Yearly Archives: 2006

BBC Radio Scotland calling: Wants to interview Toddish McWong for Tartan week

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BBC Radio Scotland calling: Wants to interview Toddish McWong for Tartan week

This week I was e-mailed by a researcher for BBC Radio Scotland's arts and culture programme ('The Radio Café').

I'm
contacting you because I'm looking for people who live outside of
Scotland but in some way celebrate Scottish culture, and I understand
you organise an event called Gung Haggis Fat Choy. I'm very interested
in speaking to you about this: what is Gung Haggis Fat Choy; why are
you interested in haggis (Scottish cuisine?)… Ideally, I would then
arrange to record you to be broadcast as part of a series on non-Scot's
celebrating Scottish culture. Currently I have a Scottish folk music
enthusiast in Cologne and (hopefully) the Philippines one and only
bagpipe player. I do hope this is of interest to you.

The interview will be broadcast on BBC
Radio Scotland's arts and culture programme, 'The Radio Café' the week
starting Monday 3rd April. It's a series I'm running across the week
with New York's Tartan Week (April 1-8) as the peg.

The aim of my series is to
reflect the influences of Scottish culture throughout the globe. The
sort of things I'll want to get from you – as discussed on the phone –
will be your personal story: why you're interested in Scottish culture;
what aspects of Scottish culture (the Chinese / Scottish angle is
v.v.v.interesting stuff; the maple leaf tartan; your 'clan name'!…
It's going to be a great interview.

I explained to Bronwen that for me, Scots and
Chinese culture are the two unofficial founding cultures of the province of
British Columbia, compared to Canada's official English and French founding
cultures.  And of course there is the First Nations peoples
too!

Growing up Chinese-Canadian, I was definitely not Scots.  In fact,
the Scots represented a lot of the White-Canadian power and
institutional racism of Canada.  The first Prime Ministers were
born in Scotland, as well as the “father” of BC – James Douglas. 
It was the first Prime Minister of Canada, Sir John A. MacDonald, born
in Glasgow, under whose government imposed the very first head tax on
Chinese immigrants to Canada in 1885.

But I have learned to embrace the
Scots as part of Canada's multicultural heritage.  And now…. I have attended the Burns Club of Vancouver annual
“Big Night” dinners, and have been asked about joining.

I have put on
annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy World Poetry nights at the Vancouver Public Library,
where we read traditional Robbie Burns + celebrate with contemporary
Scottish-Canadian and Asian-Canadian poets.

And I shared that I have learned
lots about Scottish culture, while reading Diana Gabaldon's “Outlander” novel
series.

Toronto Sun: Chinese to get Redress?

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Chinese to get redress?
Apology, compensation could be in throne speech

March 25, 2006 
By IAN ROBERTSON, TORONTO SUN

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's vow to officially apologize for a "head 
tax" and restrictions on former Chinese immigrants took a giant step forward 
here yesterday. 

Applause and smiles were exchanged after Heritage Minister Beverley Oda 
and parliamentary secretary Jason Kenney met privately with delegates from
across Canada at George Brown House. 

Oda said she and Kenney will report "positive progress" to Harper in
negotiating the apology's wording and undisclosed financial compensation to
survivors. 

"We will fulfill the commitments our government made," she said. 

"The Liberals talked for 13 years and did nothing," Kenney said. "We are 
working to redress this issue." Delegates are seeking a July 1 apology for 
the head tax, which raked in $23 million from 1885 to 1923, to coincide with 
the start date of the Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese newcomers from 1923 
until 1947. 

THRONE SPEECH 

Susan Eng, co-chairman of the Ontario Coalition of Head Tax Payers and
Families, said compensation for 200 survivors in their 90s and even 
100s should come soon. Nine of the seniors have died since the fall. 

"We're extremely encouraged," she said. "We hope we have an announcement 
in the throne speech (April 3)." 

Tories, the NDP and Bloc Quebecois have supported the apology and, Eng 
said "we hope the Liberals will join." 

