Category Archives: Multicultural events

Ann-Marie Fleming's new movie plays at VIFF

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Ann-Marie Fleming is the brilliant animator/film
maker and graphic artist of “The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam” – which
we featured at the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year
Dinner a few years ago….

Ann-Marie's great-grandfather was the legendary vaudeville magician, Long Tack Sam.  Her great-grandmother was his Austrian wife.  Her family ancestry comes from around the world, and she describes herself as hybrid – both DNA-wise, historically and culturally.

Check out the link to the Vancouver Courier article:
http://www.vancourier.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Eclectic+filmmaker+gets+animated/3596650/story.html

Ann Marie Fleming strums her uke prior to the Vancouver International Film Festival, which screens her animated short I Was A Child of Holocaust Survivors Oct. 11.
 

Ann Marie Fleming strums her uke
prior to the Vancouver International Film Festival, which screens her
animated short I Was A Child of Holocaust Survivors Oct. 11.

Photograph by: Dan Toulgoet, Vancouver courier

Ann Marie Fleming is no stranger to the Vancouver
International Film Festival both as a past volunteer and a filmmaker
whose works have included feature films (The French Guy), documentaries
(The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam) and animated shorts such as this
year's I Was a Child of Holocaust Survivors. The talented artist and
aspiring ukulele player talked to the Courier about her latest film,
her eclectic background and why “tongue on a hot rock” is not a
metaphor.

1. What about Bernice Eisenstein's memoir I Was a Child of Holocaust
Survivors made you want to adapt it into an animated short?

a)
It's an amazing book. b) I was asked to. c) I thought I could bring
something to it.

2. Was there anything about the subject matter
you related to?

There is something everyone can relate to: it's
about family. For me, I'm constantly interested in the continuing
legacy of WWII, the burden of the history, cross-over immigration
patterns and cultural diaspora, older generations not telling their
stories-but-somehow-you're-still-living-in-them, trying to find your
own way. I think it has universal relevance and resonance.

3.
Your background is quite diverse (born in Okinawa, of Chinese and
Australian parentage, your great grandfather was a travelling Chinese
vaudevillian acrobat and magician). How does this inform or influence
your work?

Well, I'm kind of a hybrid, and so is the work I
do–thematically and technically. And I am very curious about people's
histories and backgrounds and what that represents in geopolitical
terms. I'm such a cultural mash-up that I can relate to just about
anybody's story. Six degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Read the rest of the article at the Vancouver Courier article:
http://www.vancourier.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Eclectic+filmmaker+gets+animated/3596650/story.html

Accordion Flamenco – Todd Wong sits in with guitarist Rod Malkin and dancer Elin

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Flamenco accordion player named “El Toddo Don Wong”

I
love flamenco music.  My usual claim to flamenco fame, is that I have twice had dinner with flamenco guitarist legend Paco Pena.

But on Thursday night at the La Zuppa restaurant in North Vancouver, I sat in with guitarist Rod Malkin and dancer Elen Ghulam.  I was walking by the restaurant on Lonsdale Avenue and decided to have a listen.  The music was lovely, the space was intimate and friendly.  I spoke with the restaurant operators Juan Carlos and Vicky. We talked about the restaurant and flamenco music. They introduced me to Rod and Elen, and told them I play accordion.

Rod invited me to sit in with them. I had never played with a flamenco guitarist before.  But they were keen that I had shared my knowledge about attending Paco Pena's Misa Flamenco concert in Vancouver, and that I knew of Al Mozaico Flamenco's productions of “Cafe de Chinatas”.  It was a big stretch for me to improvise
freely, and I gained confidence to add flourishes. It was good enough
that the dancer took to the platform. A wonderful experience musically
overall.

