Rememberance Day, Nov. 11, 2004

I went to the Victory Square Cenataph ceremonies hoping to take pictures of my grand-uncle Daniel Lee, with his group of veterans, Pacific Unit 280.  For the past few years, Uncle Dan and his fellow executive member Ed Lee, from Unit 280, have helped to organize the Victory Square Cenataph ceremonies.  This is amazing, given the racist history of the Candian Government and Armed Forces that initially did not want Canadians born of Chinese ancestry in the armed forces.  When they returned from fighting overseas, they were insulted again when the Canadian Legions initially refused to allow them as members.  Much has now changed and the veterans of Unit 280 are proud to have served for both Canada and for enfrancisement rights for all Chinese Canadians.

I am very proud of Uncle Dan.  Not only does he spend weeks on cold street corners selling poppies, or talking to elementary schools.  He also devotes a lot of time to veterans causes.  So much that he was awarded the Award of Merit – The highest award that is given for community service amongst the veterans.  He received it in September 15th, at the 47th Dominion Convention of Army, Navy Air Force Veterans, held in Saskatoon SK.  He is the first Chinese Canadian to receive this particular Award.

To receive an Award of Merit, you must first recieve the Medal for Appreciation, which Uncle Dan recieved in 1987.  In 1999 he next recieved the Award for Service

Following the Victory Square Cenataph ceremony that went from 10:30am to 11:30am, I then walked to Chinatown with my friend Bob Brinson.  We found my father and his elder brother James who was visiting from Edmonton.  Uncle James has lived in Alberta for the past 40 years, and although he visits Vancouver regularly he had never attended a Vancouver Cenataph ceremony despite having served in WW2.

We all went to see the inaugural Rememberance Day ceremony at the Keefer St. Chinese Pioneer Memorial, which was scheduled to start at 12:30pm.  Uncle James was worried he wouldn't know some of the veterans, after almost 60 years after WW2.  But some of them recognized him, and asked him to join them standing in formation facing the monument.  He politely declined. 

The Chinatown Cenataph ceremony began with the arrival of City Cousellor Raymond Louie, himself a Chinese Canadian pioneer descendent relative of the H.Y. Louie family.  Raymond laid the wreath, sent by the City of Vancouver.  Interestingly, it was this very wreath that sparked the Chinatown ceremony. 

Last month, the City announced that it would lay a wreath at all the cenataphs including the Chinese Canadian pioneer memorial.  This sparked the necessity of a ceremony, which was coordinated between Unit 280 and the Chinese Canadian Military Museum.  Retired Colonel Howe Lee led the ceremony, and spoke to the crowd about the important role Chinese Canadian soldiers played in winning enfrancisement and voting rights for Canadian born Chinese.

There was a good media turnout that took pictures of the ceremony, including the wreath laying and interviewing some of the veterans.  Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell, Counsellor Jim Green, and Parks Commissioner Heather Deal, arrived after the ceremony.  It was a surprise visit from them as they had participated in the Victory Square Cenataph ceremony, and no doubt had been busy socializing following the ceremony.  I contributing to the schmoozing and asked Mayor Campbell and Counsellor Green to be in a picture with my Uncle Dan.  Too bad I missed the photo op when Uncle Dan was showing Mayor Campbell his new Award of Merit. 

Following the ceremony, Pacific Unit 280 held their traditional lunch at Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant, which they enjoyed with their friends and supporters.  I was very pleased to be an active supporter and guest, and that so many of the vets recognized me and said hello to me.  They recognize me as my father's son, as their comrade Daniel Lee's grand nephew, and as one of their organizers of their veterans' dinner back in October.

It was great to be back in an OC-6 outrigger again.  The water of Burrard Inlet / Indian Arm is SO MUCH cleaner than False Creek.  It was a beautiful day for paddling – overcast but no rain.

My buddy Craig Brown had wanted to introduce paddlers from the Gung Haggis Fat Choy and Centre for Spiritual Living team dragon boat teams.  We also invited friends of the teams and former paddlers.  We had enough people to take out 4 six person outrigger canoes.

Outrigger paddling is a good way to balance a hard paddling dragon boat season.  With outrigger paddling, you can padde on both sides since everybody sits one behind the other in a row.  Outrigger races can be as short as 10 minutes and as long as 6 hours.  Most in the Vancouver area are 1 to 2 hour races.

