Category Archives: Multicultural events

New quarterly e-magazine called Scotland Now

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This message from Ron Macleod
Chair of SFU Scottish Studies

Greetings, for those who desire to maintain a link with Scotland. The following courtesy of Ron Sutherland.
 
There is a new quarterly e-magazine called Scotland Now created for Scotland’s
friends, alumni and diaspora around the world. It can be accessed at
 www.scotland-now.com
 
The e-magazine is in its 3rd edition. It features “arts & culture; history and heritage, sports & leisure, your news and contact us”.
 
It appears to be an interactive link where participants can also contribute stories.
 
A quick perusal of the website suggests a worthwhile link. Regards, the other Ron

What Is A Canadian?: 43 Thought-Provoking Responses – Check out this new book!

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Following a year that saw CBC TV's “The Greatest Canadian” and CBC
Radio's “BC Almanac's Greatest British Columbians” – there is a book
titled:

What Is A Canadian? : Forty-Three Thought-Provoking Responses (Hardcover)

by Studin (Author)
What Is A Canadian? : Forty-Three Thought-Provoking Responses

Book Description
Each of these essays begins with the words
“A Canadian is . . .”. Each one is very different, producing a
fascinating book for all thinking Canadians.

Irvin
Studin is an idealistic young Canadian who wanted to do something
extraordinary for his country. So he decided to approach leading
Canadians — he calls them “sages” — to tell us what they believe
defines us. The people who responded eagerly, to produce an essay of
1,500 to 2,000 words, are, in his words, “all distinguished Canadian
thinkers and achievers from all walks of life — politics, the civil
service, academia, literature, journalism, business, the arts — from
both official language groups, and from all regions of the country, as
well as from the Canadian diaspora.”

The strength of this book
lies in the contributors, listed in the sidebar. The variety ranges
from the funny — “A Canadian is . . . someone who crosses the road to
get to the middle” (Allan Fotheringham) through the hostile — “. . .
the citizen of a country badly in need of growing up” (William Watson)
through the surprising — “. . . adaptable. To illustrate, consider the
depth and breadth of the Canadian woman’s wardrobe” (Jennifer Welsh) or
celebratory — “. . . a wonderful thing to be” (Bob Rae).

A Canadian is . . . certain to find this book fascinating.

Contributors:
Allan
Fotheringham, Thomas Homer-Dixon, Roch Carrier, Jake MacDonald, George
Elliott Clarke, Margaret MacMillan, Thomas Franck, Rosemarie Kuptana,
Gérald A. Beaudoin, Peter W. Hogg, George Bowering, Christian Dufour,
Paul Heinbecker, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, John C. Crosbie, Audrey
McLaughlin, Roy MacGregor, Charlotte Gray, Hugh Segal, Janet
McNaughton, Sujit Choudhry, Aritha van Herk, L. Yves Fortier, Catherine
Ford, Mark Kingwell, Silver Donald Cameron, Guy Laforest, Maria
Tippett, E. Kent Stetson, Louis Balthazar, Joy Kogawa, Wade
MacLaughlan, Douglas Glover, Lorna Marsden, Saeed Rahnema, Denis
Stairs, Valerie Haig-Brown, Guy Saint-Pierre, William Watson, Doreen
Barrie, Jennifer Welsh, Bob Rae


Hmmm… definitely a great list of thinkers.  Whom have I met?  Joy Kogawa is now a friend.  I have met writers George Elliott Clarke and George Bowering a few times.  I saw Roch Carrier just on Sunday at the Word on the Street Festival, I can add Audrey McLaughlin to my list…  I would love to meet Charlotte Grey!

Of CBC's top ten Greatest Canadians – David Suzuki lives in Vancouver
Of BC Almanac's top ten Greatest BC'ers – David Suzuki and Nancy Greene are still alive
Of
“What Is A Canadian” contributers – several live near Vancouver: George
Bowering “Canada's first poet-laureate”, Joy Kogawa, Valerie
Haig-Brown is the daughter of eco-pioneer Roderick Haig-Brown and lives on Vancouver Island.

Maybe I can propose an essay collection for “What is Chinese-Canadian?” or “What is Asian-Canadian?”  Would Kristin Kreuk be availalble or Jon-Kimura Parker? 

Fun Day at Word on the Street

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It was a fun day, at Word On the Street


I always check out Word on the Street Book and Magazine fair, held annually at Library Square on the third Sunday of September.

