’s 2006 Top 10 Endangered Sites. Mid March, TLC received a 30-day extension on the option to purchase the home.

Once protected, the historic Joy Kogawa House will be a used as a writing retreat, enabling emerging international writers to create new works focusing on human rights issues. It will also be open for public and school tours.

Donations can be made at www.conservancy.bc.ca or (604) 733-2313.

-30-

For more information, please contact (interviews in English):

TLC The Land Conservancy of BC:  http://www.conservancy.bc.ca
Bill Turner, Executive Director, (250) 479-8053; bturner@conservancy.bc.ca
Heather Skydt, Communications Coordinator, (604) 733-2313; hskydt@conservancy.bc.ca

Save Joy Kogawa House Committee:  http://www.kogawahouse.com  
Anton Wagner, (416) 863-1209; awagner@yorku.ca
Ann-Marie Metten, (604) 263-6586; ametten@telus.net
Todd Wong, (604) 987-7124; gunghaggis@yahoo.ca

Quartetto Gelato superb last night… today dragon boats in the rain

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Quartetto Gelato superb last night… today dragon boats in the rain

It was a wonderful feast of music with Quartetto Gelato
performing at the Chan Centre.  New cellist Elinor Frey made her
Vancouver debut with the group, along with group leaders Cynthia
Stejles (oboe) and Peter de Sotos (violin, tenor), and Alexander
Sevastian (accordion, piano) who has been with the group for three
years.

The evening highlighted their most recent album:  Quartetto Gelato
Travels the Orient Express.  Songs from the album represent the
countries along the classic train route.

The evening was made even more special because Bill Richardson
accompanied them in the second half.  Richardson contributed
stories to tie each song together and create a journey of adventure
with characters that also played oboe, cello, accordion and sang
tenor.  Lots of laughs even had cellist Elionor Frey cracking up
on stage.

More review later…

Right now, I have to go prepare for this afternoon's dragon boat
practice and public paddling at 1pm, Dragon Zone at Creekside Park –
just south of Science World.

Come and paddle with us.  $2 for the public paddling program offered by the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival. 
Bring a hat, and a wind/rain jacket.  We paddle Rain or Snow… or
Sun…  just in case it rains or snows or sunshines on race day.

Prime Minister Harper speaks to Chinese-Canadians on Saturday, pledging Apology for Chinese Head Tax and compensation for “direct victims”

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Prime Minister Harper speaks to Chinese-Canadians on
Saturday, pledging Apology for Chinese Head Tax and compensation for
“direct victims”

 
 
The PM commented on the HT apology last night.  He spoke at the
10th Anniverasary for the Chinese Canadian Enterpreneur Awards Dinner,
in Markham Ontario – just north of Toronto.  Various News media
also attended the event, and their stories are posted below.

 
He also made the following remarks to Fairchild Radio earlier in the
year:

Q: However, a lot of the victims we have spoken to – the surviving

victims –

are very concerned whether a Conservative Government would directly

speak to

them and whether there would be compensation to the individual victims.

 

Harper:  I certainly think that
it is appropriate to give compensation, individual compensation, to
those who were the direct victims of the Head Tax.  There also
have to be some, obviously some public works dedicated towards greater
acknowledgment towards the community as a whole.  But certainly I
have no difficulty with the concept that those who were the direct
victims of the Head Tax should be compensated.

 

Q:  So a Conservative Government would directly compensate the victims?

 

Harper:  Yes, obviously the
amount and all of those sorts of things would have to be negotiated and
we want to create a broad consensus on this package.

 

 
April 8, 2006

Harper mulls head-tax apology
By GILLIAN LIVINGSTON

Prime Minister Stephen Harper during the 2006 Chinese Canadian
Entrepreneur Awards. (CP PHOTO/Nathan Denette)

MARKHAM, Ont. (CP) – The Conservative government will consult with the
Chinese Canadian community about how it will apologize for the “grave
injustice” of the Chinese head tax and exclusionary act, Prime Minister
Stephen Harper said Saturday.

Harper made the comments to an audience of Chinese business people,
just days after his government promised in its maiden throne speech to
formally apologize for the discriminatory head tax put in place in late
19th and early 20th centuries.

