Todd: ready to jump into Kalamalka Lake – photo Deb Martin
Author Archives: Todd
Todd at Kalamalka Lake – ready for a “Hot August” swim – photo Pat Martin
Public Open House at Historic Joy Kogawa House – September 17
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Public Open House at Historic Joy Kogawa House – September 17
Here's the PSA about our upcoming public open house at the Historic Joy
Kogawa House. I hope everyone will be able to attend and help mingle
with the crowd. Sunday, Sept 17 was the best date for Joy's schedule
since she will be in town to speak at our AGM in Victoria the day
before. We are still working out all the smaller event details, but
this is just a start to get the word out. Please forward this on to any
special guests you would like to attend. I'll be sending this out to
the media over the next few days.
More details to come as they unfold. Please let me know if you are
planning on attending because we may need a few hands on board with
set-up, networking, and clean-up.
PSA – UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENT
What: Public Open House at Historic Joy Kogawa House
When: Sunday, September 17, 2006
Time: 1pm to 4pm
Where: Historic Joy Kogawa House – 1450 West 64th Ave., Marpole neighbourhood in Vancouver
Parking: Parking at the house is limited. Public transit is encouraged.
Admission: By donation at the door
Nearly 550 people from across the globe helped The Land Conservancy
purchase the Historic Joy Kogawa House in June, and now it is time to
celebrate this accomplishment! TLC will be hosting a public open house
on Sunday, Sept 17 from 1 to 4pm for everyone to see the home before
renovations take place.
This is a great opportunity for Lower Mainland residents to view the
one and one-half storey bungalow where Canadian author Joy Kogawa lived
from 1937 to 1942. As a special addition to the house, guests will get
to see the original desk and typewriter that Kogawa wrote her
award-winning novel, Obasan, on. Kogawa will also be in attendance for
a scheduled book signing. All proceeds from the event will go to the
restorations and to help set up an endowment for a writers-in-residence
program.
The Historic Joy Kogawa House has national significance as a symbol of
the racial discrimination experienced by Japanese-Canadians as a
consequence of World War II. The house is one of the few residences
left in Vancouver that is identified as having been confiscated by the
Canadian Government and sold without the lawful owner’s permission.
TLC protects and cares for the places you love most in British Columbia
from wilderness areas to cultural landmarks. There is no greater gift
we can pass on to future generations than a healthy environment, and
TLC is proud to be part of the international conservation movement.
Since its inception nine years ago, TLC has preserved more than
100,000 acres on over 150 properties throughout the province.
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For more information:
TLC: Heather Skydt (604) 733-2313; hskydt@conservancy.bc.ca
Save Kogawa House Committee: Ann-Marie Metten (604) 263-6586; ametten@telus.net
the Mikado a la Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Damon Nestor Ploumis in Gung Haggis team uniform – photo Deb Martin
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team update for August 8th
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team update for August 8th
The team is really developing a good core of dedicated paddlers.
With only 12 paddlers on Sunday, and 13 paddlers tonight on Tuesday,
there is a good surge in the boat.
On Sunday, guest coaches James Yu and Ian Paul, took over the coaching
reins while I was in Vernon. James was my steering coach and an
early dragon boat mentor, when we first raced on the Hamazaki-Wong
Headliners from 1993 to 1995. James is presently coaching the
GVRD 44 Cheeks dragon boat team.
Ian Paul and I first crossed paths when I invited him to join our Men's team at Alcan in 2002, he has now gone on to found the Pirates dragon boat
team. Ian raced with Gung Haggis at Alcan last year. 10
Gung Haggis paddlers will be joining the Pirates team in
Victoria. Ian sent me this note:
Hi Todd
Yes, sunday was great ,
James and I shared the coaching and steering , so
your Gung haggiss team will have lots to impress you with when you next see them
! Race pieces at the end of the practice , in that sun , and they still had a
surge at the end!
your Gung haggiss team will have lots to impress you with when you next see them
! Race pieces at the end of the practice , in that sun , and they still had a
surge at the end!
They are a great bunch , and really do you
proud!
proud!
Glad to hear you may be in cultus lake , its very
small , but weather permitting is fun
small , but weather permitting is fun
see you soon,,,,,,,,,, Ian..
The Gung Haggis team will be at the Cultus Lake Women's Regatta.
We are renaming the women's version as the Mu Lan Women Warriors.
Only women can paddle. Men are allowed to drum and steer, but
must be dressed in drag. Our men will wear kilts, but supplement
with wigs, etc.