Oda and Kenney promised to continue consulting the Chinese community 
aboutdetails and redress amounts. No figures were quoted yesterday, but Dr.
Joseph Wong said anything paid to the elders must be "significant and
meaningful ... a dignified amount." 

http://torontosun.com/News/Canada/2006/03/25/pf-1505111.html

Canadian Press: Chinese-Canadians hail promise for head tax apology

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Canadian Press:
Chinese-Cdns. hail promise for head tax apology

It's finally happening…. a
long awaited and hard campaigned for government apology for the racist
head tax imposed on Chinese immigrants to Canada from 1885 to 1923,
when Chinese immigration was banned until 1947.

Members of
the BC and Ontario coalitions for head tax payers, descendants and
families are joined by additional representatives from Winnipeg,
Montreal and Edmonton who were shut out from the previous Liberal
government program “redress” program, that lumped together the
Ukranian, German and Italian WW2 interned citizens under the “ACE
Program,” calling it a program to acknowledge immigration and war-time
wrongs.  These issues should be kept separate and not confused.

Below is a story by Canadian Press on the current progression of apology for the head tax issue.

Chinese-Cdns. hail promise for head tax apology
Canadian Press

TORONTO
— A Chinese-Canadian group hailed a federal promise Friday to formally
apologize and consider compensation for a head tax Canada once forced
on Chinese immigrants.

Heritage Minister Bev Oda held a closed-door meeting with dozens of
Chinese-Canadians, some of whom paid the levy, to discuss how Ottawa
could best rectify a historic wrong imposed for nearly 40 years
beginning in 1885.

“One of the things that we know that will happen is an apology,” Oda
said, repeating a promise Prime Minister Stephen Harper made during his
election campaign.

“As to the form of that apology, we are working on (it) and we will
be going forward to the prime minister with a recommendation on that.”

It's a “distinct possibility” that apology will come before Canada Day, said Jason Kenney, Harper's parliamentary secretary.

That would also be significant for those Chinese-Canadians who
remember the Chinese Exclusion Act, enacted on July 1, 1923, said Susan
Eng, spokeswoman for the Ontario Coalition of Chinese Head Tax Payers
and Families.

Many of those who met with Oda exchanged smiles and handshakes as
they left the meeting – a sign that a long-awaited breakthrough was
made, Eng said.

“I'm impressed first of all because they were interested in talking to us,” Eng said.

“The fact that they're prepared to move ahead and there isn't any community disagreement over it, that's very positive.”

Oda said the federal government will consider compensation on top of
a formal apology, but stressed that nothing had been decided yet.

“It's not a compensation,” Oda admitted of her government's pledge
to apologize. “It's a recognition that there are unfortunately fewer
and fewer (surviving head-tax payers), as time passes on.”

Days before the election call in late November, the Liberal
government swiftly signed a $2.5 million deal with the National
Congress of Chinese Canadians that offered no apology and no
compensation.

It was unfair to exclude the Ontario Coalition of Chinese Head Tax
Payers and Families, among other groups, Eng said. Roughly 81,000
Chinese immigrants paid $23 million to enter Canada under the head-tax
scheme between 1885 and 1923. The Chinese Exclusion Act followed,
barring Chinese immigrants altogether until it was repealed in 1947.

The tax ranged from $50 to $500 per person. At the time, $500 was equivalent to two years of wages for a Chinese labourer.

Vancouver International Dance Festival highlights Denise Fujwara, Battery Opera and Kokoro Dance Theatre

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Vancouver International Dance Festival highlights Denise Fujwara, Battery Opera and Kokoro Dance Theatre

Contemporary dance in Canada has long integrated cultural themes and identities.  I have been fortunate to meet Asian-Canadian choreographers Andrea Nann and Denise Fujiwara, as well as watch performances by Battery Opera and Kokoro Dance Theatre over the years.

Jay Hirabayashi and Barabara Bourget lead Kokoro Dance, and also organize the the Vancouver International Dance Festival.

Earlier last week Toronto dancer/choreographer Denise Fujiwara, and Battery Opera, both performed at The Roundhouse in Vancouver.  Kokoro Dance performs March 21 to Saturday March 25 at The Roundhouse, and Sunday March 26th at the Scotia Bank Dance Centre.

Ming Pao: Head Tax redress – “Harper expected to agree to an apology first”

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Ming Pao: Head Tax redress – “Harper expected to agree to an apology first”

As
during the federal election campaign, the Chinese language media has
been hot on the trail of the continuing Chinese-Canadian head tax
redress developments.  Here is the latest reported by Ming Pao.