The Conservatives have “long recognized the grave injustice of these
past discriminatory measures,” and will now act on that belief, Harper
told a black-tie awards ceremony north of Toronto.

“As promised from the recent speech from the throne, our government
will move in Parliament to offer a formal apology for the Chinese head
tax,” said Harper, receiving a minute-long standing ovation from more
than 800 people in the crowd.

“We will be consulting with the Chinese Canadian community to establish
a consensus for further recognition and reconciliation of this sad
period of our history,” he said.

But Harper gave no further details about when the government might make
the apology or what other redress might be offered.  Nor has the
government stated whether it will offer monetary compensation to the
few hundred remaining survivors who paid the $50 to $500 tax to enter
this country.

The tax, forced to be paid by Chinese immigrants has long been a wrong
Chinese Canadians felt had to be righted.  Between 1885 and 1923,
nearly 81,000 Chinese immigrants paid $23 million to enter Canada
through the tax imposed by the government in response to rising
immigration during the B.C. gold rush.

Following the imposition of the head tax, Canada implemented the
Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese immigrants altogether until
it was repealed in 1947.

The promise for broad consultation seems a veiled reference to a
controversial deal the former Liberal government reached in the last
days before the election call in late November.  The Liberals had
swiftly signed a $2.5 million deal with the National Congress of
Chinese Canadians that offered no apology and no
compensation.  But it was denounced by some Chinese Canadians who felt they hadn't had a say in the agreement.

“Chinese Canadians have made . . . an invaluable contribution to Canada
and your community deserves nothing less than a full apology for this
past wrong,” Harper said.

“Our government will always be mindful of the integral role played by
Chinese Canadians in Canadian society and in turn will always afford
this community the respect to which it is entitled.”

Earlier in his speech, Harper applauded Chinese Canadians who helped
fuel the gold rush in British Columbia, worked tirelessly on the iron
rails that linked Canada through a national railway, and, today, own
businesses that keep the country's economy growing.

Catherine Swift, head of the Canadian Federation of Independent
Business, called Harper's pledge to apologize for the discriminatory
head tax “long overdue.”

“The fact that we had a recognition of the need to apologize for the
head tax for Chinese Canadians, I thought that was an enormous,
enormous accomplishment,” Swift said, her statement interrupted by
strong applausefrom the audience.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/04/08/pf-1526246.html

 

PM repeats pledge to formally apologize for head tax

Last Updated Sun, 09 Apr 2006 09:25:16 EDT
CBC News <http://www.cbc.ca/news/credit.html>

Prime Minister Stephen Harper received a standing ovation at a
Chinese-Canadian awards dinner Saturday night after renewing his
promise to apologize for the head tax once imposed on Chinese
immigrants.

Harper said his government will consult with the Chinese-Canadian
community about how it will apologize for what he called the “grave
injustice” of the discriminatory tax.

Stephen Harper talks to the audience during the 2006 Chinese Canadian
Entrepreneur Awards on Saturday. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press) 
He made the comments to a Chinese-Canadian business group in Markham,
Just north of Toronto.

    FROM THE ARCHIVES: A
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-69-1433/life_society/chinese_immigration/

Tale of Perseverance: Chinese Immigration to Canada

“Chinese-Canadians have made … an invaluable contribution to Canada
and your community deserves nothing less than a full apology for this
past wrong,” Harper said.

“Our government will always be mindful of the integral role played by
Chinese-Canadians in Canadian society and in turn will always afford
this community the respect to which it is entitled.”

The Conservatives' throne speech on April 4 included a promise to
Formally apologize for the head tax imposed on nearly 81,000 Chinese
immigrants between 1885 and 1923.  The tax, costing each immigrant
between $50 and $500 to enter the country, was followed by the Chinese
Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese immigration until its repeal in
1947.

In November 2005, the federal government – then led by Paul Martin and
his Liberals – signed a $2.5-million deal with one prominent Chinese
group to set up educational projects to commemorate those who paid the
tax.
But the agreement angered other Chinese-Canadian groups, who complained they had not been consulted. 