It was a big challenge… I have been playing with a Celtic Ceilidh
group since Christmas… and learning to play accompaniment and fills. I
still go into shock and panic when somebody says “Accordion Solo” – but
playing with Robert last night was very cool – lots of listening to
each other, and just taking it slow… working in some flourishes. And
they kept me playing with them! 🙂

While at the restaurant, I discovered postcards for Mozaico Flamenco – the company founded and directed by Oscar Nieto and Kasandra La China in 2002.  I reviewed their show “Cafe De Chinatas” in 2006 at the Norman Rothstein Theatre and in 2006 at Edie's Hats on Granville Island.  I am thrilled that “Mozaico Flamenco” is going to be perform again
in November at the Scotiabank Dance Centre. http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2007/6/10/3012512.html

Look what I just discovered!
Flamenco Guitar with Accordion and performed in Edinburgh, Scotland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP0s41cZjV0

Antonio Forcione Quintet 'Tarantella' Edinburgh '05
www.youtube.com

Fiddlers Around the World @ Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens

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Here's an interesting concert that brings together Chinese erhu player Jirong Huang with Tom Neville (Western fiddle) and Baljeet Singh on Indian Dilruba.  I have performed accordion/ erhu duets with Jirong at the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner a few years ago.

It's been fascinating to see the success of Delhi to Dublin criss-crossing Celtic fiddle music with South Asian tabla beats, as well as the latin-celtic music of The Paper Boys.

There's a lot of intercultural musical collaborations in Vancouver, and it is often very exciting, stimulating and culturally informative.

Check it out!

photo

 Vancouver Chinese Instrumental Music Society and Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden Present


 

Fiddles Around the World


Sunday, October 3, 2010, 7:30
pm

Doors open at 7pm
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
578 Carrall Street (at Pender)



Tickets | 604 662 3207 |

Info    
 | 604 683 8240 |

| $15 general/ $10 student and senior |


Featuring:
Jirong Huang (Chinese Erhu, Fiddle)

Baljeet Singh (Indian Dilruba, Fiddle)
Tom Neville (Western Fiddle)

Accompanied By

Wei Li on Gu Zheng (Chinese Zither)
Bruce Henzcel (Marimba, Percussion)

Dr. Jan Walls as Master of Ceremony

The Vancouver Chinese Instrumental Music
Society and the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens are proud to present Fiddles
Around the World on Sunday, October 3, 2010 at the Chinese Classical
Garden.  A concert for all
audiences, the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble will showcase an exciting collection of multicultural Fiddles. This concert
features traditional and innovative music on bowed instruments.

The bowed stringed instrument first appeared in
India around 3000 BC, and is described in
Hindu myth as Ravanahatha. From its epicenter in India, this family of instruments radiated out to China,
through
Central Asia to Europe, Africa and then the New
World. Presented by the Vancouver Chinese Instrumental Music Society, this
performance will be emceed by renowned
linguist Dr. Jan Walls and feature Jirong Huang, our musical
director on Erhu, Tom Neville on Western Fiddle and Baljeet Singh on Dilruba , accompanied
by the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble.
Each of these ethnic instruments will be presented in solo performance, displaying technique and skill to
traditional songs and also perform in
non-traditional arrangements making new music with bows and fiddles.

“…vibrant and exciting exposure to
another culture.”  The Georgia Straight

 

For more information, please contact Angie
Nguyen

Tel 604.683.8240 | Fax 604.683.7911 | Email
Angie@dkam.ca

We gratefully acknowledge the
support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the City of Vancouver.

 

Silver Medal @ 3rd Banff Dragon Boat Races

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photo
Silver medal @ 3rd Annual Banff Dragon Boat Races, Aug 14/15, 2010.  Banff is named after Banffshire in Scotland, so I wore my new Macleod tartan.

It's been a busy week…..

Thursday I attended my Uncle Victor's funeral
Then… my girlfriend Deb and I drove to Vernon to stay at her parent's home in Vernon, enroute to attend the 3rd annual Banff Dragon Boat Festival.

On Friday morning, we went for a short kayak/canoe paddle, as 4 of our dragon boat team members had joined us at Kalamalka Lake.  We paddled just around Rattlensnake Point, for a good stretch of our paddling muscles.  Then after lunch we headed on the road to Banff.  It was longer than we expected.  I made the mistake of googling for road distance and calculated travel times – that did not take into account winding roads nor road construction.