MingPao A2  Mar 21, 2006

HARPER EXPECTED TO AGREE TO AN APOLOGY
FIRST AND DISCUSSION OF COMPENSATION LATER

Oda invites Chinese community
and head tax redress groups to Friday meeting

MingPao Ottawa – Heritage Minister Oda and PM
Harper’s trusted ally Jason Kenny sent sudden communication
via email last Friday evening inviting the two large Chinese rights groups and
leaders of many head tax redress groups to go to Toronto to meet on Friday.  At the
Friday meeting, the views of these leaders will be canvassed, it is “very
likely” to have to do with the final drafting of the Throne Speech to be
made public next month. 

Conservative Party Senior ranking information source
discloses to MingPao: “ Harper intends to reiterate his campaign promise when he gives his first throne speech to
address the head tax issue swiftly.  

“However since it is anticipated that there
won’t be an agreement reached soon over the issue of compensation to the community
or to the individual head tax payers between the two main community organizations, therefore it is very
probable Harper will, via the Friday meeting by Oda and Kenny, raise it with
the attendees of the meeting to agree to an apology first, then to look into
suggestions with regards to the form of compensation
thereafter.  With the hope that they will agree, in the upcoming parliamentary session, and with no objection
from other opposition parties, to
table and pass the official apology motion, to make good the first step to the
promise.”

With respect to what is described by some of the Heritage Ministry officials as
“pretty difficult” issue over the form of compensation,
the Conservative Government “is inclined to” set up a “joint
committee” made up of leaders
of various main compensation claim
groups in order to seek a “most appropriate satisfactory
arrangement”.  

Though Oda is the Minister responsible in name, the actual
work of the plan will be carried out by Harper’s former parliamentary
secretary for multiculturalism, Jason Kenny.  The information source went
on to say : “The HMO still
hasn’t given the final green light to this action plan, whether it will
come to fruition or not still depends on the results of the Friday meeting in
Toronto”.

Initial reactions from
the various compensation claim
groups have been quite positive since news about this went out among the Chinese
community across the country.
 All indicate their “willingness to co-operate with the Harper
government”, in order to seek an appropriate resolution and to
“give the conservative government a period of time to show its sincerity
and commitment”.

Manitoba conservative MP and one who is
quite closely connected to work on Head Tax, Inky Mark “feels deeply
surprised” that he hasn’t been invited by Oda to the Friday
meeting.

He says: “Oda and Kenny do not understand this issue,
obviously there’s another plot that Harper appoints them to embark on
this action.  I offer a piece of advice to meeting attendees not to be
overly optimistic, because there still isn’t a unified opinion inside the
Conservative party re how to resolve this issue.”

 
                                              

Federal NDP call on Conservatives to apologize for Chinese Canadian head tax redress to mark International Day for the Elmimnation of Racism

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Federal
NDP call on Conservatives to apologize for Chinese Canadian head tax
redress to mark International Day for the Elmimnation of Racism

March 21, 2006

International Day for the Elimination of Racism

Re: Head tax apology and redress

 
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

We were very encouraged by your pledge, immediately after the election,
to apologize for the injustice to Chinese Canadians under the Chinese Head Tax
and Exclusion Acts, and to provide appropriate redress. We are writing to urge
you to take action to this end, to direct redress for the surviving head tax
payers and spouses and negotiate/consult with head tax payers family on
appropriate methods of reconciliation.

We believe the apology and the appropriate redress should be delivered
to the now very elderly head tax payers and spouses on or prior to Canada Day,
July 1 of this year. It was on July 1, 1923, the Chinese Exclusion Act was
passed to prohibit Chinese immigration. There are still many Chinese Canadians
who refer to July 1 as “Humiliation Day”.

We believe also that it is critical for the government to immediately
spell out a clear timeline and process to achieve redress and reconciliation.

The former government signed an Agreement-in-Principle on November 24,
2005 with a preconditions of “no apology, no compensation,” and
which designated funds to a third party group which is not broadly recognized
by Chinese Canadians as being representative of the interests of head tax
payers and descendents. We believe such an agreement violates the fundamental
purpose of redress, which is to achieve reconciliation, restore justice and
rebuild trust.

To ensure transparency and accountability, we believe allocations of
public funds should be through the government, and not through arms-length
agencies.

Please be assured that we are ready to assist your government to right
this historic wrong.