Only about 800 people who paid the head tax are alive, but there are many descendants across the country.

Copyright <http://www.cbc.ca/aboutcbc/discover/copyright.html>  (c)2006
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – All Rights Reserved
 
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/04/09/harper-headtax060409.html
?print
 

April 9, 2006



Chinese hail PM


Harper repeats pledge to formally apologize for head tax, hints at more

By BRETT CLARKSON, TORONTO SUN

MARKHAM — Prime Minister Stephen Harper received a standing ovation
last night at a Chinese-Canadian gala dinner after repeating the
government's promise to apologize to the community for the
discriminatory head tax.

Harper lauded the contributions made by Chinese-Canadians at the 10th
annual Chinese-Canadian Entrepreneur Awards, organized by the
Association of Chinese-Canadian Entrepreneurs.

“In each and every country that Chinese people have settled, there have
been great benefits as a result of the hard work and entrepreneurial
spirit they've brought,” Harper said.

Harper called the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, built
largely by Chinese labourers who did sometimes deadly work, “probably
the most important nation-building enterprise in Canadian history.”
Harper again promised to formally apologize in Parliament for the Head
Tax and Exclusion Act, prompting the audience in the ballroom of the
Hilton Suites to stand and applaud for almost a minute.

“We will be consulting with the Chinese-Canadian community to establish
a consensus for further recognition and reconciliation of this sad
period in our history,” Harper said, suggesting more than an apology is
in the works.

A $50 head tax was imposed on Chinese immigrants in 1885 to discourage
them from coming to Canada. The tax was increased to $100 in 1900 and
to $500 in 1903.
 
A total of eight awards were handed out, including a lifetime
Achievement award for Tong Louie.

http://torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2006/04/09/pf-1526855.html

NDP leads head tax issue in Parliament with motions addressing head tax and exclusion act redress

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NDP leads head tax issue in Parliament with motions
addressing head tax and exclusion act redress

With the Conservative government promising to make an apology in Parliament 
for the Chinese head tax.  It was the NDP opposition that got off to a 
quick start with motions that will lead to both an apology and redress for
the head tax and exclusion act.  Fair Justice for all...

MP's Libby Davies and Peter Julian both attended the 2006 Gung Haggis Fat 
Choy dinner on January 22, with the NDP federal candidate colleagues on
Election Eve.  It was great to have them there, as they have helped to lead
the fight for Head Tax redress from the beginning in the 1980's with 
Margaret Mitchell.  I hope to one day have a Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in
Halifax so that Alexa McDonough can attend.


The following motions were tabled in the House of Commons Friday by NDP MP's 
Alexa McDonough, Libby Davies and Peter Julian

http://www.parl.gc.ca/39/1/parlbus/chambus/house/orderpaper/004_2006-04-06/o
rdpmo004-E.html 

M-11 - April 4, 2006 - 
Ms. McDonough (Halifax) - 
That, in the opinion of the House, the government should: 
a) formally apologize to the Chinese community for the injustice imposed 
on Chinese immigrants by the government's Chinese Immigration Act of 1885 
and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923; 
(b) negotiate with members of the Chinese community, financial
compensation to surviving individuals who paid the tax, and to their
descendents; and 
(c) financially support educational and cultural
initiatives developed in concert with the Canadian-Chinese community to
prevent such injustices from happening again.
 

M-66 - April 4, 2006 - 
Ms. Davies (Vancouver East) 
- That, in the opinion of the House, the government should negotiate with 
the individuals affected by the Chinese Head Tax and the Chinese Immigration 
(Expulsion) Act, as well as with their families and their representatives, 
a just and honourable resolution which includes the following framework: 
a) a parliamentary acknowledgment of the injustice of these measures; 
b) an official apology by the government to the individuals and their 
families for the suffering and hardship caused; 
c) individual financial compensation; and 
d) a community-driven anti-racism advocacy and educational trust fund for
initiatives to ensure that these and other historic injustices are not
repeated.
  
M-33 - April 4, 2006 - 
Mr. Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster) 
- That, in the opinion of the House, the government should move quickly 
to accelerate the processing of immigration applications and abolish the 
head tax, or right of landing fees, on all immigrants.
 