When we reached Revelstoke, we all agreed not to take the scenic circle route of going to Radium Hot Springs, but instead to proceed straight to Banff.  Along the way, we had a brief stop in Golden BC, and a short visit to Lake Louise.

Upon arrival to Banff, we checked into our motel where the team was staying then headed to the Banff Brewing Company for a bite to eat and some socializing time with team members.

Saturday morning, we climbed on board the buses that took us to Lake Minewaka, where the 3rd annual Banff Dragon Boat Festival was being held.  Our first 200m race was a doozy.  The Dynasty style dragon boats are tippy enough with a round hull as opposed to the traditional double hull dragon boats – but we really did not need the Lane 4 boat Bear Scare going off course and forcing Lane 3 into our lane, and continuing to cut across the lanes until they finished off course, as lane 1 collided into us too.  A time penalty was accessed to Bear Scare team.  We finished off our Saturday racing with a 500m that saw us place 2nd.

Saturday night we went to a social at The Paddock bar, organized for all the dragon boat teams.  Then we went to the Legendary Wild Bill's restaurant where many of our team member's orders got terribly mixed up.  Steaks ordered as rare came out as well-done, and the prime rib that my girlfriend ordered came out as rare.  We did send it back to be returned as well-done minus the vegetables.  We can't recommend the service, but the restaurant was very interesting with cowboy decor, and a fun dance floor that saw a few of our team members joining in for some line dancing.  We did not stay for the KISS tribute band.

On Sunday, we came second in our semi-final heat that placed us into the C Final.  Then we relaxed and took lots of photos at the gorgeous Lake Minewaka site.  I was interviewed for a Banff Tourism video, as the film crew Matt and Jeff asked me questions about why I was in Banff, and what I enjoyed about my visit.  I enthusiastically told them I was in Banff for the dragon boat races, and the water was soooo much cleaner than in Vancouver, and it was great to see all the abundance of wildlife in Banff.

I also told them that I was wearing my kilt, because: 1) Banff was named after Banffshire in Scotland as the town's founders were from Scotland; and 2) the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team celebrates BC's founding pioneering cultures of Scottish and Chinese.

We raced in the C Final Division on Sunday afternoon.  It was a very tight race.  We were behind on the starts but caught up to the leading teams at the half-way mark.  We closely raced to the finish line against our ealier nemesis Bear Scare and an Edmonton team named Rice is Right.  We appeared to pull ahead and challenge Bear Scare for the finish.  All our paddlers dug in deep and reached out for front water, as our drummer Keng called for Power Series.  We called an early finish, and our team paddled harder, knowing we had good cardio training as our team core had been paddling since March – long before Calgary teams could get on the water before the ice melted on the Bow River.  Lanes 1, 2, and 3 all crossed the finish line, practically together.  Further behind in Lane 4, was the Red-Eyed Dragons, which were led by our team captain's cousin. (Talk about family rivalries!)

photo

Spirit of Vancouver GHFC dragon boat team with a strong core of Gung Haggis paddlers, Gung Haggis alumni paddlers, 2 brand new first timers, + Richard's cousin from Calgary.

1/10th of a second was all that separated us between 2nd and 1st place.  Rice is Right came 3rd. We came in second place , as Bear Scare came 1/10th of a second faster than us.

Oh well…. medals for us!!!  We were happy!

National Post: Museum probes link between Chinese Restaurants and small-town Canada

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Chinese Restaurants and small-town Canada exhibit at Royal Alberta Museum

My friend Linda Tzang, cultural curator at the Royal Alberta Museum is responsible for this: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/Museum+probes+link+between+Chinese+restaurants+small+town+Canada/3360480/story.html

Way back in 2002, Linda had initiated a project proposal on the Three Canadian Chinese Pioneer Families at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and Archives – but had moved to Alberta, before the project really started.  Linda was also a guest speaker at our 2nd Rev. Chan Legacy Family Reunion dinner in 2000.  In 2002, she was also part of our board for Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop that created the 1st ACWW Community Builders Dinner that honoured Roy Mah, Paul Yee and Wayson Choy.

