Category Archives: Rev Chan family Legacy Project

Kilts and family history abound during two episodes of the 6-part Generations series on CBC Newsworld

Kilts and family history abound during two episodes of the 6-part Generations series on CBC Newsworld

Find
out what a 250 year old Anglophone family in Quebec City and a 120 year
old Chinese-Canadian family in Vancouver have in common.

Both have:
bagpipes and kilts
+ accordion music
+ canoe/dragon boat racing
+ immigration as a topic
+ Church music
+ archival photos/newsreels of an ex-premier
+ cultural/racial discrimination stories
+ prominent Canadian historical events to show how
   the families embraced them or were challenged by them
+ both featured saving a historical literary landmark.
+ younger generation learning the non-English language

Generations: The Chan Legacy features Todd Wong, founder of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, a quirky Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, which inspired a CBC Vancouver television performance special.  Todd's involvements with Terry Fox Run, Joy Kogawa House campaign and dragon boat racing are also shown.

July 29th 4pm PST / July 30th 12am

4:00 p.m. Generations: The Chan Legacy
– Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.
Generations: The Chan Legacy

August 5th 4pm PST

4:00 p.m. Generations: The Blairs of Quebec
– An Anglophone family with 250 years of history in Quebec City struggles to maintain it's heritage.
Generations: The Blairs of Quebec


July 4, 10 pm ET/PT, July 8 10 am ET, July 29, 7 pm ET
The
documentary begins with Todd Wong playing the accordion, wearing a
kilt. He promotes cultural fusion, and in doing so, he honours the
legacy of his great, great, grandfather Reverend Chan Yu Tan. The Chans
go back seven generations in Canada and are one of the oldest families
on the West Coast.
Chan family
The Chan family
Reverend
Chan and his wife Wong Chiu Lin left China for Victoria in 1896 at a
time when most Chinese immigrants were simple labourers, houseboys and
laundrymen who had come to British Columbia to build the railroad or
work in the mines. The Chans were different. They were educated and
Westernized Methodist Church missionaries who came to convert the
Chinese already in Canada, and teach them English. The Chans were a
family with status and they believed in integration. However even they
could not escape the racism that existed at the time, the notorious
head tax and laws that excluded the Chinese from citizenship.
In
the documentary, Reverend Chan's granddaughter Helen Lee, grandson
Victor Wong, and great grandson Gary Lee recall being barred from
theaters, swimming pools and restaurants. The Chinese were not allowed
to become doctors or lawyers, pharmacists or teachers. Still, several
members of the Chan family served in World War II, because they felt
they were Canadian and wanted to contribute. Finally, in 1947, Chinese
born in Canada were granted citizenship and the right to vote.

Today,
Todd Wong, represents a younger generation of successful professionals
and entrepreneurs scattered across North America. He promotes his own
brand of cultural integration through an annual event in Vancouver
called Gung Haggis Fat Choy. It's a celebration that joins Chinese New
Year with Robbie Burns Day, and brings together the two cultures that
once lived completely separately in the early days of British Columbia.

We
also meet a member of the youngest generation, teenager Tracey Hinder,
who also cherishes the legacy of Reverend Chan, but in contrast to his
desire to promote English she is studying mandarin and longs to visit
the birthplace of her ancestors.

Produced by Halya Kuchmij, narrated by Michelle Cheung.

July 11, 10 pm ET/PT, July 15, 10 am ET, August 5, 7 pm ET

For
250 years, the Blair family has been part of the Protestant Anglophone
community of Quebec City. The Anglophones were once the dominant
cultural and economic force in the city, but now they are a tiny
minority, and those who have chosen to stay have had to adapt to a very
different world. Louisa Blair guides us through the story of her
family, which is also the story of a community that had to change.
Ronnie Blair
Ronnie Blair

The
senior member of the family today is Ronnie Blair. He grew up in
Quebec, but like generations of Blairs before him, he worked his way up
the corporate ladder in the Price Company with the lumber barons of the
Saguenay. Ronnie Blair's great grandfather came to the Saguenay from
Scotland in 1842. Ronnie's mother was Jean Marsh. Her roots go back to
the first English families to make Quebec home after British troops
defeated the French on the Plains of Abraham in 1759. The Marsh family
amassed a fortune in the shoe industry in Quebec City.