I arrived to find Ian Hannomansing of CBC TV's Canada Now, introducing the national librarian of Canada – Mr. Roch Carrier, author of the classic children's book (and NFB animated short), “The Hockey Sweater.” 

My girlfriend Deb spent some time volunteering at the Kogawa House display, organized by The Land Conservancy of BC.  It was only a year ago, that Joy Kogawa's childhood home was threatened with demolition, the same weekend that WOTS occured last year, and we presented Joy with a Community Builder Award, from the Asian Canadian Writers's Workshop at the Ricepaper magazine 10th Anniversary Dinner.  What a difference a year makes.

We couldn't stay long because we had to pop off to a dragon boat practice, but returned immediately after practice.

We arrived back at the mainstage with a few dragon boat paddlers in tow, just in time to watch the IMPROvisors on the mainstage in the south plaza of Library Square.  What a surprise to see Diana Bang performing!  I first met Diana while she was performing with her “other” sketch comedy group – Assaulted Fish (a salted fish – get it?)

I dropped by the tent for Ricepaper magazine and Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop at the Magazine Mews.  It was great to see friends Don Montgomery and the Ricepaper gang.  A big surprise to see my cousin/author Janice Wong signing copies of her book CHOW: From China to Canada – memories of food and family. So sorry I missed seeing Evelyn Lau who had been at the tent from 1-2pm.

Up the street at the Harbour Publishing tent, I got a nice hug from my friend Marisa Alps.  I first met her when I interviewed her for a 1995 article I wrote about Asian Canadian writing and the Go For Broke Revue (the precursor to explorAsian's Asian Heritage Month Festival in Vancouver).  I bought several “hurt” copies of The BC Almanac Book of Greatest British Columbians. It's a great book, and I can remember showing Joy Kogawa her listing under the chapter Top 10 Authors.

Then just a few feet away from me at the Tradewind Books tent, I spot my friend Elizabeth Sheffrin – usually known as a textile artist.  She created the wonderful Middle East Peace Quilt.  It turns out that Elizabeth is now a book illustrator for Abby's Birds, written by Ellen Schwartz. The book isn't out in stores yet – but Tradewind did have copies at the tent.

And Trevor Lai always has his booth set up, where he draws pictures of Ralphy the Rhino.  Trevor has self-published a series of children's books following Ralphy's adventures.  Trevor is an amazingly talented artist, who can whip up large sketches and tell a story as kids listen and follow intently.

Just before I left, I bumped into Ron Mah, who was carrying petition for the Chinese Head Tax Redress.  It's important that a true redress honours each head tax certificate -not just the surviving head tax payers and spouses who are still alive.

And I even saw an accordion performed today.  Poet Rowan Lipkovits did a reading at the Poetry Tent, accompanied with a small accordion.  At the end of the day, we bumped into each other and shared some accordion talk.  He e-mailed me later… with an idea to perform together for Co-Op Radio… something about an accordion program.  Sounds interesting!

Wow!  What a day!

CHOW: From China to Canada – wins Gold Award from Cuisine Canada / UC Culinary Book Awards

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Janice Chow – my wonderful artist/family historian / cook book cousin sends me this great news!

Hello Todd,

I'm happy to announce that CHOW received the gold award in the Cuisine Canada + University of Guelph's Culinary Book Awards,
Canadian Food Culture category…the category that celebrates books that “best illustrate Canada's rich culinary heritage and food culture.”

If you're in Vancouver on Sunday Sept. 24th, you can catch me at the Ricepaper magazine booth (2 – 6 pm) at Word On The Street,
Vancouver's Annual Book and Magazine Fair, on the street, Vancouver Public Library main branch.

If you're in Gibsons on Saturday Sept. 23rd, I'm reading at the first annual New Moon Festival of Asian Art and Culture.

All the best,
Janice

JEFF CHIBA STEARNS WINS BEST ANIMATED SHORT AT NATIONAL ANIMATION AWARDS SHOW

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Here's a news release about my animator friend Jeff Chiba Stearns.
Jeff is cool.  Check him out, and his short animated film 
"What Are You Anyways?"  I have featured the film at the Vancouver Public 
Library for the Joy Kogawa book launch for Emily Kato, and also at the
2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year
Dinner.