Yours truly,

Olivia Chow,               
MP
Trinity-Spadina                                         

Libby Davies
MP Vancouver East 

Wayne Marston
MP Hamilton East-Stoney Creek

 

Toronto SUn: Head Tax Apology urged – new round of talks slated to happen

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Toronto Sun:  Head Tax Apology urged – new round of talks slated to happen

A New round of talks for Head Tax redress will be starting soon. 
Chinese-Canadian groups from across Canada have been invited to attend
discussions with Heritage Minister Bev Oda.  This round will be
much more inclusive, now including the Chinese Canadian National
Council that was left out of the previous discussions because of their
insistence for an apology.

The National Congress of Chinese Canadians is insisting that the
Conservative government still honour the Liberal ACE program, even
though the Liberals promised an apology (that was not part of the
original package).  The Chinese Benevolent Association in
Vancouver has now said that the original redress package should be
scrapped.

Vancouver representatives will include the BC Coalition for Head Tax
Payers, Spouses and Descendants, as well as ACCESS (Association for
Chinese Canadian Equality and Solidarity Society, which helped lead
opposition against the Liberal ACE program which would only give
“acknowledgement, commemoration and education” but not an apology nor
individual compensation.

The Toronto Sun reported on this issue today.

March 22, 2006

Head tax apology urged

Discriminated Chinese migrants are all elderly now

By SARAH GREEN, TORONTO SUN


Shee Johnson Wong, 103, is greeted by Dr. Joseph Wong at a press conference. (Photo: Laura Gallella, Toronto Sun.)
Sim Nuey Chin is 94. James Pon is 89.
They
are among the last survivors and their spouses — there may be as few
as 200 — who paid a head tax of $50 to $500 for Chinese to immigrate
to Canada decades ago.

With the number of survivors
dwindling as they enter their 90s and 100s, an Ontario group urged
Ottawa yesterday to apologize soon for the head tax and subsequent
Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese immigrants for more than two
decades until the end of World War II.
“We urge the
government to act quickly to ensure they see justice in their time,”
said Susan Eng, co-chairman of the Ontario Coalition of Head Tax Payers
and Families.

“100% IRON-CLAD”
The group hopes for a July 1 apology to coincide with the date in 1923 when the Exclusion Act came into force.  Halton
MP Garth Turner, who spoke for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, gave a
“100% iron-clad commitment” yesterday that the government would
apologize and redress past wrongs.

“This will happen,” Turner said, adding more details will emerge
in the Throne Speech on April 3.  Eng said negotiations are slated
to begin Friday with MPs Bev Oda and Jason Kenney.

Groups have not attached a dollar figure to compensation, but Eng noted 82,000 immigrants paid $23 million from 1885 to 1923.
17 YEARS TO REPAY
James Pon was just 5 years old when his father paid $1,000 to bring him and his mother to Canada in 1922.

“It
took him 17 years to repay this debt, even though the person who loaned
the money didn't charge him one penny of interest,”Pon recalled
yesterday.  His family was so destitute that Pon was “farmed out” at age 12 to work in restaurants.

“It was horrible. My father couldn't afford to keep me at home. From a boy of 12, I was suddenly a man,” Pon said.

Sim
Nuey Chin, whose husband paid the $500 tax, lived apart from her spouse
for nearly 30 years, separated by the Exclusion Act.
 

International Day for the elimination of racial discrimination: I attend “national (in)securities” event

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International Day for the elimination of racial discrimination: 
I attend “national (in)securities” event

March 21 is the International Day for the Elmination of Racial Discrimination.  It was established in 1966, following a tragic event when young
students peacefully protesting against apartheid laws, adopted by the
South African government, were massacred.

Check out these following links.

United Nations: Dag Hammarskold Library

UNESCO

Fighting against racism is something of my life's work.  My ancestors endured racism as Chinese pioneers to Canada.  Gung Haggis Fat Choy adresses racism, somewhat tongue-in-cheek.  But as well, throughout my life, I have worked on student newspapers, advocacy groups, and most recently the Chinese-Canadian head tax campaign.

national (in)securities is a “evening of cultural resistance with our community of courageous poets and word warriors performing staged readings of Kafka's 'The Trial,' readings of statements from detainees in the War on Terror, along with poetry readings and spoken word performances.”  It was presented by No One is Illegal (Vancouver), at the Bonsor Recreation complex, in Burnaby on March 21, 2006. 