Three members of the Lotus Sports Club came out to help us steer. Imagine my surprise when I discovered who they were!  Grace Morrisette was my first dragon boat coach back in 1993, when I paddled as a spare with the Hamazaki-Wong sponsored  Headliners.  We won the inaugural Novice division that year… Steve Pith, paddled with E-One Moli Energy when I coached that team in 2000 and 2001.  Steve came out in a solo outrigger and demonstrated paddling technique for our first timers.  Cindy, I have met at the various Lotus regattas over the years.  The great connection is that she is also involved with Girl Guides and had connected with one of my former paddlers about starting a dragon boat team for Girl Guides.

Going out with the Lotus group was a great cultural learning experience.  Our dragon boat paddlers learned how the Hawaiian culture developed outrigger canoeing and why the term “huli” doesn't mean a form of dancing.  “Huli” is when your boat flips over.  The “Ama” is the pontoon on the left side of the boat.  And Hawaiians love the outrigger teams that travel to Hawaii for races, because they graciously thank you for helping to develop and preserve their sport and culture around the world.

At the Lotus Clubhouse at Barnet Marine Park, we gazed at all the trophies from paddling races and regattas from Vancouver, Portland and Hawaii.  We looked at all the pictures from different events and felt excited for the future paddling possibilities for the coming years.

Oh the paddling! 

The event was created simply to have fun and give people a chance to try outrigger paddling, so we didn't dwell on a lot of paddling technique lessons.  Most everybody had already paddled in dragon boats this season except for the two newcomers in my boat. 

We took off pretty well.  Nobody seemed to have any balancing problems.  Nobody freaked out about tipping.  We reminded people to watch the lead stroke and to stay in time… and that was it!  Oh, and learning to say the words, “Hike, Hut, Ho” which signify when everybody follows the lead stroke to switch sides.  We practiced this a few times, and pretty soon everybody was looking like that had paddled outrigger all season!

After taking a break with all four canoes together.  Two of us started heading towards Twin Islands, before realizing that the other two boats had headed back to the  club house.  Determined not to be the last boat back for the doughnuts and coffee, we brought our boats around and headed back as well.  Our group always had a tendency to keep a fast rate.  Our lead stroke, Kristine, had paddled a lot of dragon boat teams with me over the years, and I had to keep reminding her to bring the rate down.  We finally did a very good job slowing down the pace, so everybody got more water on their paddle.  Every stroke became effortless and we easily caught and passed the boat in front of us. 

Definitely a experience every dragon boat paddler should try.  Everybody was just as excited and enthusiastic as when we started our excursion, but now filled with a “good tired” – the kind that says… “This was a good thing!”

The stories about Chinese Canadian pioneers is a big part of Canadian history that has been missing for many years.  There is now a group of institutions and individuals who are intent on making it easier to both include and research these stories, said Dr. Edgar Wickberg at the Vancouver Public Library on Friday evening.

Turnout was higher than expected for the inaugural event of the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC.  Recently granted society status in May, the group of founding directors had been meeting for about 2 years. 

Friday night featured a panel discussion of 3 prominent Asian Americans from California to discuss the development of the Asian American historical movement: Him Mark Lai, founder of Chinese Historical Society of America; Marjorie Lee, Asian American Studies Library UCLA; Russell Leong, founder of Amerasia Journal.

Dr. Henry Yu, associate professor of Asian Canadian History at the University of British Columbia, moderated a discussion that explored the importance of documenting community histories in B.C. and further afield.  Each of the three speakers explained how they each became interested in Asian American history and how they have helped to facilitate its research.

Saturday’s session featured sessions by Judy Maxwell, speaking about her thesis topic of Chinese Canadian history with a focus on Chinese Canadian veterans of WW1 and WW2.  She also told the stories of veterans Bill Lore, William Chong also known as Agent 50 for his intelligence work with the British Army, and of Roy Mah who was a sergeant for Force 136 – a special commando group created to create havok behind enemy lines in South East Asia.

Gordon Mark explained how computers and software programs make it real easy to create Family Tree histories and Power Point displays.  He demonstrated how he created a history of his mother's family: The Liu Family.