The
Marshes and the Blairs were part of a privileged establishment that
lived separately from the Catholics and the Francophones, with their
own churches and institutions. The Garrison Club for instance, is a
social club that is still an inner sanctum for Quebec's Anglo
businessmen.

Blair family
The Blair family

Work took Ronnie Blair and his family to England in the 1960’s but his
children longed to return to Canada, and to Quebec City. Alison Blair
was the first to return, as a student, in 1972. Her brother David
followed in 1974. Both were excited by the political and social changes
that had taken place during the Quiet Revolution in Quebec and threw
themselves into everything Francophone. David learned to speak French,
married a French Canadian and settled into a law practice.

Then
came the Referendum of 1995, a painful moment in the history of the
Anglophone community, and for the passionate Blairs. But David decided
he was in Quebec to stay, and today his children are bilingual and
bicultural. More recently his sister Louisa also returned to Quebec
City and a desire to rediscover her past led her to write a book
called, The Anglos, the Hidden Face of Quebec. Her daughter is also is
growing up bilingual and bicultural, representing a new generation
comfortable in both worlds.

Produced by Jennifer Clibbon and Lynne Robson.

Generations on CBC Newsworld. The Chan Legacy plays 5 times

Generations on CBC Newsworld. 
The Chan Legacy plays 5 times

The Chan Legacy is the lead episode in the new documentary series Generations on CBC Newsworld.  It has played a total of 5 times.  But only the 1st and 2nd times were listed correctly on the www.cbc.ca/documentaries/generations website.  I had trouble finding listings on the www.cbc.ca/newsworld program listings.

Feedback has been very positive.  Family members are very proud.  Friends are very supportive.  Historians are enthusiastic. Strangers are thrilled.

The series is supposed to repeat on July 29th and is listed on the Generations website – but not the CBC Newsworld program listings.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

I am looking forward to seeing the other Generations stories. 
The Blairs of Quebec begins on Wednesday July 11th.
The McCurdy Birthright begins on Wednesday July 18th
The Crowfoot Dynasty begins on Wednesday July 25th

July 4th Wednesday

  7:00 p.m. Generations: The Chan Legacy
– Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.
Generations: The Chan Legacy

July 4th Wednesday

  10:00 p.m. Generations: The Chan Legacy
– Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.
Generations: The Chan Legacy

July 6th Friday

  1:00 a.m. Generations: The Chan Legacy
– Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.
Generations: The Chan Legacy

July 8th Sunday

  7:00 a.m. Generations: The Chan Legacy
– Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.
Generations: The Chan Legacy

July 9th, Monday

  12:00 a.m. Generations: The Chan Legacy
– Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.
Generations: The Chan Legacy

Other upcoming Generations episodes
July 11th, Wednesday

7:00 p.m. Generations: The Blairs of Quebec
– An Anglophone family with 250 years of history in Quebec City struggles to maintain it's heritage.
Generations: The Blairs of Quebec

July 18th, Wednesday

7:00 p.m. Generations: The McCurdy Birthright
– From the Underground Railroad to the House of Commons, one of the oldest Black families built a civil rights legacy.
Generations: The McCurdy Birthright

July 25th, Wednesday

7:00 p.m. Generations: 100 Years in Crowfoot
– The Crowfoot Dynasty: The descendants of a great Chief continue a
legacy of Native leadership through seven generations.
Generations: 100 Years in Crowfoot

Where was GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy on CBC Newsworld at 10am PST

Where was GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy on CBC Newsworld at 10am PST

I received a number of e-mails this morning asking this very question?

The http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/generations/ website listed 10am EST/PST but evidently only broadcast at 10am EST (7am PST)

I have sent notice to the Generations executive producer.
looks like different branches of CBC (Newsworld and documentaries aren't talking to each other).

I have both video and dvd – and will try to arrange for a public /family viewing at a restaurant if possible.

In the meantime – please check http://www.cbc.ca/programguide

The Chan Legacy is next set to air on July 29th, Sunday, 7pm EST (which means 4pm PST).

Watching “GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy” with my parents and my Mom’s sister’s family

Watching “GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy” with my grandmother and family

it was great to watch with family members who hadn’t seen the documentary yet.  My cousins Diane, Chris, Auntie Sylvia and Uncle Ian were all so pleased at how well done the show was. 