Special performers gathered for the evening were: Lee Maracle, Cecily Nicholson, Azia Khaki, Carmen Rodriguez, Marge Lam, Angela Sterritt, Chin Banerjee, Nadine Chambers, Marcus Youssef, Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance, Fiona Jeffries, Charles Demers, Phinder Dulai, Tom Sandborn, Itrath Syed, Raul Gatica, Junie Desil and Hari Alluri.

It was an interesting evening, filled with stories of racial injustice and examples of Canada's racist history.  As well, it was a tribute to the human spirit, that individuals have overcome many challenges and continue to fight for justice and equality.

I sat with my friend Sid Tan, who was videorecording the event for his ICTV community television show, “Salt Water City TV.”  Sid has been a leading community activist on the Chinese Canadian head-tax issue, and is also the chairperson/president of ACCESS (Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity in Society).

MC Harash Waila did a great job weaving stories of human rights violations, and unfair detainments, inbetween the speakers.  Special surprise presenter was author Lee Maracle, who read from one of her many books, and talked briefly about racism and being First Nations.

Marge Lam gave a spirited pep talk about continuing the fight against racism, as did Carmen Rodriquez.  Aziz Khaki and his son, read a statement by a man detained by police in Canada, and not given any reason for the imprisonment.

Cecily Nicholson, Chin Banerjee and Fiona Jeffries read excerpts from Kafka's “The Trial”, a literary classic in which a man is detained and put on trial, without being told what the charges are, making it impossible for him to defend himself.

Marcus Yousssef read a hilarious excerpt from his play, “Ali and Ali and the Axes of Evil,” which is a satire on the War On Terror.  Ellie O'Day had been encouraging me to see the play, because she loved the CBC Gung Haggis Fat Choy special, and she thought that Marcus and I have similar comedic takes on dealing with racism.  Marcus and I had a short talk following his presentation, and maybe we will talk about a collaboration for Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2007.

Mildred, of the Filipino Youth Alliance, talked about the plight of Filipino domestic workers and nurses.  She played a guitar and sang a song with Letty, about mothers, stating that the absence of Filipino mothers working long hours and away from their families has a devasting effect on Filipino youth and families.  The song was very touching and reminded me of the song by Sting that he wrote about the mothers and widows who “dance” with their disappeared men, “When We Dance.”

Phinder Dulai, read some of his poems from his published work “Ragas From the Periphery” and “Basmati Brown.”  Phinder's work was easily the most evocative and amazing.  But then he is a poet.  Upon arriving at the event, we greeted each other as we walked into the Bonsor Ballroom.  Phinder laughed when I told him, “I'm only here for the food – I heard there was going to be lots of multicultural food.”  Culture… it is many things to many people.  And so is Multi-culturalism…. opportunities of inclusivity on one hand, but also a dividing systemic racist class system on another.  And sometimes it all comes down to food, poetry and music.

The Province: “Getting jiggy with the Irish” includes interview with Gung Haggis dragon boat team

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The Province: “Getting jiggy with the Irish”
includes interview with Gung Haggis dragon boat team


Our Gung
Haggis Fat Choy parade team being photographed by the Province
(photographer Jason is outside the picture).  Paddlers are facing
backwards just for the picture.  Todd Wong at drum, Dave Samis with
paddle, Da Ming Zhao with dragon puppet, Aefa Mulholland with little
Lion head mask, Ann McQueen with red scarf – photo Deb Martin

 
Multiculturalism was the sub-theme at the 3rd annual Vancouver St. Patrick's Day Parade.  Immediately after our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat float
turned onto Dunsmuir St., marking the finish of the parade route, I was
approached by Kent Spencer, Province reporter, who was amazed at our
colourful parade entry.



I introduced Spencer to team members Da Ming Zhao (born in China) and Aefa Mulholland (born in Glasgow), explaining that the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team
is very inclusive.  Da Ming loves it because he has learned so
much about Canadian culture and meets non-Chinese Canadians, as well as
5th-generation Chinese Canadians as myself.



