Here's a somewhat clearer, updated plan for the seating Sunday night.
Author Archives: Todd
Tickets for Gung Haggis Fat Choy on the weekend.
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Tickets for Gung Haggis Fat Choy on the weekend.
There are limited tickets available at the door.
Cost is:
$75 for regular seating
$85 for Premium seating (closer seating + 2 bottles of wine on the table)
For reservations call:
Todd Wong
778-846-7090
Tickets must be picked up between 5:00 pm and 6:00pm or they will be released back for sale.
Prizes for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2007 dinner
Prizes for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2007 dinner
We thank our prize sponsors for their wonderful donations that support our event.
Monies
raised go to help spread multiculturalism and interculturalism in our
communities, through the efforts of Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop /
Ricepaper Magazine, Joy Kogawa House, and the Gung Haggis Fat Choy
dragon boat team.
When you come to our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner event on January 28th, Sunday – please purchase raffle tickets to win:
3 passes to Firehall Arts Centre's BANANA BOYS –
by Leon Aureus – based on the novel by Terry Woo
5 Chinese Canadian men learn about life's issues
1 pass to Vancouver Opera – Magic Flute – Mozart's magical opera with a special
First Nations theme
January 26 – February 8th
1 pass to Arts Club Theatre's The Optimists
February 8 – March 3
passes to Twisting Fortunes – new play by Charlie Cho and Grace Chin
passes to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden
1 VIP pass to the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
wine from Sandhill Wines from award winning Chinese-Canadian winemaker Howard Soon
subscriptions to Ricepaper Magazine – Canada's only national journal of Asian Canadian arts and culture
seats in the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat float for the St. Patrick's Day Parade for Celtic Fest
mini-readings from astrologer John Rutherford
special items from Government of Scotland
books donated by Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop
picnic packs donated by The Land Conservancy of BC
Firehall Arts Centre's “The Blue Light” final weekend
Firehall Arts Centre's “The Blue Light” final weekend
Why would a Japanese film maker write a play about a
German film maker linked to the Nazis of WW2… because she can, and
because the content is incredible.
It's the final weekend for The Blue Light, written by Mieko Ouchi, an
artist from Edmonton. It's directed by Donna Spencer and has been
recieving good reviews in the media, especially for the acting of
Gabrielle Rose in the lead role
In The Blue Light, Gabrielle Rose digs into the psyche of the controversial
The Blue Light. By Colin Thomas. Publish Date: January 18, 2007 … In The Blue Light, a geriatric Riefenstahl pitches a script to a young Hollywood …
From the Firehall Arts Centre website
THE BLUE LIGHT
By Mieko Ouchi
January 5 – 27, 2007
“…the script Ouchi has crafted is truly remarkable. She effortlessly
handles the time shifts and larger-than-life characters residing in her
work.” Garth Paulson, Calgary Gauntlet
“Ouchi’s script illuminates the struggle of a
woman to succeed where few others could, taking each opportunity as it
presented itself.” Eve Marie Clarke, See Magazine
Delve into the theatrical examination of a
woman who danced one perfect dance with the devil and changed the way
films are made. Leni Riefenstahl was one of the most remarkable and
controversial female artists of the 20th century. Dancer, actor,
photographer and filmmaker, Riefenstahl caught the eye of Adolf Hitler
with her prodigious first film: The Blue Light. A cinematic innovator,
her choice to direct the propagandist film Triumph of the Will got her
blacklisted as a filmmaker. She died in 2003 at 101, unrepentant and
mostly forgotten, still naive or perhaps not. Is the artist responsible
for the negative influence their work may have over viewers? The Blue
Light questions the often-unacknowledged dark side of artistic
experience and causes the viewer to look deeper into what art and media
may ask us to believe.
THE BLUE LIGHT Performance Schedule: Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8PM, Saturdays and Sundays at 2PM, Wednesdays at 1PM.
ADULT TICKETS PRICES: Weeknights and matinees: $16.00. Friday & Saturday evenings: $22.00
STUDENT/SENIOR TICKET PRICES: Weeknights and matinees: $12.00. Friday & Saturday evenings: $18.00
PAY WHAT YOU CAN MATINEES: Wednesdays at 1PM (January 10th, 17th and 24th). Please arrive any time after 12PM.
SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival – Dragon Cart Races + Human Curling
SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival: A success with Dragon Cart Races + Human Curling
Human curling made it's world debut as the first event of the SFU Gung
Haggis Fat Choy Festival. Car tires were fitted onto a wooden
platform with roller wheels, and floated easily across the SFU
Convecation Mall towards a target with points. Human contestants
sat upon each “rock” as their team mates gave a good push to
launch them towards the target.
It was all part of the 2nd annual SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival,
which aims to bring the growing Asian student population together with
Simon Fraser University's Scottish traditions. Rather than create
a traditional “Highland Games” the SFU Recreation department approached
SFU alumni Todd Wong, to help them create a culturally inclusive and
interactive new approach.