Back on April 6th, Linda wrote to me:

Hello Toddish,

I guess the guy who came up with the idea of ‘six degrees of
separation’ was right – the world is much smaller than we think.

Now that you’ve written, I’m going to hit you up for some
help.  I have almost accomplished the impossible – the museum is on the
brink of giving me permission to do my Chinese Restaurant project.  It
doesn’t look anything like the project I was working on at the CCCMA – I
think it’s a better version.  I was wondering though if you knew anyone
with memorabilia related to Chinese restaurants – ideally someone with a menu
collection.    I don’t need
a huge number of them but a few would be nice.

If you had any leads it would be appreciated.  Maybe one day
I’ll be able to attend another Gunghaggis banquet but I always just seem to
miss the date.

Linda


image

Museum probes link between Chinese restaurants and small-town Canada

www.nationalpost.com

There’s one in nearly every Canadian city and town. And yet some argue the Chinese landmarks,

Vernon student creates history project on Larry Kwong, and wins prize trip to Barkerville!

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Larry Kwong: A Hero to Me

P7230042 by you.
Here is Gavin Donald's winning display on Larry Kwong – photo Todd Wong

Vernon student Gavin Donald creates a prize winning history display about the first NHL hockey player of Asian ancestry

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Silver Star school student Gavin Donald, with his
project, Larry Kwong: A Hero to Me, one of the winners in the recent
Vernon and District Heritage Fair.

Gavin Donald, 11, is a Grade 6 Silver Star student, that I sat beside at
last night's BC Hockey Hall of Fame induction dinner.

I was surprised at how much compassion and information that Gavin conveyed when he talked about Larry Kwong.  Gavin is passionate about his hometown of Vernon, and really wanted to choose a person from Vernon for his project.  The young man beside me wore a tie, and was thrilled to meet Larry Kwong at the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Dinner last night in Penticton.  Even though the induction of Trevor Linden, one of the greatest hockey players to wear the “C” for the Vancouver Canucks, was undoubtedly the evening's highlight – Gavin was only there to meet his hero – Larry Kwong. 

When MP Stockwell Day came over to meet Larry Kwong, it was Gavin who quickly had a pen in Day's hand to sign a petition to nominate Larry Kwong for the BC Hockey Hall of Fame.  By the end of the evening, Gavin was proudly carrying a newly won silent auction prize of a goalie stick signed by Mikka Kipprusoff, and asking other of the inducted hockey players Trevor Linden, Dallas Drake to sign the stick.  An evening highlight for Gavin was having Larry Kwong add his signature that same goalie stick.

Gavin did his history project
on Larry Kwong, a Vernon native who was the first person of Asian
descent to play in the NHL.  Gavin is 1 of 4 Vernon students who went
on to the Okanagan Regional Heritage Fair in
Kelowna and four projects from Vernon students were selected for the
prize of a trip to the Provincial Heritage Fair in Barkerville June 30
to July 4.

Here is a quote from the article:

Kwong, who was born in Vernon in 1923,
played for the Vernon Hydrophones 1939-41. He played for the New York
Rangers 1946-48 but due to alleged prejudice played only one minute in a
game in 1948.
“Many people in Canada were racist then but he never gave up
on his dream. He was a good player. We have to learn from history. It’s
sickening that someone would not have a chance because of their race.
That should not happen anymore,” said Gavin, whose great-uncle, John
Baumborough, played hockey with Kwong in Vernon

Read the original article:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/vernonmorningstar/lifestyles/98887244.html

Larry Kwong, 1st Asian-Canadian hockey player in the NHL, will recieve the first annual Pioneer Award from Okanagan Hockey School

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LARRY KWONG – the first Chinese-Canadian NHL player, will receive the first annual PIONEER AWARD from the Okanagan Hockey School.

The award is being presented at the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Penticton on July 23, 2010.  For more details, including ticket info, click www.bchhf.com

Larry_Kwong_Rangers by you.
Larry Kwong is one of Hockey's great trivia questions.  Who was the first non-white hockey player in the NHL?  He played one shift in the 3rd period against the Montreal Canadiens, in Montreal in 1948. – photo courtesy of Chad Soon. 