They kept talking over the narration whenever they recognized somebody in the pictures or the home movies that were shown.

Below are e-mails and messages that I have received from friends and family:

Todd - YOU have made us all very proud of our ancestors.
YOU did a great job to make this happen
MANY thanks
- David Young (Toronto cousin)

 

Dear Todd-really touched by your family, thought it was beautifully told – you look like your aunt Helen Lee
but in a handsome, manly way. What a treasure to have this documentary of this incredible
clan-well done, thanks for sharing
– Jane Duford – artist and Gung Haggis paddler


SO Canadian. Great documentary, and I’m glad that I caught it. Well, I only received half a dozen messages about it. 😉 The other segments look really good, too.
– Hillary Wong

I really enjoyed the program although I missed the first 10 minutes of the hour long program.  Now I know more about the story of your life than before.  I was touched not only by the story of Reverend Chan, the struggles of the early Chinese immigrants and “Canadian” Citizens but also your own survival and how overcame your health challenges and your Gung Haggis Fat Choy initiatives. A documentation well done.

– Kelly Ip (community organizer, Canadian Club advisor)

 
 

Karen and I enjoyed it. We watched the whole thing.
– Richard Mah (Vancouver International Dragon Boat Race – race director)

Congratulations, Todd!  I actually read a story last year about your family in the North Shore News — how proud you must feel!!!!  & how proud I am to know you!!! 
–Terrie Hamazaki (writer)

Todd! Generations was excellent! I loved it!  You were so great in it!!
Great job on all of your hard work in putting this together, it was really interesting.
Talk to you soon
Katie (Toronto cousin)

Yay for you, Todd, and all your family – mine are relative newcomers, just
here since 1948, when we were refugees after ww2 -cheers!

– Ieva Wool – choir conductor of High Spirits


EXCELLENT PROGRAM TODD!!
Congratulations!  I am proud of you and your accomplishments!!
You are a blessing to our world.
Rev. Angelica (minister of Celebration of Life Centre)

 

The Show was excellent. It is a piece of history that needs to be taught in school.
Raphael Fang – Kilts Night co-ordinator

 

Thanks for letting me know about the documentary.  I
manage to see it last night.  It was well done and you interviewed well and
looked great!   A lot of hard work but well worth it.

– Gordy (genealogist organizer and head tax advocate)

 

Just finished watching “Generations” and just want to say THANK YOU!  for a great documentary on our family history.   You did a great job working with Halya!

Love, Auntie Roberta (grand-daughter of Rev. Chan Yu Tan, Victor Wong’s sister)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sharing,-jane         

GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy airs today 10pm on CBC Newsworld

GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy airs today 10pm on CBC Newsworld

  10:00 p.m. Generations: The Chan Legacy
– Missionaries from China come to the West Coast help Westernize Chinese immigrant workers in the late 1800's.
Generations: The Chan Legacy

Yesterday I
was interviewed 8:20 am Tuesday morning, July 3rd, by Rick Cluff for the CBC Radio 690 show “The Early Edition.”  Rick first asked me how I got interested in family history, and I replied that one of the first computer programs I got was for genealogy.

I had found it fascinating that we were descended from a Chinese United Church minister. It was important for me to find positive role models growing up, because as a Chinese-Canadian, there weren't many.  I grew up in North Vancouver, and many people couldn't tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese back then. Some people would tell me to go back where I came from.

I brought some photo displays into the radio studio and Rick asked about them.

“Here's a picture of Rev. Chan Yu Tan” when he first arrived in Canada in 1896.”

Here's a picture of Uncle Dan and his brothers during WW2″

“Here's a picture of our family reunion in 1999.”

“How many people attended, Todd?”

“We had over 200 people, from all across the continent Rick – from Ontario, Alberta, Washington, California.”

Rick asked what I hoped the younger generations would learn from the story.  I told him that it was important for our younger generations to learn what our ancestors had overcome, such as the head tax, the 1907 riot, the exclusion act, gaining the voting franchise.  And that it is an important story for all Canadians.  Too often as multigenerational Chinese-Canadians we get lumped in with the new immigrants as “Chinese” – even though our family has been here for seven generations.