Cultus Lake is a fun race… only 12 teams. We will be missing
some of our strongest women paddlers, but we have a great crew going,
and expect to have great fun.
Tonight's practice was the first ever Tuesday in the rain. A
light rain by practice time. We worked hard to bury the paddles,
and consistently had good surge in our power pieces, race starts and
race pieces.
Afterwards, we went to Hon's Wun Tun House on Keefer Street in
Chinatown for our “carbohydrate replenishment.” Our after dinner
conversation was very enjoyable and good team bonding. We have a
high level of trust amongst our core paddlers and it really contributes
to a great team attitude and team cohesion. I am very proud and
happy with this year's team paddlers, and keep telling them so.
Chinatown Stroll for Chinese Head Tax/Exclusion Redress – for August 6
MEDIA ADVISORY – August 3, 2006
Date: Sunday, August 6, 2006 – BC
Chinatown Stroll for
Chinese Head Tax/Exclusion Redress
Vancouver, BC – The BC Coalition of Head Tax
Payers, Spouses and Descendants will mark the upcoming long weekend with a
Chinatown Stroll.
Date: Sunday, August 6, 2006 – BC
Day weekend
Time:
10:00am call time – stroll to begin shortly after
Place:
Sun Yat-sen Garden east entrance
Corner of Columbia and Keefer Streets, Vancouver
The Conservative government recently imposed
a redress package unilaterally and ignored and rejected calls from head tax
families for a just and honourable redress.
The BC Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses
and Descendants are today's Chinese Canadians. We welcome all Canadians to join
us in this quest for justice and honour for our
Chinese pioneers and their families.
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Slow-Pitch Ball Game Honours Asahi baseball team + exhibit at JCNM
Slow-Pitch Ball Game Honours Asahi Baseball TeamFirst Annual Powell Grounds Ball Game
A Tribute to the Vancouver Asahi Baseball Team
Monday, August 7, 11:00 a.m.
Oppenheimer Park, 400 block Powell Street, Vancouver
As part of this year’s Powell Street Festival, a ball game will take
place to celebrate the Vancouver Asahi baseball team’s legacy. This
will be a physical and fun opportunity for communities and baseball fans to
celebrate and learn about the Asahi baseball team on the field where
they once played.
This is a free public event. Youth, adults, seniors and families are
all welcome! Refreshments will be available. Please bring your own lawn
chair. We want Asahi fans and all baseball enthusiasts to play or come
see the game. Pre-registration is required for players.
Please contact the Japanese Canadian National Museum for more
information or if you would like to register to play.
Tel: 604-777-7000 ext.109
E-mail: jcnm@nikkeiplace.org
Media contact:
Krysta Mukai - Events Coordinator (Summer)
Japanese Canadian National Museum
Tel: 604-777-7000, ext. 109
Fax: 604-777-7001
E-mail: jcnm@nikkeiplace.org
Levelling the Playing Field: Legacy of Vancouver's Asahi Baseball
Team
October 29, 2005 – September 2, 2006
From 1914 to 1941 this talented team of Japanese Canadian baseball players
competed and won in the Vancouver senior leagues, instilling enormous
pride in a community faced with racial prejudice and inequality. The
Asahis played baseball like no others, and they were the only ethnic
Asian team in the league. Barely five feet tall, “dancing shortstop”
Roy Yamamura was incomparable racing around the bases to steal the opposition
blind. Third baseman Sally Nakamura was “home run king” while
catcher Reggie Yasui could bunt wherever he wanted, like most of the
Asahis. Long before Little League, coach Harry Miyasaki created three
tiers of junior teams to nurture talent for the Asahi brand of brain
ball. This club could win without a hit. They were legendary, and they
had a dream.
Check out this http://www.jcnm.ca/exhibits.htm
Hip, Hapa and Interculturally Happening… August 5 to 11
Hip, Hapa and Interculturally Happening… August 5 to 11
July was so busy for me, I wasn't able to write up any H3 announcement lists…
But there are some great things happening this weekend. I would be going to as much of them as possible… if I was in Vancouver.
But I am headed back to Kalamalka Lake in the BC Okanagan… wineries – here I come!
check out:
The Pride Parade in Vancouver….
http://www.vanpride.bc.ca/event-details.cfm?month=08&year=2006&day=6
Lots of cultural diversity, and intercultural happenings.
My friend Leora Cashe will be performing at the Pride Jazz dinner cruise on Sunday, following the parade.
http://www.leoracashe.com/schedule.html
Of Heaven and Earth
http://www.cpaf.ca/cpaf/index.html
This is the revamped original action-musical by producer Dennis Law.