During the 1947-48 season, Larry ('King') Kwong is the first Chinese Canadian to play in the NHL as a member of the New York Rangers Hockey Club.  Also known as the 'China Clipper' during an illustrious juniors and seniors hockey career in B.C., Kwong went on to become Assistant Captain of the Valleyfield Braves in the Quebec Senior Hockey League where he led the team to a Canadian Senior Championship and received the Byng of Vimy award for sportsmanship.  Kwong later accepted an offer to play hockey in England and coach in Lausanne, Switzerland. 

The Larry Wong Appreciation Society Face Book Page writes:

“In 1948, LARRY KWONG broke the NHL's colour barrier, becoming the first
person of Asian descent to play in the big league.

“Our goal is to see hockey hero Larry Kwong recognized for his pioneering achievements — his contributions to the game and to our society.

“We hope his incredible story of perseverance will reach and inspire new generations of fans.”


Tom Hawthorn wrote a story in the Globe & Mail: Larry Kwong Beat Long Odds

“The sportswriters called him King Kwong, a cheap pun and a subtle dig at
a diminutive scorer who could stretch along the red goal line and still
leave plenty of room for a puck to squirt in at either end.

“Sixty year ago, on March 13, 1948, in the cramped visitors dressing room
at the old Montreal Forum, he slipped a blue sweater over his thin
frame, the number 11 on its back, the letters RANGERS spilling across
the chest.

“Little Larry Kwong, who had been born in Vernon, B.C.,
one of 15 children, who fell in love with hockey by listening to the
radio in the apartment above the family's grocery store, who, in fact,
carried the name of the store – Kwong Hing Lung (Abundant Prosperity) –
rather than the venerable family name of Eng, was about to make his
National Hockey League debut….

“The first player of Asian ancestry to
skate in the National Hockey League had launched – and, though he did
not yet know it, ended – his major league career.”


Larry_Kwong_Vernon_Tribute

Larry Kwong at the Homecoming Tribute Night in Vernon, BC, March 27, 2010.  He was honoured by the
Vernon Vipers before their BCHL (Junior A) playoff game. – photo courtesy of Chad Soon. 

Here's some more information from the Larry Kwong Appreciation Society Facebook Group

May  26, 2010 – Hockey legend Jean Beliveau, who competed for two years
against Larry Kwong in the Quebec Senior Hockey League, is backing
Larry's nomination for induction into the BC Sports Hall of Fame.

In a phone interview, Beliveau shared:

“I remember Larry Kwong very well….It brings back great memories. He was a very good player. You could see he enjoyed playing the game. He was a very smooth player — very skilled, with a beautiful style. I support his nomination for the Pioneer Award. He deserves it.”

On March 31, the Society of North American Hockey Historians and Researchers (SONAHHR) made Larry its first ever “Lifetime Honorary Member.”

On March 27, Larry made a triumphant homecoming to Vernon, BC.  He was honoured by the Vernon Vipers before their BCHL (Junior A) playoff game, and received a rousing three-minute standing ovation. The Vernon Vipers also issued a “hero” card of Larry.
 
Barry Marsman of SONAHHR presented Larry with a special Heritage Award in honour of the 60th anniversary of his breaking the NHL's race barrier.

click here to join the Larry Wong Appreciation Society Facebook Group:

Toddish McWong goes to Squamish Nation Pow Wow

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Toddish McWong takes his kilt to
Squamish Nation Pow Wow

2010_July_Capilano_PowWow 136 by you.
Here I am trying to learn a simple First Nations dance step from my 2nd cousin Shelley on my right, as we dance in the closing event at the 23rd Annual Squamish Nation Pow Wow.

I had never been to a First Nations Pow Wow before, so when my 2nd cousin Shelley sent me a Facebook message about the 23rd Annual Squamish Nation Pow Wow, and that she was going to watch her nieces compete in dance competition, I knew I had to be there.