Wong had first donned a kilt for the SFU Robbie Burns Day celebrations
as a student in 1993, and the 5th generation Chinese-Canadian was
inspired by a new approach to multiculturalism, by learning about
“Scottish Canadian” culture and history. In 1998, Wong created
the first Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner blending together Chinese New
Year traditions with a traditional Robbie Burns dinner. Each
year, the event grew until it reached 570 people at the Float
Restaurant in Vancouver's Chinatown. Last year's dinner served
430 people.
In a “Gung Haggis” spirit of interculturalism, Dragon Cart racing was
launched in 2005. Teams of 7 (six paddlers + one
steersperson) pretend they are in traditional Chinese dragon boats, and
race against a rival team to the finish line. This has become a
fun event with such team names as the CAC Bananas, the High Rollers,
and The Haggis Punters – who eventually became the winners of the
Dragon Cart Races. Teams wear Chinese and Scottish inspired
costumes, hats and outfits. Gung Haggis Fat Choy creator, Todd
Wong, was the play by play commentor for the race finals in the
afternoon. He spiced up the commentating with trivia about dragon
boat history, Simon Fraser, and both Scotland and China.
There was also an event to create a world's record of haggis
eaters. About 70 people took the challenge to be part of a
record-setting team – many for the first time trying haggis. The
number was far short of the expected audience of 400 for the Gung
Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year banquet that will be held
Sunday, January 26th. But the atmosphere of fun, cultural openess
and sharing, and surprises was equally expressed.
Traditional highland dancing was presented by the SFU Celtic Dance
Club, and a lion dance was presented by the SFU Kung Fu Club. The
SFU Ceremonies department had a Scottish-inspired platform party that
visits each of SFU's campuses in Burnaby, Surrey and downtown
Vancouver. Frank Campbell gave a very entertaining reading of the
Burns poem “Address to the Haggis.”
24 Hours – Burns Fete Looks to the East
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By BOB MACKIN, 24 HOURS
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Who says there's no free lunch?
Full Story
Haggis, Scotland's national dish, was served yesterday to all
comers at Simon Fraser University's Robbie Burns Day celebration on
Burnaby Mountain.
Scotland's national poet, born Jan. 25, 1759, inspires annual
ceremonies worldwide with pipers, dancers and the traditional Address
to a Haggis ritual. SFU's had a unique made- in-B.C. flavour, thanks to
Todd Wong.
Wong's 10th annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy banquet, celebrating
Burns and the coming Chinese lunar New Year, is Sunday at Chinatown's
Floata restaurant. Yesterday's second annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy
Highland Games featured human curling and dragon cart races.
“The first solitudes of Vancouver and B.C. were not English
and French, they were Scottish and Chinese,” said Wong, a
fifth-generation Chinese-Canadian and proud kilt-wearer known as
“Toddish McWong” at this time of year.
Robert Burns: “The Vision” Writing Contest
Robert Burns: “The Vision” Writing Contest
Here's something that has come through my poetry/literature network:
“The Vision” Writing Contest for writers and lovers of the works of
the
Scottish Bard, Robert Burns. The Prize is the James Turnbull Memorial
Award – $500 (Cdn) and possible publication in the Celtic Faerie
Magazine.
Choose your favorite poem/song by Robert Burns, and tell why
you like it, what you believe Robert Burns was trying to convey to his
readers, and any relevant history or documentation of interest.
Entry fee: $10 (Cdn). Word maximum: 2000.
Deadline for entries: May
1, 2007 .''
Entrants are strongly encouraged to contact the contest trustee for full
guidelines at ilmoore@mts.net or phone: ( Canada )
204-482-8271; or the
website of the Winnipeg Robert Burns Club: www.winnipegrobertburns.org
“Strive in thy humble sphere to shine.”
What could be a better inclusion than a Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner and related events titled: GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY ?
- A
dinner of 16 people in a living room 10 years ago, which grew to 570
people in 2005 with CBC Radio's Shelagh Rogers co-hosting. - A CBC television performance special airing in BC
- The SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival spawning Dragon Cart races and Human curling.
- Lots
of media around the world including BBC Radio Scotland, CTV, CBC Radio
local and satellite, print media in French and Chinese. - And a dragon boat parade entry in Vancouver's St. Patrick's Day Parade
Vancouver Sun: Magic Flute behind the scenes with First Nations emphasis
Vancouver Sun: Magic Flute behind the scenes with First Nations emphasis
Great article today in the Vancouver Sun's West Coast Life section. They do a sneak preview behind the scenes look at the new Magic Flute production by the Vancouver Opera. This is remarkable, because the Vancouver Opera really invited First Nations artists and consultants to become collaborators in presenting this unique re-imagining of one of the world's most famous operas.
The opera has always had a strong mythological theme, and is now set in this land of Haida, Salish and 8 other West Coast First Nations peoples. I saw the 45 minute version that was abridged and adapted for the Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble which travels to BC schools. It was incredible. They even played to audiences on First Nations Reserves, to great response.