It features contemporary Chinese ballet as well as Chinese ethnic
dances and martial arts. It is pretty exciting, and you will
learn lots about Chinese culture, arts, and a classic folk tale about
two lovers.
Check out my previous reviews of:
Powell Street Festival
http://powellstfestival.shinnova.com/
The long running cultural festival celebrating Japanese-Canadian arts
and culture. Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Oppenheimer Park on
Vancouver's Downtown Eastside/Strathcona neighborhood.
Kokuoho Rice (Linda Hoffman, Joyce Chong, Sean Gunn and John
Greenaway) will be performing at the Powell Street Festival on
Sunday at 2:30pm on mainstage. Inside scoop is Head Tax Blues
is on their playlist.
Too bad I have to miss this one. Sean Gunn is a friend from Asian Canadian literary and Head Tax redress circles. And once, many years ago… I accompanied Sean during a Powell Strett Festival gig. I played my accordion to songs such as head tax blues, Canadian Railroad Tragedy, and Sukiyaki.
Festival Vancouver
www.festivalvancouver.ca/
Some great international performers coming to Vancouver such as Arturo
Sandoval, Anoushka Shankar and many many more. Classical to
world, to jazz.
Good article in the Georgia Straight with the best picks of the Festival Vancouver, selected by founder George Laverock and Sal Ferraras. Laverock is excited about “a vocal group called Rajaton from Finland.” Tickets still available for Tuesday August 8 at 5pm, Christ Church Cathedral.
Sal recommends “the Anoushka
Shankar show for the opening act, which is called
Dharmakasa. It’s a trio with a particularly interesting player of the
Japanese shakuhachi [flute], Alcvin Ramos. He’s a beautiful player who
delivers some very meditative, very evocative moments.” Anouska is the sitar virtuoso daughter of musical legend Ravi Shankar, and performs August 10th at the Chan Centre.
Good article titled Anoushka Shankar Rises about her new album mixing East and West for some comtemporary World beat fusion.
Todd Wong’s Top 8 List of Summer Reads
Todd Wong’s Top 8 List of Summer Reads
My
Top 8 summer reading suggestions was printed in our Library Union
newsletter for CUPE local 391. The newsletter staff had asked for
suggestions… and this is what I came up with.
1. 1001
Albums to Listen to Before You Die, (because I like lists, and I love listening
to albums).
2. 1001
Books to Read Before You Die (because I like lists…)
3. Outlander
by Diana Galbadon (read it again) – Actually, I am working on the final
installment of the 6 book series “Breath of Snow and Ashes.”
4. X-Men
comics by Marvel (not the movie).
Because they are incredible!!!
And I have just discovered that they are selling the 1st four
decades on dvd for $40.
5. David
Suzuki – the autobiography (because
Suzuki is amazing… the Greatest Canadian – still living… and because a signed
copy was gifted to me as a present).
6. The
Golden Spruce (winner of the GG award for non-fiction, shortlisted for the BC
Book Prize for non-fiction but BC Book Prize winner for best regional, and
shortlisted for One Book One Vancouver…. Because I bought the book, love Haida
Gwaii… and author
7. Da
Vinci Code – The Illustrated Version (not the movie).. in case you still
haven’t read it… because the pictures are cool.
8. There
is a Season by Patrick Lane… (because it is the One Book One Vancouver choice
after all).
How am I doing with my summer reading list so far?
I looked at the “1001” books in the Chapters bookstore.
I am currently working through “Breath of Snow and Ashes.”
I re-read some X-Men, Batman and Spiderman (where Spidey marries Mary Jane Watson) again.
I was amazed at Da Vinci Code… finishing it just after the time the movie came out… in anticipation of going to see it
Kilts Night at Doolin's Irish Pub – 1st Thursday of every month.
Kilts Night at Doolin's Irish Pub – 1st Thursday of every month.
This Thursday, we shall wear our kilts and hoist of dram of Scotch to the memory of Dugald Christie.
Sadly, the Scottish born Christie, was killed on his bicycle at 6pm
near Sault Ste. Marie, while riding to raise awareness for legal aid,
and had planned to present a petition to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
I shall join my friends Bear, Raphael, and members of the Gung Haggis
Fat Choy dragon boat team. We shall wear our kilts and recieve a
FREE pint of Guiness for our fashion choice.
Live music is performed by the Halifax Wharf Rats – a lively band
specializing in East Coast maritime tunes plus some great Celtic tinged
surprises.
Doolin's Irish
Pub
654 Nelson Street at Granville Street Vancouver BC
See below for Kilts night related
stories on www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com