Rick asked “What would Rev. Chan think of Gung Haggis Fat Choy”

 but our family didn't go to Church. When I was little, I attended one day of class at the Chinese United Church.  I was little and cried for my mother almost the entire time. 

But the legacy of Rev. Chan Yu Tan and his brother and sisters still lives in our family.  It lives on in the stories that my grandmother and my mother have shared with me.  My grand-uncle Daniel Lee and his sister Helen Lee, lived with Rev. and Mrs. Chan Yu Tan in Nanaimo while they were growing up.  Auntie Helen recalls her memories while she is interviewed for the documentary.  There are some newsclips of Uncle Dan and Chinese-Canadian veterans at Vancouver's Victory Square cenotaph for Remembrance Day.

Many of our family is excited at seeing the documentary tonight.  I have received e-mails from Ontario, and Washington.  Distant family members I haven't met have found the Rev. Chan Legacy facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2390778670

Here are some well wishes from my friends after hearing me on radio and receiving my announcements about GENERATIONS: The Chan Legacy

Good morning Todd, just heard you on CBC Early Edition about your family.  
I look forward to watching it tomorrow night on CBC Newsworld at 10 p.m.
I hope some of our colleagues will watch some of the Chinese history in
Vancouver. You may wish to tell us something more about this 6-part series
on Chinese pioneers in Vancouver.
- Kelly Ip (Community organizer and advisor on Canadian Club Vancouver)

Thanks, Todd…
Heard you this morning, and you sounded great (however brief).
Will try to catch your segment. In fact, they all sound fascinating.
Cheers,

Thank you Todd for sharing your family's history
with us. This forms part of the Canadian national identity.
– Begum Vergee (my co-director on Canadian Club Vancouver.

Wonderful experience to be part of such an
important legacy. Thanks for letting us know.
Shirley Chan (community activist)


Todd: Thanks so much for this!

Chuck Davis – Vancouver Historian


Hi Todd
congratulations !!!!
where are you going to watch tonight's episode .... invite me along if
appropriate.
All good things,
Joseph Roberts - publisher of Common Ground

Hey Todd,
Great to hear from you.  I look forward to
seeing the doc.
Warm regards,
Moyra Rodger – producer of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy television performance special

Chan family

Generations is a 6 part series and the lead installment is The Chan Legacy
which is about my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, and our
family descendants who are committed to community service – like me! 
The episodes of the series are:


Watch
The Chan Legacy on CBC Newsworld

July 4, 10 pm ET/PT,
July 8, 10 am ET/PT,
July 29, 7 pm ET


Many family members were interviewed:

  • Victor Wong, grand-son, WW2 veteran and Victoria resident who visited his grandparents in Nanaimo BC.
  • Helen Lee, grand-daughter, who lived with Rev. & Mrs. Chan Yu Tan in Nanaimo.
  • Gary Lee, great-grandson who tells about some of the challenges overcome by the family.
  • Janice Wong, great-grand-daughter, and award winning author of CHOW: From China to Canada, memories of food and family.
  • Rhonda
    Larrabee, great-grand-daughter, and chief of the First Nations Qayqayt
    (New Westminster) Band, featured in the NFB film “Tribe of One.”
  • Todd Wong, great-great-grandson, community and cultural activist,
    creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
  • Tracey
    Hinder, 5th generation high school student who was the inaugural
    Vancouver CanSpell champion and went on to compete in Ottawa and
    Washington DC.  Tracey is a member of her school's “multicultural club.”


Rev. Chan Yu Tan came
to Canada in 1896, following his elder brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai who
had earlier arrived in 1888 at the invitation of the Methodist Church
of Canada.  These two brothers were later followed by sisters Phoebe in
1899, and Naomi who later moved to Chicago.  Throughout seven
generations, the family has spread throughout Canada and the United
States.  The Rev. Chan Yu Tan Family was featured in the photographic
exhibition
Three Early Chinese Canadian Pioneer Families


Read my blog entries about
Rev. Chan Legacy Project which includes stories during the making of the documentary and events for Janice Wong's award-winning book C H O W: From China to Canada memoris of food and family.

http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/RevChanLegacyProject
http://c-h-o-w.blogspot.com/

Please
tell all your friends and relatives about this upcoming documentary,
very informative about the history of Chinese-Canadians, and the legacy
they have built in Canada.

check out the CBC Generations home page:
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/generations/

CBC Radio 690 – Todd to be interviewed for Early Edition with Rick Cluff

CBC Radio 690 – Todd to be interviewed for Early Edition with Rick Cluff

I am being interviewed 8:20 am Tuesday morning, July 3rd, by Rick Cluff.  They will be asking me about my involvement with the Generations: The Chan Legacy television documentary.

