Category Archives: Multicultural events

Christmas 2006

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Christmas 2006

This has been one of my busiest Christmases ever.  And it has also been one of the best Christmases.

Here are some of my highlights:

December 15th, Friday: 
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team social – movie and eats at the Bacchus Lounge


December 16th, Saturday:
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team activity – skiing on Grouse Mountain, snow boarding and sleigh ride:  check our article
Gung Haggis Fat Choy paddlers enjoy the winter

December 17th, Sunday:
I play my accordion during social hour for my Church group, Centre for Spiritual Living.
Christmas carols and Christmas songs – with my friend Bob on his accoustic guitar.  This is our gift of song for others to enjoy.

December 19th Tuesday:
Holly Cole concert with Vancouver Symphony Orchesta.  I treat my girlfriend, and we are joined by two good friends who had never attended a Holly Cole concert before – they love it!

December 21st, Thursday:
Kogawa House committee Christmas Party
What could be better than hanging with incredible people that you admire and like – and who admire and like you back!
Joy Kogawa returns to Vancouver.  Committee organizers Ann-Marie Metten and David Kogawa rent Baldwin House on Deer Lake for the dinner party.  Bill Turner, executive director of The Land Conservancy of BC attends. Me and my accordion lead Christmas singalongs.

December 22nd, Friday:
Winter Solstice at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens.
The gardens and park are transformed into a wonderland of light and magic.  Very cool.  members of GHFC dragon boat team come out to join Deb and me for a traditional walkabout celebrating Chinese Dong Zhi (winter solstice). check our article
Gung Haggis Fat Choy paddlers enjoy the winter

December 24th, Sunday:
Jean Downey of the Kyoto Journal wants to write a piece about me and Gung Haggis Fat Choy for her column  Ten Thousand Things: Multicultural Webfinds.  She says that she really likes my humanitarian perspective on interculturalism and multiculturalism.

December 24th, Sunday:
Meet friends for drinks and appetizers at The Sandbar Restaurant on Granville Island.  Judy Maxwell returns to Vancouver from Australia where she is working on her PhD on Chinese migration.  She has done research on the Chinese Canadian veterans.

December 24th, Sunday:
Attend Christmas Eve service for Centre for Spiritual Living.
Play more Christmas songs and carols on my accordion with Bob and his guitar.  I sing so much, I loose my voice the next day.

December 25th, Monday:
Open presents with my family.  I have a new two month old niece.  My 3 1/2 year old nephew is excited with every gift – whether receiving or giving.

My girlfriend gives me a wonderful red vest, made with a Chinese gold dragon pattern.  Perfect for Gung Haggis Fat Choy events!  pictures to come soon!

December 26th, Tuesday:
Drive to Vernon with girlfriend and friend to visit her parents.  It starts snowing as we arrive at Kalamalka Lake by 4:30pm.  Wonderful to see everybody.  I get to carve the ham.  We watch Polar Express dvd.  It snows all evening – light powdery stuff.


December 27th, Wednesday:
We wake up to 4 inches of snow,  a real winter wonderland.  We open stockings and presents.  It's Christmas morning all over again!  Christmas dinner with turkey.  Zsuzsanna Luckas and I play Christmas songs for dinner guests, on piano and accordion.

And throughout this Christmas season, whether rich or poor, yellow or white, red or black, happy or sad….  there is intercultural grace whether we see it or not.  It lives and breathes within our lives, sometimes so subtley that we do not recognize it.  Sometimes it is blatantly proud, and thunders it's arrival.

But here I am on the outskirts of Vernon.  I haven't seen another Asian person since I waved goodbye to my father yesterday morning.  Yet, tonight with friends of my girlfriend's parents I could talk to them about our differing views about Chinese head tax redress, First Nations land claims, Gung Haggis Fat Choy, history revisionism…. and still lead them in games of poker and Christmas carol singing.  Life is only as wonderful as you choose to make it.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy paddlers enjoy the winter

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Gung Haggis Fat Choy paddlers enjoy the winter


Gung Haggis paddlers trade paddles for snowshoes, skis and snow boards – photo Todd Wong

We
have a great bunch of people on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.  Many people have really
built some good friendships.  Everything we continue to do, somehow seems
to revolve around or include eating.