“My White-Canadian girlfriend claims that we don't have an
intercultural relationship because we are both multigenerational
Canadians,” I shared with Kent.  “And all my maternal cousins have
married non-Chinese partners.  And one of my cousins is a First
Nations Chief, Rhonda Larrabee of Qayqayt First Nations, whose father was my grandmother's older brother, and her mother was from the New Westminster Band.



I also explained the tradition of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, my Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner, now blending Scots and Chinese traditions for 9 years.



Da Ming and Aefa, gave Spencer their views on how inclusive Vancouver
is about different ethnic cultures.  They both felt that it's very
appropriate that St. Patrick's Day parade is a multicultural parade
with South Asian bangra dancers, and Celtic pipe bands.  Aefa
lived in Dublin for 12 years, and didn't see many Asians in St.
Patrick's Day celebrations over there, while this was the first time Da
Ming had ever attended a St. Patrick's Day parade before, feeling that
this is a good way to learn about many different cultures.



Ann McQueen, new to the team, explained that St. Patrick was
responsible for bringing Christianity to Ireland.  How wondefully
apropos, since my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, was a pioneer missionary bringing Christianity to Chinese in Canada with the Methodist Church of Canada.



Province
Reporter Kent Spencer interviews “Toddy O'Wong” about the Gung Haggis
Fat Choy float in the St. Patrick's Day parade – joining us is another
kilted parade participant – photo Deb Martin.


see The Province

Getting Jiggy with the Irish

Record Turnout: Ethnic hues mix with green of St. Paddy's parade

by Kent Spencer
page A4, March 20, 2006

Leave it to Vancouver to turn an Irish parade into a multicultural folk festival.

Irish green for the third annual St. Patrick's Day downtown parade was
mixed yesterday with ethnic hues: a Chinese dragon boat, traditional
Indo-Canadian Bhangra dacners and Brazillians swaying to sambas.

“This parade is inclusive,” said Celtic Fest spokeswoman Julia
Markus.  “It is so quintessentially Vancouver… It's a tradition
we're going to encourage.”

Crowds lined five-deep along Granville Street from Drake to
Dunsmuir.  Organizers “guess-timated” that up to 100,000 people
watched, topping last year's 60,000.

“When Vancouver gets two minutes of sunshine, everybody is out in
shorts,” said Markus.  “This wasn't a corporate-float
parade.  It was a cross-cultural community-spirit kind of parade.”

One brightly coloured entry was the Gung Haggis Fat Choy, a full-sized
dragon boat captained by a kilt-wearing Todd Wong, who called himself
Toddy O'Wong for the day.

“We get to play with stereotypes,” said Wong, a fifth-generation
Chinese-Canadian with cousins who have married Scots, Irish and native
Canadians.  “Wherever Chinese and Irish go, they seem to get
colonized by the English.

“Chinese came from the Pacific, while Irish came from the Atlantic.  We met in the middle and had children, ” said Wong.

The drummer on board the Fat Choy – a Cantonese greeting meaning wealth
and prosperity [Todd's note – full phrase is Gung Hay Fat Choy] – was
Da Ming Zhao, a chinese newcomer to Canada.

“I am really happy to join in the parade,” he said.  “It was
really new for the audience.  Not only Scottish or Irish, but
something from other cultures.”

The legendary St. Patrick is believed to have driven the snakes out of
Ireland more than 1,500 years ago and is known as the priest who
brought Christianity to the island. 

St. Patrick's Day is traditionally celebrated with green-dyed beer,
pipe bands and Irish dancers – all well represented yesterday.

Future plans include celebrating all seven Celtic races, including one that originates in Spain, said Markus

 

More St. Patrick's parade pictures from “steers” Dave Samis

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More St. Patrick's parade pictures from “steers” Dave Samis

Dave Samis is a long time Gung Haggis Fat Choy team member,
participating in races in Victoria, Seattle,  Vancouver, and
Harrison Lake.  This is the second time he has participated in the
St. Patrick's Day parade.


Todd readies the dragon boat, loading it onto the trailer – photo Dave Samis


Todd poses with the Z94.5 “The Beat” promotional team – Nicole and Jasmine – photo Dave Samis


Da Ming Zhao and Aefa Mulholland take turns banging the drum – photo Todd Wong


Todd wears the giant Lion head mask, stands up and bangs the drum
loudly… Da Ming plays with the dragon puppet on his paddle, while
Aifa paddles – photo Dave Samis