It's been an incredible experience!  How often does a family get to tell their story in a national television series?  I know this is also the result of a lot of hard work.  In 1999, and 2000, we held the first of Rev. Chan Family Legacy reunion dinners.  We were featured in the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and Archives project: Three Pioneer Chinese Canadian families.

I have been able to preview a dvd of the show – and it brought tears to my eyes.  My parents watched it with me last week, and on Friday night, we showed it to my grandmother.  She was so amazed to see pictures of her grandparents – Rev. & Mrs. Chan Yu Tan… and to hear the stories about them from her sister Helen Lee and cousin Victor Wong.

There are also home movies from my great-grandmother Kate Lee's 75th birthday party from 1965.  As my multi-generational Caucasian-Canadian girlfriend says – “It's like any Canadian family – this one just happens to have gone through anti-Asian racism, the head-tax, and couldn't vote until 1947.”

With film clips from WW2, Douglas Jung, Nanaimo Chinatown in the 1800's, Vancouver Chinatown in the 1950's, Vancouver's golden Jubilee celebrations – This documentary truly is a history of Chinese Canadians in Vancouver and BC.

Chan family

Generations is a 6 part series and the lead installment is The Chan Legacy
which is about my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, and our
family descendants who are committed to community service – like me! 
The episodes of the series are:


Watch
The Chan Legacy on CBC Newsworld

July 4, 10 pm ET/PT,
July 8, 10 am ET/PT,
July 29, 7 pm ET


Producer Halya Kuchmij is very proud of her work, and that we are the first in the series.  It must be a very strong, emotional,
educational documentary.  I have been an adviser and witness to many of
the interviews, as well as some of the script.  I have to say it made
me very proud of our family, and the show is very emotionally
touching.  And I haven't even seen it yet!

Many family members were interviewed:

  • Victor Wong, grand-son, WW2 veteran and Victoria resident who visited his grandparents in Nanaimo BC.
  • Helen Lee, grand-daughter, who lived with Rev. & Mrs. Chan Yu Tan in Nanaimo.
  • Gary Lee, great-grandson who tells about some of the challenges overcome by the family.
  • Janice Wong, great-grand-daughter, and award winning author of CHOW: From China to Canada, memories of food and family.
  • Rhonda
    Larrabee, great-grand-daughter, and chief of the First Nations Qayqayt
    (New Westminster) Band, featured in the NFB film “Tribe of One.”
  • Todd Wong, great-great-grandson, community and cultural activist,
    creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
  • Tracey
    Hinder, 5th generation high school student who was the inaugural
    Vancouver CanSpell champion and went on to compete in Ottawa and
    Washington DC.  Tracey is a member of her school's “multicultural club.”


Rev. Chan Yu Tan came
to Canada in 1896, following his elder brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai who
had earlier arrived in 1888 at the invitation of the Methodist Church
of Canada.  These two brothers were later followed by sisters Phoebe in
1899, and Naomi who later moved to Chicago.  Throughout seven
generations, the family has spread throughout Canada and the United
States.  The Rev. Chan Yu Tan Family was featured in the photographic
exhibition
Three Early Chinese Canadian Pioneer Families


Read my blog entries about
Rev. Chan Legacy Project which includes stories during the making of the documentary and events for Janice Wong's award-winning book C H O W: From China to Canada memoris of food and family.

http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/RevChanLegacyProject
http://c-h-o-w.blogspot.com/

Please
tell all your friends and relatives about this upcoming documentary,
very informative about the history of Chinese-Canadians, and the legacy
they have built in Canada.

check out the CBC Generations home page:
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/generations/

CBC Generations documentary series features BC's Rev. Chan family and descendants (including me!)

CBC Generations documentary series features BC's Rev. Chan family and descendants (including me!)
 