Above is a picture of two stills from "What Are You Anyways?"
For more stories about Jeff on www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com  click on:
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog?cmd=search&keywords=jeff+chiba+stearns



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 17, 2006

KELOWNA ANIMATOR WINS BEST ANIMATED SHORT AT NATIONAL ANIMATION AWARDS SHOW

Animation filmmaker and Kelowna resident, Jeff Chiba Stearns, took home the 
award for Best Animated Short Subject for his film, “What Are You Anyways?” 
at the first annual Canadian Awards for Electronic and Animated Arts 
(CAEAA).  The awards show, described as the Oscars of the Canadian video 
game and animation industry, was hosted by actor William Shatner of Star 
Trek fame on Thursday night, September 14th, at the world class River Rock 
Show Theatre in Richmond, BC.   Awards were presented in 37 categories in 
three sectors of the Electronic and Animated Arts industry: talent 
development (New Media and Animation Art Schools), animation, and video game 
development.  Each winner was presented with an Elan – a statuette similar 
to an Oscar but constructed of a majestic man and a woman resembling Greek 
gods holding up the world.

The evening was complete with red carpet, limousines, and Hollywood 
treatment.  The Gala event, with over 700 guests, was similar to the Golden 
Globe Awards with an Oscar-like glitzy reception and black-tie dinner at one 
of the best new theatres in North America with industry sponsors 
participating in the development of the show and celebrity guest presenters. 

It is expected that the Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts 
will become the standard by which Canada and the rest of the World recognizes 
the amazing talent and product that this country is delivering to 
an enormous and ever-growing market.

Chiba Stearns attended the event with faculty from the Centre for Arts and 
Technology Kelowna where he instructs classical hand drawn animation 
courses.  His classically animated short film, “What Are You Anyways?” is an 
autobiographical recollection of Chiba Stearns’ life experiences growing up 
in Kelowna being a Hapa – a world-wide term used to describe someone of 
mixed Asian decent.  In Chiba Stearns’ case, he is half-Japanese and 
half-Caucasian. The film, released in 2005, has experienced incredible 
international praise winning over 7 awards and screening at over 35 
international film festivals to date.  Chiba Stearns has since become an 
international spokesman for Hapa advocacy by writing articles and lecturing 
at conferences, universities, and workshops about mixed-race identity and 
issues.

“I am extremely honored and excited to receive an Elan for Best Animated 
Short Subject at the 2006 CAEAA Awards.  It means a great deal to be 
recognized by my peers in the Canadian animation industry for the work I am 
doing in independent classical animation.  So many people from around the 
world respond to how much they relate to my film and in turn share their own 
stories with me.  I can only hope for continued success with all my future 
projects and that my work will continue to touch the lives of people around 
the world.”  - Jeff Chiba Stearns

Currently, Chiba Stearns is in pre-development of two short animated films 
and a documentary on Hapa children.  Look for new work by Chiba Stearns to 
be released in 2007.  Check out www.myspace.com/jeffchibastearns for current 
updates.  DVD copies of “What Are You Anyways?” can be purchased in Kelowna 
at Komatsu Japanese Market and in Burnaby at the Nikkei Centre Museum gift 
shop.  Educational sales and private sales are available through the NFB at 
www.nfb.ca

CONTACT:

Jeff Chiba Stearns
website: www.meditatingbunny.com

I survived Jenny Kwan's fundraiser: Scotch tasting party

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I survived Jenny Kwan's fundraiser: Scotch tasting party.

It's a small house party of a fundraiser.  There are many
different bottles of
Scotch for you to try, along with some wonderful appetizer and snack
foods.  Jenny's husband Dan has a wonderful way with food, and he
sent me home with some incredibly delicious chocolate pate.

My accordion and I provided some musical entertainment.  Jenny
said I was a hit.  Her husband Dan booked me for a return
engagement for next year.

What did I do?  Simply lead singalongs of “When Asian Eyes Are
Smiling,”
and “My Haggis Lies Over the Ocean.”  It fit perfectly with
Jenny's Chinese heritage and her husband Dan's Scottish heritage. 
We also sang “Loch Lomand (You Take the High Road)” with Vancouver city
councillor Heather Deal leading one of the verses, while everybody
joined in for the chorus.