In December we met 3 times.  On
Friday, December 15th, some of us met to see the new James Bond
movie.  Afterwards we then met up with more team members at the Bacchus Lounge
at the Wedgewood Hotel.  This is a fabulous piano bar, and we were
almost right next to the piano, which featured a very enjoyable pianist
who sounded like Harry Connick Jr.  When we first walked in, he
was singing “Fly Me to the Moon” – one of the special songs that I
share with my girlfriend. Perfect timing!

We had 12 people (enough to paddle a dragon boat)
crowded around a table in the dining room – right next to a couple
having a romantic dinner.  Not to worry – the couple was very
nice, and offered up their table to us.  And it turned out that
the fellow was a film maker who had been researching dragon
boats.  I quickly told him that our team had been featured on CBC
Newsworld last year, French public broadcasting program Thalassa the
year before, and CBC French Telvision this year!

The Bacchus
Lounge was a great place to celebrate some of our team members'
birthdays. Christine and Daming in December, and Wendy's upcoming
birthday on January 1st.  We ordered 2 appetizer platters and 2
pizzas.  All were very good! Yum Yum!


Wendy and Jen ham it up while Jonas helps Dan with his snowboard – photo Todd Wong

The next day, some of us tried out snowboarding for the first time on Grouse Mountain. 
Jonas had offered to teach beginners.  I was the only skier, but
was also able to help the neophyte boarders too.  During an eating
break, I tried out Jen's board and boots.  I fell lots, and it
took me 3 tries before I could get to the top of the Paradise beginner
hill rope tow.  It had been 12 1/2 years since my only other snow
board try.  Now I remember why I have stuck to skies.  It's
easier, and I can still do my old free-style tricks.

Some of our
team members went snow shoeing instead.  We decided this would be
a great way for people not interested in skiing or boarding to join us
for a winter activity day.  Saturday, January 6th is our planned
snow shoeing day.  While on Grouse we also went for a sleigh ride
– pulled by a snow tractor.  It's a fun way to see some of the
sights on Grouse Mountain, especially for tourists.


On the winter sleigh ride with Jen, Tzhe, Todd, Wendy and Jonas – photo – Todd

Winter Solstice, December 22nd


The
gazebo features panels telling the story of the Moon Goddess and her
Jade Rabbit, created by Jamie, the new Marketing coordinator for the
Gardens – photo Stephen Mirowski

We met at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden to take part in the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival  which is part of the city wide festivities organized by the Secret Lantern Society. 
It is very magical to see both the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park and Gardens lit
up by lanterns.  There is also live music played in the Park
gazebo, and the new Hall of One Hundred Rivers.


Leaves that fell
off the tree in Autumn were saved, made into lanterns, then placed back
on the original tree theat they first fell off of.  – photo
Stephen Mirowski.

A highlight for me was meeting the new marketing coordinator for
the Gardens, Jaime, who lived 10 years in Beijing and speaks fluent
Mandarin.  He even has Scottish heritage, and his wife is
Chinese.  Imagine that!  We had a great chat about Gung
Haggis Fat Choy, and look forward to finding a special role for him!



A paper lantern
crane is lit up, next to blue LED lights in the courtyard of the Hall
of One Hundred Rivers – photo Stephen Mirowski.

After
taking pictures, sipping tea, walking amongst the lanterns, we then
spent lots of time (and money) checking out the wonderful items in the
gift shop managed by my friend Alexis.  Alexis first came to the
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner back in 2002 and LOVED it!  It was
9:40pm and we headed up Pender St. in Chinatown, making our way to
Hon's Won Ton House.  More food!  Duck, Shanghai noodles,
Fried Rice, vegetables and pot stickers… yum, yum, yum.  It's
true, our dragon boat team identity and culture is rooted in
food.  I don't know of another dragon boat team with a food word
in it's name.

Dec 22, Winter Solstice House Concerts near the Drive: featuring Orchid Ensemble + more!

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Dec 22, Winter Solstice House Concerts
near the Drive: featuring Orchid Ensemble + more!

Myriam Steinberg is the artistic director of the In the
House Festival. She sends me the following notice.  The
House concerts idea is great.  Many of the events are
intercultural, and I am delighted that they feature my storytelling
friends Pauline Wenn and Mary Gavan, as well as the Orchid Ensemble.

On Friday, Dec. 22nd, In the House is co-producing a
series of house concerts with the Secret Lantern Society in honor of solstice.
There is a Celtic folk music concert included in the line up of house concerts.
I was wondering if you would be able to send this event announcement to your
distribution list and/or
post in on your webiste. Below is the complete description of what is
happening. Thank you!