Generations

Chan family

Generations is a 6 part series and the lead installment is The Chan Legacy – which is about my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, and our family descendants who are committed to community service – like me!  The episodes of the series are:


Watch
The Chan Legacy on CBC Newsworld

July 4, 10 pm ET/PT,
July 8, 10 am ET/PT,
July 29, 7 pm ET


Producer Halya Kuchmij is very proud of her work, and that we are the first in the series.  It must be a very strong, emotional,
educational documentary.  I have been an adviser and witness to many of
the interviews, as well as some of the script.  I have to say it made
me very proud of our family, and the show is very emotionally
touching.  And I haven't even seen it yet!

Many family members were interviewed:

  • Victor Wong, grand-son, WW2 veteran and Victoria resident who visited his grandparents in Nanaimo BC.
  • Helen Lee, grand-daughter, who lived with Rev. & Mrs. Chan Yu Tan in Nanaimo.
  • Gary Lee, great-grandson who tells about some of the challenges overcome by the family.
  • Janice Wong, great-grand-daughter, and award winning author of CHOW: From China to Canada, memories of food and family.
  • Rhonda Larrabee, great-grand-daughter, and chief of the First Nations Qayqayt (New Westminster) Band, featured in the NFB film “Tribe of One.”
  • Todd Wong, great-great-grandson, community and cultural activist,
    creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
  • Tracey Hinder, 5th generation high school student who was the inaugural Vancouver CanSpell champion and went on to compete in Ottawa and Washington DC.  Tracey is a member of her school's “multicultural club.”


Rev. Chan Yu Tan came to Canada in 1896, following his elder brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai who had earlier arrived in 1888 at the invitation of the Methodist Church of Canada.  These two brothers were later followed by sisters Phoebe in 1899, and Naomi who later moved to Chicago.  Throughout seven generations, the family has spread throughout Canada and the United States.  The Rev. Chan Yu Tan Family was featured in the photographic exhibition Three Early Chinese Canadian Pioneer Families


Read my blog entries about
Rev. Chan Legacy Project which includes stories during the making of the documentary and events for Janice Wong's award-winning book C H O W: From China to Canada memoris of food and family.

http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/RevChanLegacyProject
http://c-h-o-w.blogspot.com/

Please tell all your friends and relatives about this upcoming documentary, very informative about the history of Chinese-Canadians, and the legacy they have built in Canada.

the following is from the CBC Generations home page:
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/generations/


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Generations
Generations: The Chan Legacy
 

The
documentary begins with Todd Wong playing the accordion, wearing a
kilt. He promotes cultural fusion, and in doing so, he honours the
legacy of his great, great, grandfather The Reverend Chan Yu Tan. The
Chans go back seven generations in Canada and are one of the oldest
families on the West Coast.
 
Chan family
The Chan family
 
Reverend Chan left China for Victoria in 1896 at a time when most Chinese immigrants were simple labourers, houseboys and laundrymen who had come to British Columbia
to build the railroad or work in the mines. His wife Mrs. Chan Wong Shee followed him later in 1899.  The Chans were different.
They were educated and Westernized Methodist Church missionaries who
came to convert the Chinese already in Canada,
and teach them English. The Chans were a family with status and they
believed in integration. However even they could not escape the racism
that existed at the time, the notorious head tax and laws that excluded
the Chinese from citizenship.
 
In
the documentary, Reverand Chan's granddaughter Helen Lee, grandson
Victor Wong, and great grandson Gary Lee recall being barred from
theaters, bowling alleys and restaurants. The Chinese were not allowed
to become doctors or lawyers, pharmacists or teachers. Still, several
members of the Chan family served in World War II,
because they felt they were Canadian and wanted to contribute. Finally,
in 1947, Chinese born in Canada were granted citizenship and the right
to vote.
 
Todd Wong
Todd Wong
 
Today, Todd Wong,
represents a younger generation of successful professionals and entrepreneurs scattered across North America.
He promotes his own brand of cultural integration through an annual
event in Vancouver called Gung Haggis Fat Choy. It's a celebration that
joins Chinese New Year with Robbie Burns Day, and brings together the two cultures that once lived completely separately in the early days of British Columbia.