Janet Tompkins of the Vancouver Public Library, History Department, explained how the library can be utilized for geneaological research.  She gave a list of internet links and data sources, explaining how birth and death records, head tax records could be used.

For the Saturday Workshop, I set up a display of my Reverend Chan Family history.  I had pictures of Rev. Chan Yu Tan, Rev. Chan Sing Kai, their sisters, and 6 generations of descendents – all mounted on poster cards.  Additionally I displayed the 7 generations of the Rev. Chan clan Canadian family tree history, and also the Chinese family tree that Rev. Chan Yu Tan wrote himself in 1924, in Chinese.

Attendents of the workshop were very enthusiastic about all the possibilities of creating, researching and documenting family histories of Chinese Canada.  Many people asked me about the Chan clan history and reunion. 

After the workshop, I went for a quick bite at a Japanese restaurant with members of the Der clan, Greg Soone, and presenter Gordon Mark.  We talked about how future workshops could help other families create both family trees and reunions, and especially to find ways to encourage others to share their family stories, such as creating elder workshops, or a pioneer family reunion dinner.

Then… I went down to Foo's Ho Ho restaurant in Chinatown to meet with the CCHS board members and their California guests for more food and conversation.

“Routes to Our Roots: Finding Chinese Canada”

Explore Chinese Canadian family history in British Columbia

Where: Alice MacKay Room, Vancouver Central Library, 350 West Georgia St.

When: Friday, November 5, 2004 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Cost: Free of charge

How to register: Participants may register by phone (604-331-3711), e-mail (jennlau@gmail.com) or in person at the History & Government Division on the 6^th floor of the Vancouver Central Library. Drop-ins also welcome.

For more information: Jennifer Lau, 778-892-5585 or jennlau@gmail.com.

Founded in 2004, the aims of the CCHS are to encourage research, documentation and promotion of Chinese Canadian history in British Columbia. For more information on the CCHS, please visit http://www.cchsbc.ca or contact the President, Edgar Wickberg, at edbw@interchange.ubc.ca.

Don Montgomery 604.488.0119 don@explorasian.org

My 1st priority when I arrived at the Oct 21 Wayson Choy and Isabel Huggins event at the Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival www.writersfest.bc.ca, was to enjoy a nice glass of red wine. 

My next priority was to find a seat at the Waterfront Theatre for the event.  After taking my time finishing my wine, I walked into the Theatre and surveyed a glance for still available seats.

“Todd!” a voice called out to me, as my eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness.  I searched the crowd a recognizable face calling my name.

“It's Shelagh!” said the voice right in front of me.  I looked down, and there was a famililar smiling face that I recognized.

Everytime I meet Shelagh Rogers she is warm and effusive.  The first time we met was prior to my interview on CBC Radio's “Sounds Like Canada” on January 21, 2003. http://www.cbc.ca/insite/SOUNDS_LIKE_CANADA/2003/1/22.html Upon arriving at the Roundhouse Community Centre where the show was being taped on location, I looked over where Shelagh was sitting with guests between the tapings.  Suddenly she looked towards me with a big smile and started waving.  I look behind me wondering who she is waving at, because surely it can't be me.  I haven't even been introduced to her yet.

Bumping into Shelagh at the Writers Fest is now like meeting an familiar friend.  She is very excited about being able to co-host Gung Haggis Fat Choy for January 2005 with me.  “Anything you want me to do I can do,” she says.  “I can be as Scottish as you want me to be,” says this Ontario raised woman who grew up attending Robbie Burns Dinners with her sister.

I jokingly tell her that our 3rd co-host will be Tom Chin of Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre, and she will be our token “white babe chick,” as we will help to offset the stereotypes that Asian men are not sexy, and that the dominant inter-racial couple are white males and Asian females. 

Shelagh laughs as we joke about my “demand” that for Shelagh to co-host Gung Haggis Fat Choy as part of her CBC community outreach, that “my conditions” were that her sister Margot had to attend with her. A good  thing that the Sounds Like Canada producers were familiar enough with my humour and Shelagh's relationship with her sister.

Having Shelagh Rogers co-host the 2005 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner will bring not just the presence of a nationally recognized Canadian media star that truly understands the nature and nurture of Canada, but more importantly a wonderful sense of humour and new friendship.

Check out www.writersfest.bc.ca