Winter
solstice is on Friday! There are still some seats left for the solstice house
concerts that are being put on by the In the House Festival and the Secret
Lantern Society. The concerts will happen in conjunction with the 13th Annual
Winter Solstice Lantern Festival which celebrates the coming of longer days.

Homes
in the East Side (all around
Commercial Dr. )
will open their doors as hosts to this wonderful event. Lanterns will be sold
at each house – after the concert participants form their own small
processions, creating a gentle constellation of lanterns throughout the
neighbourhood as they make their way to the free festivities at Britannia
Community Centre.

Feel
free to spread the word to all your friends, family and co-workers! This is a
wonderful community event.

Date:
Friday, December 22nd, 2006

Time:
Shows are at 6:00 pm and again at 7:15 pm. Illuminate the neighborhood with
your lantern and attend two concerts in two different houses. After the concert
join fellow participants in your own mini lantern procession down to the
Britannia Community Centre for free solstice activities.

Tickets:
You can see a single show or get a double pass. When purchasing tickets, please
ensure that you indicate whether you would like the 6 pm show, the 7:15 pm
show, or the pass.

Tickets
for single show: $10 / adult,  $8 /
kids 
Tickets
for two shows: $15 / adult,    $13 / kids

You
can reserve your seat by calling 604-874-9325 or emailing
info@inthehousefestival.com. Please indicate which show you want to see, at
what time, and how many tickets you need.

 

Tickets
are also available at:

On-line
at www.inthehousefestival.com
Highlife
Records
At
the door (may be limited space available)

Performers & Venues:

Orchid
Ensemble
1957 Venables 
The Orchid Ensemble blends ancient musical instruments and traditions
from China
and beyond, creating a beautiful new sound that is both creative and distinct.
The ensemble has embraced a variety of musical styles to its repertoire,
ranging from the traditional and contemporary music of
China , World Music, New Music to
Jazz and Creative Improvisation.

The
energetic yet endearing performance style of the ensemble consistently
intrigues and delights its audiences, consistently receiving standing ovations.
Acclaimed as 'One of the brightest blossoms on the world music scene' (Georgia
Straight), the Orchid Ensemble has been tirelessly developing an innovative
musical genre based on the cultural exchange between Western and Asian
musicians. 

Mariachi
Romantico
1190 Semlin Dr.
El Mariachi Romántico was founded to maintain and promote the
beauty of Mexico
through traditional and uplifting music. El Mariachi Romántico International is
a multicultural band which delivers the passion, love and respect we feel for
Mexico .

Nihavend
1929 Napier St.

 This trio composed of François Houle on clarinet, Gordon Grdina on oud,
Neelanjit Dhillon on tabla, will be playing music based on Persian, Turkish,
and middle-east themes.

Oak
Bones
2063 Grant St.
Diana Halter on harp, bodhran, and vocals and Steve Quattrocchi on
mandolin. This duo performs traditional and contemporary Celtic music.

The
Adama Trio
1510 Salsbury Dr.
The music of The Adama Trio
explores the boundaries of classical, contemporary jazz and world music.
Adama creates exciting and original material, rich with Middle-Eastern and
Flamenco sounds, unusual melodies and complex rhythms.

Mary
Gavan & Pauline Wenn
1676 Grant
St

Mary Gavan's
grandparents in both Scotland and Ireland taught her the old legends
and the long ballads as they regarded storytelling as
a way of life rather than a festival event. She also learnt much from
my parents
who were skilled raconteurs. At first, she told the old stories,
especially those
of working with animals. On coming to Canada , she began to expand on
the
stories to explain Celtic ways and to include my own experiences. Now,
she writes her own stories combining the wisdom of the past legends
with the understanding
of my present experiences.

Pauline
Wenn grew up in a typical Scottish working-class home, with typical
Scottish storytelling, Pauline was never bored. Having left that home at the
age of 18, she made a  new life in
Canada .
She brings to her stories rich experiences and memories from both sides of the
Atlantic .

For
more information, please go to www.inthehousefestival.com
For full Winter Solstice Lantern Festival information: www.secretlantern.org

Phone:
604-874-9325
Email:
info@inthehousefestival.com

 
Myriam Steinberg
Artistic Director

www.inthehousefestival.com
info@inthehousefestival.com

Happy St. Andrew's Day Vancouver 2006

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Happy St. Andrew's Day Vancouver 2006

St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. 

The British Consulate of Vancouver held a reception to mark the occasion of the visit to Vancouver of
the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, The Rt Hon George Reid MSP
and to celebrate St Andrews Day.
I was fortunate to recieve an invitation to this event. held at the Vancouver Club.