We also meet a member of the youngest generation, teenager Tracey
Hinder, who also cherishes the legacy of Reverend Chan, but in contrast
to his desire to promote English she is studying mandarin and longs to
visit the birthplace of her ancestors.

Produced by Halya Kuchmij, narrated by Michele Cheung.

Chow Time: Janice Wong featured in Canadian Living Magazine



Chow Time: Janice Wong featured in Canadian Living Magazine

Janice Wong is featured in this month's Canadian Living
magazine (March 2007).  The article is titled Chow Time: Celebrate
Chinese New Year with traditional home-style recipes compliments of the
Wong family.

Janice is my second-cousin, once removed.  Her father and my
maternal grandmother are cousins. Her grandmother Rose, was the younger
sister to my great-grandmother Kate (Chan) Lee.  We may both be
Wongs now… but we are both descended from Rev. Chan Yu Tan – one of the first Chinese ministers ordained in Canada.

After the death of Janice's father Dennis (whom many people say I look
like), she made up a memory book of pictures, stories and recipes as a
gift to her brother and sisters and mother.  It was also a gift to
her nieces and nephews so that they would know more about their
grandfather.  One of Janice's friends saw the book, and suggested
that she send it to a publisher.

Earlier this Wednesday, Janice me told the story about how her memory
book full of her father's recipes from his Prince Albert SK restaurant
made the journey to become a published award winning book.  She
was guest speaker for our writing workshop, taught by author/editor
Brandy Lien Worral, produced for the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of British Columbia
She passed her original gift book around.  I was amazed to finally
see it, after having become involved in some of the book's promotional
events from it's October 2005 book launch to being on panel discussions
at the West Vancouver Public Library and Vancouver Public
Library.  I gazed at the pictures to see pictures of her father
Dennis as a child, and grown up with his brothers and sisters, cousins
– all relatives that I knew as I grew up.


Janice and me, at her studio during the East Side Culture Crawl
read the story:
Eastside Culture Crawl: Visits to Janice Wong studio at 1000 Parker

Here is the script from Canadian Living Magazine:

It
was through an artist's eyes, and with an artist's deft touch, that
Vancouver native Janice Wong delved into her family's rich
history—which straddled the Canadian West in the 1920s, as well as the
political quagmire that was China in the 1930s—to share their
fascinating story in the pages of CHOW, From China to Canada: Memories
of Food and Family (Whitecap, 2005, $24.95).
In this multilayered
book, for which Wong was awarded the 2006 Cuisine Canada Culinary Book
Award for Canadian Food Culture, the artist-author weaves together a
charming—and revealing—blend of photographs, memories, artifacts,
family lore, and of course, recipes.
In crafting CHOW, Wong pays
homage to both her rich Chinese heritage and her colourful family in
one stroke. Her father's Lotus Café in Prince Albert, Sask.—one of
Dennis Wong's two restaurants—was an institution, and it's this man who
inspired many of the recipes that fill the pages of CHOW.

Canadian Living Magazine, Food, p. 163, March 2007

The
article includes recipes for Chinese Barbequed Duck, Dungeness Crab
with Dow See, Pineapple Chicken and Peanut Butter Cookies

http://c-h-o-w.blogspot.com

http://www.janicewongstudio.com


CBC Lotusland Saskachewan (CHOW) documentary about Janice Wong tonight

CBC Lotusland Saskachewan (CHOW) documentary about Janice Wong – tonight December 22.

It was a tasty trip down memory lane for Janice Wong at her dad’s old restaurant.  
Chow” Author Janice Wong is featured in the CBC documentary “Lotusland Saskatchewan.

This
spring and summer, Janice Wong (my 2nd cousin-once removed) did some
filming with producer Costa Maragos for a documentary about her, and
her book CHOW. 

Janice will also be featured in the Generations documentary about the
Rev. Chan family descendants.  Costa also produced the Generations Saskatchewan documentary.

Janice wrote me:   



Lotusland Saskatchewan (Chow) documentary has been rescheduled to run tomorrow night (Friday, December 22) during the CBC National, 10-11 pm…but,
as it goes with short documentaries during the news broadcast, there is
still the chance that it could be preempted again.