I also performed the Address to the Haggis, while former Vancouver city
councillor Jim Green cut up the
haggis.  Okay… it wasn't a traditional reading.  It was my
very untraditional Haggis Rap.  Dan and Jenny said that in the 5
years they have been hosting their Scotch tasting party, it was the
best reading of the Burns immortal poem, they had witnessed.

It was a great party…. I will definitely return for
next year.

Georgia Straight: Beats for Justice – Head Tax Hip Hop Dance for Redress

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Georgia Straight: Beats for Justice
– Head Tax Hip Hop Dance for Redress

The following was written up in the Georgia Straight highlighting the
upcoming fundraiser for Chinese head tax redress that will feature the No Luck Club.   My
friend videographer Sid Tan is no laying video images to the music
track “Our Story – Chinese Head Tax Mash-Up.”  Sid is interviewed
in the article

Georgia Straight, 31-Aug-2006
http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=20037

Arts Notes:  Beats for Justice
By John Lucas

Hip-hop and politics have always walked hand in hand, so it's no
surprise to hear that turntables and break dancing will play a part in
an upcoming event calling for redress on the issue of the head tax
that the Canadian government imposed on Chinese immigrants. The tax
was levied in 1885 and was not fully repealed until 1967. (Correction:
should read 1947)

The current federal government acknowledges that the tax was
discriminatory and has offered a $20,000 payment to each of the 20 or
so surviving head-tax payers and the approximately 250 surviving
spouses of the deceased payers. Chinese-Canadian activist groups have
argued that this measure doesn't go far enough, and they have demanded
compensation for the children of head-tax payers. Among these groups
is the Vancouver-based B.C. Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and
Descendants, which has organized a petition-signing and letter-writing
event for next Sunday (September 10). That event will feature music
from instrumental hip-hop group No Luck Club and dancing by Funk in
Da' Attic.

“Our attempt here is to move young people to get involved in this
issue of justice and honour,” said organizer Sid Chow Tan, who told
the Straight that a No Luck Club number helped inspire him to try to
get youth involved.

“No Luck Club did this tune called 'Our Story—Chinese Head Tax
Mash-Up'. And I was quite taken with it,” Tan said. “To me, it sounds
more like a five-minute radio piece. In fact, I spent all last night
laying videos in on it. I work in video, so I was getting these 20
years of video that I've done in the movement, taking video from 20
years ago and mixing it up with rallies and stuff that we've done
today. Basically, what we're attempting to do is just grow our
movement to a younger generation.

“I mean, quite frankly the Stephen Harper government has said that's it
for us, and we've said, 'Well, that's fine. Our movement is strong
enough that we'll outlive your government. We've outlived Trudeau's
government, we've outlived Mulroney's government, Chrétien's
government, so we'll outlive your government too.”

Head Tax Hip Hop for Redress in Saltwater City takes place September
10 at 10 a.m. at the Carnegie Community Centre (401 Main Street).

—

Taiwanese Cultural Festival and Dragon boat races: Look for Gung Haggis dragon boat team

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Taiwanese Cultural Festival and Dragon boat races:
Look for Gung Haggis dragon boat team


It is the 4th annual Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat Race, held in conjunction with the award winning Taiwanese Cultural Festival.  Come watch the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team race on Saturday and Sunday at Plaza of Nations.

Taiwanese Dragon boats are different from the Six-Sixteen boats
normally raced in the Vancouver area, or the Millenium Boats raced in
Victoria and Kelowna.  18 paddlers on a boat made of Alaskan
Cedar, with a big dragon boat head – the better to climb on top
of.  Why?  to grab the flag!  The race is won by
grabbing a flag sticking out of the water, and being the first to cross
the finish line.  If you miss the flag… stop, go back, grab the
flag, then paddle forward.


Here's a picture of last year's Gung
Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team with our drummer Naoko pointing to the
flag   photo Ray Shum

The Taiwanese Cultural Festival is pretty interesting.  It reminds
me of what the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival used to be many years ago,
when it was still focussed on bringing Chinese cultural performances
and food to mainstream Vancouver audiences.  The focus of the
festival is to celebrated Taiwanese culture for ex-Taiwanese families,
and to share it with Vancouver residents.  Taiwan really does have
it's own separate history and culture separate from Mainland
China.  I spent weeks in Taiwan back in 1980 on a student culture
and language tour.  With about 200 other 20-something students
from across the USA, Hawaii and with a contingent of 30 Canadians, we
stayed in Taipei, and travelled across the beautiful island in our
final week.