The event was held at X̱wemelch'stn Park, also known as the Capilano Indian Reserve near the South end of Capilano Road in North Vancouver.  I had grown up in North Vancouver since I was 14 years old, and have driven through the reserve many times going to Park Royal.  I had only once before attended and event at the Capilano Longhouse once before in 1990, when the Squamish Nation presented David Suzuki with an eagle feather.  Soon after, I visited Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) where I met carver Claude Davidson, father of renowned artist Robert Davidson, and also traveled to the ancient village site of Skedans.

When I was about 7 years old, my favorite book was titled “Indian Lore and Craft”, I became enamored of creating buckskin clothes, moccasins, face paint, bows and arrows and other accessories.  But I never followed up.

2010_July_Capilano_PowWow 135
Here I am with my cousin Shelley Ferguson. 

Shelley's mother is Rhonda Larrabee is Chief of Qayqayt First Nations, and the subject of the NFB documentary Tribe of One.  I have often written about Rhonda and her courage to re-establish the Qayqayt First Nations in New Westminster.

2010_July_Capilano_PowWow 108
Shelley's nieces danced in the “jingle dance” competition. Latisha is on the left in blue and Alyssa is
in the middle in red. They both have been the Squamish Nation
Princesses. 🙂

I found lots of aspects of interculturalism happening at the Pow Wow:
Click on each of the pictures for an enlargement on my Flickr account.

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Here is a Japanese parasol being carried by one of the child dancers to keep the sun off.

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The dancer on the left wears an RCMP serge tunic combined with leggings from an old Hudson's Bay Company blanket – very vintage.  The dancer on the right has combined a red/green tartan cloth in both his hat and rustle.

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These dancers' costumes are made from very colourful designs that resembled Tibetan designs.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the event:

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This is the “Potato Dance Special” – you have to hold a potato between your forehead and your partner's.  Then you are asked to keep doing dance movements, or lift your hands or feet into the air, or even jump!  Last couple with a potato between their heads wins!


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This young dancer is waiting for the Fancy Shawl dancer to begin

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Male traditional dance

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I love the expressions on these dancers with their painted faces.  They are plains Indians.

2010_July_Capilano_PowWow 118

Detail of a Rustle with eagle feathers.

2010_July_Capilano_PowWow 115

Salmon dinner with traditional baked salmon, bannock and
macaroni.

2010_July_Capilano_PowWow 028
Here is a video of two of my favorite male dancers at the event.  The dancer with the Purple top, has a green & crimson red tartan as a loin cloth and also on his hat.  The dancer with the eagle head mask is wearing a vintage RCMP red serge tunic with HBC blanket leggings.  Watch the background for a female dancer in a red & black jingle dance costume – that's the niece of my cousin Shelley.  At the end of the video, watch for a young boy in a white tunic with a yellow porcupine headdress with 2 eagle feathers – pretty intense performance, eh?

2010_July_Capilano_PowWow 130
This video is a very intense… This is the two finalists for senior male fancy dance.  It was a great way for the dance competitions to end!

Happy Canada Day! Joceylyn Petit… Scottish-Chinese-Canadian fiddle player!

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Happy Canada Day!

I
am listening to the cd music of 15 year old
half-Chinese/half-Scottish 100% Canadian fiddle player Jocelyn
Pettit.  Perfect for the recognition of Pioneer Chinese
and Scots who helped to build British Columbia.

photo

I had the pleasure of meeting Jocelyn and her mother Siew, at the BC Highland Games last Saturday. 

I had written:

Hello Jocelyn
and Siew. I am really enjoying listening to Jocelyn's cd. I can
remembering
hearing some good fiddle music at the games, looked over at the stage,
but
didn't see my Blackthorn friends… but a small trio or so. I love
the
sound on the cd. I cranked it up in the car.

Great that you have been on CBC Early Edition with Rick Cluff.
But I
think Sheryl McKay's North By Northwest – would be perfect for you.
I have
played my accordion with Blackthorn, and the Chinese-fusion group Silk
Road
Music Ensemble. Hopefully one day, we can have you perform at my Gung
Haggis
Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.