Which kilt should I wear?  The invitation said “business
casual.”  I asked my Scottish friends, and they agreed that the
Maple Leaf Tartan would be appropriate.  But alas… one of our
dragon boat paddlers still has it after a Kilt Night at Doolin's Irish
Pub… so I wore the Ancient Fraser of Lovat tartan.  It is the
first kilt that I ever wore – pure wool – and perfect for a wintry
Vancouver night.  Definitely helped to keep my bum warm on Tuesday
night when I went to the Vancouver Opera performance of Macbeth… but
my knees sure were c-c-c-cold.

I walked up the steps to the third floor of the Vancouver Club.  I
could hear bagpipes playing.  One of the Burns Club of Vancouver
members Strachan recognized me, and introduced me to Donald and Wilma
Paton.  Both had heard about me and Gung Haggis Fat Choy.  It
just happens that Wilma is a wonderful singer of Scottish song… I
offered to feature her for next year's (2008)  Gung Haggis Fat
Choy World Poetry Night at Vancouver Public Library, as the January
2007 program is pretty well set.

It's great to meet so many people who work hard to keep Scottish
culture alive in the Americas.  I met Michael Corish of Scottish
Development Internationa, based in Toronto.  It
was great to see my friends from the Burns Club of Vancouver: Robert
Barr, Tony Breen, Harry McGrath and Strachan.  Tony was there with
his wife Lori (who is Chinese-Canadian). 


I met James Baron, of Friends of Scotland, while based in Saratoga CA, told me about the Dressed to Kilt
event that they host in New York.  James was very interested in
the concept of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, and was very excited to tell me
about Sean Connery's participation in Dressed to Kilt.

Harry McGrath gave a good introduction about Scottish history in
Vancouver and BC.  I first met Harry at a Burns Club of Vancouver
meeting.  While he researched his doctrate on Scottish history of
BC, he also worked as coordinator of Scottish Studies program at Simon
Fraser University.

The Hon. George Reid gave a very good address about the role that
Scotland plays.  He talked about how important Scotland's
inventors and explorers have been, but also how important contemporary
Scotland is for Health Research and academic scholorship – as well as
it's oil rich reserves.  The Scottish diaspora is important in the
continuation of Scottish culture on a global scale, and Canada,
particularly BC, does very well, with it's annual BC Highland Games and
many other activities.

When I was able to introduce myself to Mr. Reid, and said that I
organized Gung Haggis Fat Choy, his eyes lit up as he said, “I've heard
of you! You are getting well known in Scotland.”

It turns out that Harry McGrath has been telling everybody back home in
Scotland about Gung Haggis Fat Choy – even if they didn't hear me on
BBC Radio Scotland last year, when I was interviewed for St. Andrew's
Day.

But if Scotland can embrace haggis wontons, and a character known as
Toddish McWong, while at the same time celebrate their status as a
“nation” within a United Kingdon – then there should easily be hope for
both Quebec and to be recognized as a “nation within a United Canada,”
as recognized in the Conservative government's recently passed
motion.  Hmmm…. but could BC also be recognized as a “nation
within a United Canada?”  Afterall… the two solitudes of BC, are
not so much English and French, but more likely Scottish and
Chinese…. and First Nations!

Asian Santa Claus in Richmond BC – Why did it take so long?

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Asian Santa Claus in Richmond BC – Why did it take so long?

Asian Santa takes the reins

Here's a story about the first Asian Santa Claus at Richmond Centre Mall. George King, age 73, was born in Shanghai, then lived in Taiwan where he saw his first Santa Claus hawking merchandise in department stores.  Apparently there is not long tradition of Santa as a benevolent figure bearing gifts in China.Mr. King isn't really up on all the names of the reindeer, and apparently wasn't aware of Rudoph. 

While Santa diversity may be a good idea, cultural insensitivity or ignorance cannot be ignored.  I think that in Greater Vancouver's history of Chinese born in BC since Won Alexander Cumyow in 1861 – Richmond Centre should be able to find a Canadian of Chinese descent who truly understands the important role that Santa Claus plays in the development of Canadian children.

I saw my first Asian Santa Claus in 1980 at a Honolulu shopping mall.  I even have a picture with our family and Santa “Uncle Tony” Claus at a Christmas Eve Luau party in Kaneohe – just North of Honolulu.  27 years later and Richmond Centre gets big press over there first Chinese Santa Claus and he doesn't know who Rudolph is?   Do we dare ask him about “Olive” the other reindeer?  or would that be too cruel?