The Taiwanese dragon boats first came to Vancouver as a gift from the
Taiwanese government and people in 2003.  I was part of the
inaugural race committee and a board member of the CCC Dragon Boat
Association, that worked together with the Taiwanese Cultural Festival
to bring “flag grabbing” dragon boats to Canada.  The boats
arrived by container only 10 days before the first race.  The
first boat was in the water on Thursday night, and on Friday morning we
had a demonstration race for media.  The first flag grabbers were
Vancouver City Councillor Raymond Louie, and Olympic medalist Lori
Fung.  I taught them both how to climb onto the dragon head and
Lori asked me if they were our guinea pigs.  I corrected her and
said “No… you are pioneers for dragon boating!” Lori caught the first
flag, as her boat crew paddled by False Creek Grand Dragons, narrowly
beat the Eh Team.

On Tuesday night, the 2006 version of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon
boat team went out paddling in a Taiwanese dragon boat for the first
time.  For many people, it was their first time ever in a
Taiwanese d-boat.  About 1/3 of our paddlers had been in the boat
before.  We took turns giving people a chance to try climbing onto
the head a being a flag grabber.  No flags were set out to
practice with… so we pretended.

A Taiwanese dragon boat sits higher off the water than most other
dragon boats, and there is very little gunnel above the seat.  You
literally are sitting on the side of the boat, and could slide off your
seat if you are not careful.  It's a whole different paddling
style, and our paddlers have to adapt.


Last year we missed grabbing the flag.  We had to stop, paddle backward, then draw left to grab the flag. – photo Ray Shum

We did our race pieces, and called a power series.  The flag
grabber would rise from their crouched position behind the dragon head
and nimbly pull themselves up onto the dragon head, raising one leg
above the horns, and tucking in their feet, then the other…. or
not!   One by one, Julie, Ashleigh, Ann-Marie and Jonas each
climbed onto the dragon head, as we paddled the boat at top
speed.  They reached out to grab an imaginary flag, then hold it
out straight as we crossed the imaginary finish line, and each paddler
waved the imaginary flag to the imaginary crowd, as all our paddlers in
the boat cheered.

Our crew is amazing… we might not be the fastest on the water, but we
have an incredible attitude to share our experiences with each other
and be good friends.  After Ann-Marie came down off the dragon
head, she declared that it was an amazing experience, and that
everybody should take the opportunity.

Check out articles and pictures from last year's Taiwanese dragon boat race



Taiwanese Dragon Boat races… Gung Haggis wins BRONZE medal!
Congratulations everybody!!!
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team won our first medal this year –
Bronze in Division D. Lots of fun & PICTURES   more »

Come cheer the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team
at the Taiwanese Cultural Festival and Dragon Boat Races!
When to meet – what to do…
   more »

CBC “On this Day”: Martin Luther King's “I have a Dream” speech

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CBC “On this Day”:  Martin Luther King's “I have a Dream” speech

Yesterday, the CBC website marked “On This Day” with Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.  This is such an incredible speech.  It still sends shivers down my spine.  Especially with my experiences over this past year, becoming surrounded by the Chinese Head Tax redress movement as well as the campaign to save Joy Kogawa's childhood home, and bringing up all the issues of the Japanese Canadian internment.

This morning I have been reading the first chapter of David Suzuki: the autobiography, titled “My Happy Childhood in Racist British Columbia.”  It has been very moving, as he describes the experiences that shaped his perceptions of the world, both against Canadian white society, and the Japanese community – to which he felt an “outsider.”

Martin Luther King was assinated on April 4, 1968.  Suzuki writes about his experience:

Students at UBC organized a rally on the steps of the library to express our sorrow.  I was an associate professor and spoke out, telling British Columbians that this was a time for us not to smugly reaffirm our sense of superiority over Americans but to reexamine our own society.  I reminded them of the incarceration of Japanese Canadians during World War II, the treatment of Native people, and the fact that Asians and blacks wer not allowed to vote in B.C. until the 1960's.  The Vancouver Sun wrote a scathing editorial that chastised me for opening old wounds, for raising issues that were not relevant on the occasion of a King memorial.  It was then that I realiszed how important tenure was as I was subtly informed that university administrators were nervous about faculty members who might attract negative publicity.
                    – page 52-53  David Suzuki the Autobiography

Suzuki writes an autobiography that is both gripping and enlightening.  He shares how events shape his life and perceptions.  He demonstrates how action or inaction both have consequences.  And most importantly how Canada has a racist history, and it is recent, and the victims are still walking amongst us, still hurting and suffering. 