We have spun off a CBC
Television performance special back in 2004, and I hope that it can be
expanded for the future. I can be seen playing my accordion in the CBC
TV
documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy – about my
great-great-grandfather
and the contributions that his subsequent descendants have made to
society. I
would like to purchase additional cd's to give out as gifts. I
will write
up a review of the cd within the week. Please let me know when you are
playing
in the Vancouver area, and I will blog the events.

Cheers, Todd Wong

Her father replied:

Hello Todd,
 
Thank you very much for your very nice
message.  We really appreciate your kind words!  I wish I had the
chance to meet you at the recent BC Highland Games and Scottish
Festival, as my
daughter, Jocelyn, and wife, Siew, were delighted to talk with you.  You
have accomplished great achievements with your music performances, work
with
CBC, and special events production!  Bravo for such fascinating and
remarkable work!  We are keen to know more and participate!
 
Thank you for enjoying our music at the
BC Highland
Games & Scottish Festival, as well as on our recent debut CD.  At
the
Games, we performed a short set and came ready for much more, in case
time
allowed.  We were excited to perform with our newly-joined pipes player
(small/bellow pipes), and we had our guitar player as well (but no cello
player
for this show).  The CD shows the diversity and versatility of Jocelyn's
music.  Her original compositions are complex and beautifully layered in
sound texture, her arrangements of contemporary and traditional tunes
are fresh
and delightful, and her choice of tunes and melodies is interesting and
engaging.  Of course, I am a very proud dad, but far beyond my word, she
is
widely receiving praise for her ideas, innovation, and skills
(especially for
her young age).
 
Thank you for the ideas you have
mentioned –
preceding our (sold-out) North Vancouver CD Release Concert (Shaw
Theatre),
Sheryl McKay was kind enough to play Jocelyn's “Morning Glory” on her
show.  It was very much appreciated – Jocelyn is committed to making
music
her career, and along the way we learn of the many career-path
challenges (such as gaining recognition and opportunities, with
predominantly instrumental world/folk music).  Definitely, thank you for
your ideas!
 
Thank you for writing up a review of
our
CD!  That is really excellent!  We are very appreciative of the word
getting out there, of Jocelyn's music and her music gift of exceptional
talent.
 
Thank you also for wanting to purchase
more
CDs.  This can be done at
 http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/JocelynPettit

 

We hope to see you soon!
 
Cheers,
http://www.jocelynpettit.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jocelynmusicalive
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/JocelynPettit

Nancy Lee at Joy Kogawa House, final event of the writing for Social Change reading series and Kogawa House writer-in-residence program

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Nancy Lee reading and interview at Joy Kogawa House on Monday, June 28

7:30pm
1450 West 64th Ave.
attendance by reservation
Please RSVP at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca

Nancy Lee, author of Dead Girls, is the 2nd Writer-in-residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House.  She has hosted and interviewed 4 other authors during her 3 month stay, which were also recorded for CBC Radio.

The time with Nancy and her husband John has been a great experience, as she has brought her insightful thought, probing questions, and wonderful wit to Joy Kogawa House.  Additionally, she hosted a memoir writing workshop on Saturday June 26th.

Please join us for the in the intimate living room at Historic Joy Kogawa
House for the final event of a successful series of small salon gatherings with five writers who use
literature to call for social change and justice and as a tool for
social transformation.

Five Mondays (and a Sunday) This Spring

  1. Joan Macleod, Monday, April 19
  2. Anosh Irani, Sunday, May 2
  3. Steven Galloway, Monday, May 17
  4. Karen Connelly, Monday, June 14
  5. Nancy Lee, Monday, June 28
  • All conversations begin at 7:30 p.m. on a Monday, except the one
    with Anosh Irani, which begins at 3:30 p.m. on a Sunday.
  • Historic Joy Kogawa House is located in the Marpole
    neighbourhood of Vancouver at 1450 West 64th Avenue (two blocks east of
    Granville)
  • Admission by donation
  • Books will be available for sale and signing by the authors
  • Please RSVP at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca

    • Thanks to the Canada Council Author Reading and Author Residencies
    programs for funds to host these writers at Joy House