A nice surprise was to see a picture of Gene Wu, who I last saw in Vancouver Opera's Touring production of Naomi's Road. There is lots of diversity in the casting as soprano Hwang Sin Nyang takes on the Queen of the Night role.
Two tickets for the Magic Flute (value $200) are up for grabs at the January 28th, Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner as part of our prize raffle.
Media Alert for January 25th: CBC Radio “On The Coast”, Ming Pao and 24 Hours
Media Alert for January 25th: CBC Radio “On The Coast”, Ming Pao and 24 Hours
Happy Robbie Burns Day…
4pm CBC Radio 690AM interview with Priya Ramu, host of “On The Coast”
Ming Pao will have an interview
with me today by reporter Eric Chan. I met up with Eric yesterday
at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park in Chinatown. Eric asked some good
questions about how I felt Chinese and Caucasian relationships were
doing.
“Much better than 100 years ago,” I informed him.
“In 1907, the Anti-Asiatic league rioted in Chinatown smashing windows
and breaking property. There used to be lots of animosity between
Chinese and Scots, especially after the murder of Janet Smith, a
Scottish nanny, when the Chinese house boy Wong Foon Sing was
wrongfully accused but later aquitted.
“Today, Chinese and Scots have gotten over their differences, getting married and having Scottish-Chinese-Canadian babies.
“Is this kind of gimicky?” Chan challenged me.
“No…”
I laughed, “Gung Haggis Fat Choy is not gimicky. It is naturally
occuring, and I am finding it all over the place. Silk Road Music
creates world fusion music… not gimicky. Orchid Ensemble works
with Flamenco Mozaico… very incredible! A book launch for “All
Mixed Up” literary creations by writers who are sometimes half-Asian,
and half-Celtic. This is occuring naturally. Vancouver is
Canada's leading city for inter-racial marriages.”
Today, January 25th is Robbie Burns Day.
It's
going to be another busy day. The SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy
Festival begins at 10:30am with Human Curling, 11:30 with Dragon Cart
Racing, 12:30 Opening Ceremonies, 1:15 Haggis Eating, 1:30 More Dragon
Cart racing and awards at 2:30pm.
Somewhere between calling play
by play for the Dragon Cart races and emceeing for the Official
ceremonies, I will be interviewed by Bob Mackin of 24 Hours, and film a
pod cast interview with “Guts McTavish” the Scottish puppet with big white eyebrows.
At 4:00pm, I will be down at the CBC Radio studios for a live radio interview with “On The Coast” host Priya Ramu
who will be co-hosting Gung Haggis Fat Choy on January 28th with
me. A special kilt was made for Priya, and we will check out this
“kilt fitting.” Margaret Gallagher will also appear on the
show. She is a special literary performer for GHFC, as she will
be reading a poem she wrote for the chap book “All Mixed Up” – literary
contributions by Hapa (Half-Asian) writers,
Then for 6pm… I
will be attending the Burns Supper for the Burns Club of Vancouver, at
the Terminal City Club. I am to give the “Address to a Haggis.”
Media Alert: for Gung Haggis Fat Choy – interviews with Todd Wong on Global TV, The Source and CBC Radio-Canada
Media Alert: for Gung Haggis Fat Choy
– interviews with Todd Wong on Global TV, The Source and CBC Radio-Canada
Wednesday morning I did an interview with “The Link” a CBC Radio-Canada satellite program. It is aimed at international audience and new immigrant audience. This show will be broadcast on Robbie Burns Day, January 25th, and they will include our Gung HAGGIS RAP Choy – Robbie Burns Address to a Haggis set to rap music
Today, I spotted the tv interview with Erin Cebula for Global TV's Global Village. Earlier this week, I heard from friends that they had seen it. Great spot! Erin edited in some still pictures of our Gung Haggis Fat Choy performers such as Qiu Xi He of Silk Road Music, and Joe McDonald, bagpiper, cutting up the haggis. They even showed a picture of me with then mayor, Larry Campbell, both wearing kilts and clashing chinese jackets. There was also a sequence with Fiona Tinwei Lam reading her poetry, at the Gung Haggis Fat Choy World Poetry Night on January 15th, Monday, at the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch.
And I picked up a copy of The Source/ La Source, a bilingual newspaper, with an interview and picture of me.
GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY! |
When people ask Todd Wong if he has Scottish heritage he answers coyly that “all Canadians have Scottish heritage…. as they do Chinese heritage.” He has been helping Vancouverites find theirs for ten years with his Gung Haggis Fat Choy combination Robbie Burns Day and Chinese New Year celebration. It is a banquet with multiple courses of fusion cuisine – such as haggis spring rolls – accompanied by entertainment and music to brighten the spirits at this dark time of the year. |
Today I was interviewed by Ming Pao chinese language newspaper
Wow…. spreading the word and philosophy of Robbie Burns… in English, in French and Chinese!