Meeting so many head tax descendants and hearing their family stories, of how separation makes you ask what kind of human beings did we have running our governments.  The same kind that kept African Americans segregated in the American south, or kept First Nations Canadians segregated on reserves.

See the special article that my friend Ian wrote for the David Suzuki event for the CBC Book Club
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2006/5/8/1942735.html

A North Vancouver weekend – what to do? Explore Lonsdale Quay!

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A North Vancouver weekend – what to do? Explore Lonsdale Quay!

It was a North Vancouver weekend that had started on Thursday night with dinner at West Vancouver's Beach House restaurant, which I first remembered as Pepe's back in the late 1970's.  Cultural entertainment was provided at The Silk Purse, with Romanza (formerly the Canadian / or Maple Leaf Tenors).

Friday was much more laid back… starting with pizza for lunch from Little Caesar's from Edgemont Village.  They had customer appreciation day with any size, and unlimited toppings for $9.99.  Edgemont Village is a nice little neighborhood shopping area.  My favorite places to visit are: Village VQA Wines, 32 Books, Vancouver Kids Books.  There is a very cosy small town feel to this little jewel of a shopping area.  There are quaint shops and eclectic shops such as horse and riding tack shop.  I often drop into Paws and Claws to pick up food or toys for my kitty cat. And then coffee at Delaney's… or that really cute restaurant around the corner, across from the Capilano branch library. 

On Saturday, we went over to Lynn Valley to pick up my new order of contact lenses at  Westlynn optical.  Owner Debbie Fisher is always very helpful, and the store was extremely helpful when I once  phoned them from San Francisco trying to get my prescription because I had accidently ripped the only lenses that I had with me, while on a dragon boat road trip.  Last year, they even gave me a sample of blue contact lenses – that was fun!  Westlynn Bakery always has a special for each day.  Their blueberry and pumpkin pies are delicious.  We bought their carrot cake.

Next down to Lonsdale where my girlfriend had to check out the Echoes store where they sell and trade china sets and place settings.  We next parked on Esplanade and walked down to Lonsdale Quay – playing “tourist in your own town”.  We visted Celtic Connections which had lots of books on Scottish tartans and weddings.  I didn't know that there was a proper dress code for kilted weddings before!  I wanted to buy the tin whistle – maybe that will be the first step for me to learn to play bagpipes.  Deb was delighted to discover there was a Cheshire Cheese Inn – with a menu full of British food dishes such strange sounding dishes such as “bangers and mash”, “toad in the hole” as well as “shepherd's pie.” This might be a place to bring the Gung Haggis Fat Choy for a traditional British /Scottish meal, since we often go to eat Chinese/Japanese/Cambodian after Tuesday night practices. It was interesting to find these two British cultural specialty stores – but nothing Persian at Lonsdale Quay, although there were plenty of Japanese and other Asian restaurants in the food court.

We looked through the stores on the 2nd level, and strolled through the market section.  I spent some time looking at cookbooks, as well as the fresh seafoods, as I contemplated what to cook for dinner.  It was a delight to discover a brand new Mark Anthony wine story that specialized in Mission Hill wines, as well as Okanagan Cider.  We had a lovely chat during a wine tasting with the manager, sampling the Mission Hill Reisling.  A special surprise was that Mission Hill had just released their premium 2003 Occulus Wine and was on sale for $49, instead of $60.  Okay, I picked up a bottle – I still have the 1999 Occulus I picked up in 2002 – still waiting for a special occasion.

Fresh herb fettucini from Duso's was perfect for the evening meal.  It is light and flavourful – definitely a treat from dried pasta.  I was sorry not to see my high school friend Susan there.. as she married Duso – and I sometimes see her there behind the counter with a big big smile for me!  Anyways… dinner was pan-fried prawns in a sweet Thai chili sauce, encrusted with black sesame seeds, served on top of a bed of herb fettucini with ginger soy marinated beef slices, accompanied by stir fried zuccini, carrots and portabello mushroom.  A mix of Asian, and Italian cooking sensations… Marvelous! More things in life should revolve around food and wine.