M-34 - April 4, 2006 - 
Mr. Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster) 
- That, in the opinion of the House, the government should officially 
recognize the contribution of the early Chinese labourers toward building 
the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia by supporting the development of a
Chinese Railway Labourers' heritage exhibition, as well as a provincially
based Chinese Railway Labourer's museum in the city of Kamloops, that 
would show the historic contribution and sacrifices of the Chinese people in
building the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia.
 
M-73 - April 4, 2006 - 
Ms. Davies (Vancouver East) 
- That, in the opinion of the House, the government should implement 
progressive immigration reform to provide domestic workers with full 
immigration status on arrival, abolish the head tax on all immigrants, 
and include persecution on the basis of gender and sexual orientation 
as grounds for claiming refugee status.

Coyote and the Enemy Aliens – Thomas King's “A Short History of Indians in Canada”

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Coyote and the Enemy Aliens – Thomas King's “A Short History of Indians in Canada”

I have just discovered an AMAZING short story.

My friend Ellen Crowe-Swords will LOVE it to death…. or laugh so hard, she will burst her stitches.

Last night, I picked up a copy of Thomas King's new book. “A Short
History of Indians in Canada.”  Only it isn't really new, because it
came out last year.  In 2005.  But it's new to me.

Thomas King is the author of “Green Grass Running Water”
short-listed for the GG award, and included on Literary Review of
Canada's “100 Most Important Canadian Books Ever Written.”

check this out this review from Books in Canada
http://www.booksincanada.com/article_view.asp?id=4603

“Coyote and the Enemy Aliens” is, as its title suggests, a Coyote
story. We've seen these before. Coyote is a sort of chameleon for King
(as for others)-a figure, like Crow, who is not to be trusted.
“Sometimes I tell Coyote stories,” says King's narrator in this one.
“Boy, you got to be careful with those Coyote stories. When I tell
those Coyote stories, you got to stay awake. You got to keep those toes
under that chair. I can tell you that.”
Green Grass, Running Water starts off with a Coyote, too. (Actually, it
starts with a one-word sentence-“So”-my favourite beginning to a
Canadian novel). In Green Grass, a primordial soup is occupied by
Coyote-the trickster character verily dreams the world into being:
“That Coyote is dreaming and pretty soon, one of those dreams gets
loose and runs around. Makes a lot of noise.” And on from there, with
Coyote acting the part of the mischievous god-or the befuddled wizard.
In William Bright's A Coyote Reader (1993), the coyote is described as
being part of a super-powered pre-human race, “capable of being brave
or cowardly, conservative or innovative, wise or stupid.”
“Coyote and the Enemy Aliens”, unlike Green Grass, shuttles Coyote to
the forefront of the action. This is no sideline overseer or court
jester. This Coyote works for the white man and is in charge of those
Japanese internment camps; he's in charge of stealing property, and
fishing boats, and of separating women and children from men. The
Japanese are the “Enemy Aliens”. “Enemy Aliens,” says Coyote, “don't
mind that smell . . . They're not like you and me.”

And here's a short recommendation from Queens University Newsletter
http://www.queensu.ca/irp/newsletter/recommend.htm


Books: Thomas King, A Short History of Indians in
Canada. His wit is so sharp it slices you to the bone. Here's an
excerpt from the short story, “Coyote and the Enemy Aliens,” pages
58-59:

“…That's one good story, I tell
Coyote. Enemy Aliens in a Livestock Building.
No, no says Coyote. This story is not a good Coyote story. This
story is a good Canadian story.
Canadian story. Coyote story. Sometimes it's hard to tell the
difference. All those words begin with C.
Callous, carnage, catastrophe, chicanery.
Boy, I got to take a breath. There, that's better.
Cold-blooded, complicit, concoct, condemn.
No, we're not done yet.
Condescend, confabulate, confiscate, conflate, connive.
No, not yet.
Conspire, convolute, crazy, crooked, cruel, crush.
Holy, I almost forgot cupidity.
No, no, says Coyote. Those words are the wrong words. The word
you're looking for is legal….”