Asian Santa takes the reins

Eastside Culture Crawl this weekend! Friday Nov 24 – Sunday Nov 26

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Eastside Culture Crawl this weekend!  Friday Nov 24 – Sunday Nov 26

Eastside Culture Crawl
Friday, November 24        5-10pm
Saturday, November 25    11-6pm
Sunday, November 26      11-6pm

Arleigh Wood
is one of the artists participating in the Eastside Culture
Crawl.  She combines mixed media, and also draws on her combined
Japanese and Caucasian heritage.

Janice Wong is another artist (and my cousin) working in the same building at 1000 Parker Street.  You can bet I will be visiting them both this coming weekend during the Eastside Culture Crawl.

There are 47 buildings to visit. 

Gailan Ngan Ceramics Studio is in the Strathcona neighborhood at 898 East Georgia Street at Campbell.  I have a piece of Gailan Ngan's pottery, a vase beside my bed.  I am a big fan of her father Wayne Ngan – definitely one of Canada's greatest pottery artists.

If you visit only one building… make sure it is 1000 Parker
at the corner of Parker and   This building is huge with 4
stories, just walking along each floor and down each alcove is an
adventure in itself. 

Read my article from last year:
Eastside Culture Crawl – I am no longer a Culture Crawl virgin

Arleigh sent me the below pictures and message to remind me to attend!

Her studio is #326-1000 Parker St. Vancouver

image

If you miss this why not check out the Shiny Fuzzy Muddy
Show?

Friday, December 15th       5-10pm
Saturday, December 16th   12-5pm
Sunday, December 17th     12-5pm

Video In Studios
1965 Main Street
(between 3rd & 4th ave)

Visit our website to preview artists
www.shinyfuzzymuddy.com

Interested in taking mixed media workshops in
the New Year? 
Email or visit my website for more details (click
‘news’).
www.arleighwooddesigns.com

Take care,

Arleigh

image

Beats Without Borders 2 Year Anniversary

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Beats Without Borders 2 Year Anniversary

Tarun Nayar is doing some very cool intercultural events
around Vancouver.  He's keeping his ears about town – I bumped
into him last week at the
Alliance Francaise de Vancouver sponsored Pandit Vithal Rao and his
student Kiran Ahluwalia.

Beats Without Borders is now a “happening” group with violinist Kytami, dj's, bhangra dancers + musical guests.

Here's Tarun's message:

Hi all,


There's some great stuff happening over the next few days. See you on the dance floor!


Tarun




———————————————————————————————–
Beats Without Borders 2 Year Anniversary


Thursday Nov 23, doors 9pm
The Red Room (398 Richards)
10$ @ the door


Join
the BWB crew in celebrating 2 years of global fusion madness! With
guest DJ and producer Jacob Cino, electric violinist Kytami, local
hip-hop/bhangra crew BPM, the United Bhangra dance crew, and BWB
resident DJs. Another rocking party at the Red Room :o)


———————————————————————————————–
Tarun & Ivan Tucakov


Friday  Nov 24, 7pm
Radha Yoga (730 Main Street)
By Donation


I'll
be joining my longtime music partner, gypsy guitarist Ivan Tucakov, for
an evening of Indian. flamenco, and middle-eastern sounds at one of the
most beautiful spaces in town. Come by, eat some great food and relax!


———————————————————————————————–
STOP THE HIGHWAY Dance Party

Friday Nov. 24, 8:30pm
The Anza Club (8th & Ontario)
5-10$
http://www.GATEWAYSUCKS.org



A
fun-raiser to bring awareness about the scary throughway project
planned for the Commercial Drive area. Tons of good stuff happening,
including lots of live music, vegetarian goodies, and Tspoon the masala
mixa, BPM and the sugar dhollies doing their respective things. Miss
Bliss rounds out the night with global soundz…

———————————————————————————————–
Ongoing:
Eastern Music Nights at Chai Restaurant

3243 West Broadway (above East is East)
www.chaiateastiseast.com

Wed: fundraisers for the Afghan Children of War foundation, red hot nights with many acts from all over the city.
Thurs: fiery flamenco nights, with some of the best Flamenco musicians and dancers in the citySun:
Sufi and Indian classical nights with James Hamilton (sitar) Majid
Qayam (rabab) and some fine Persian and Indian percussionists.