If you'd like to catch up on the latest news about CHOW you can visit www.c-h-o-w.blogspot.com




To view the CBC web page that chronicles the documentary, visit www.cbc.ca/sask/features/lotusland


The Lotus Cafe  
The Wongs sold the Lotus Cafe in the 1970s.  Courtesy Janice Wong

Here is an excerpt and link to the CBC documentary:

It took just a few moments for the memories to come flooding back as
Janice Wong and her mother entered the kitchen of the old Lotus Cafe in
Prince Albert.

“Mom, look at the old dishes,” said a surprised-sounding Wong, who was in the central Saskatchewan city on a visit from Vancouver.

“The same dishes my mom purchased for the restaurant 50 years ago. So neat to see them again.”

“Those are the originals,” replied Janice's mom Mary, a touch of a smile playing on her lips.

So began their trip down memory lane.

The
Wongs, Janice’s dad and mom, Dennis and Mary, and her uncle Cecil,
opened the Lotus Cafe on Central Avenue in 1956 and operated it for
almost a quarter of a century.





The mini doc is available on the net until the next broadcast of The National.  

http://www.cbc.ca/video  pick the national.


Generations Rev. Chan Yu Tan: Editing being done for the CBC documentary on Rev. Chan and descendants

Generations Rev. Chan Yu Tan:
Editing being done for the CBC documentary on Rev. Chan and descendants

The Rev. Chan Yu Tan family is being featured in the CBC documentary series Generations
Editing has now been ongoing since November.  The producer is
Halya Kuchmij, a multiple award winning veteran producer, who has worked
on past CBC
projects such as Man Alive and The Journal.  She is now with the
Documentary Film
Unit – where she produced Life and Times of Northern Dancer, Who's Lorne
Greene, Tom Jackson: The Big Guy, Chernobyl the Legacy, Mandela I &
II, and many many more.

It is part of a CBC series that focuses on the histories of families
through the generations.  Past episodes of Generations include: 100 Years in
Alberta; 100 Years in Sasketchewan; A Century on the Siksika Reserve.

Halya is convinced this “our project” is going to rock!  She is
amazed at the almost 120 year long family history that started when Mr.
Chan Sing Kai first came to Canada at the invitation of the Methodist
Church of Canada in November 1888.  There are now 7 generations of
Chan descendants throughout North America, descended from eldest
brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai, who later moved to California, Rev. Chan Yu
Tan (my great-great-grandfather who retired in New Westminster), and
Aunt Naomi who had moved to Chicago.  Aunt Phoebe is the 4th
sibling who stayed with the Chinese United Church in Vancouver, and
became affectionately known as “The Bible Lady” – she never married.

Brothers Chan Sing Kai and Chan Yu Tan, were born in Guangzhou China,
and raised to be scholars by their fathers.  They helped to
organize the first Wesleyan Mission School among the Chinese in Hong
Kong.  Their father was also a Christian missionary, having spent
many years as a Chinese Scholar with Rev. Piercy, the pioneer Wesleyan
missionary who contributed greatly to the Chinese translation of
“Pilgrim's Progress.”

Chan Sing Kai became the first Chinese to be ordained in Canada, and
was instrumental in the formation of the Chinese Mission which was
located on Carrall St. in Vanocuver – just blocks down the street from
Vancouver's historical centre of Gastown. 

In 1896, Chan Yu Tan arrived in Canada at 33 years of age, as a lay
preacher.  He took on the role of pastor of the Chinese Methodist
Church and brought with him his wife Chan Sze Wong and six children: Solomon, Kate, Jack, Rose, Luke
and Millicent.  Kate is my great-grandmother.



The 50th Anniversary of the Chinese United Church in Victoria.  My
great-great-grandfather, Rev. Chan Yu Tan is 4th from left. 
Beside him stands his elder brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai (5th from left).
photo courtesy of United Church Archives.

The Generations Rev. Chan Yu Tan project is not yet “officially titled”
– but the theme will be community service which was lived graciously by
Rev. Chan Yu Tan, and now shared by some of his descendants. 

Interviews were done on Vancouver Island
by Halya with two of Rev. Chan Yu Tan's grandchildren: Victor Wong, son
of Rose (Chan) Wong; and Helen Lee daughter of Kate (Chan) Lee, my
grandmother's sister, who lived with Rev. and Mrs. Chan Yu Tan while
they lived in Nanaimo, serving the Chinese United Church there. 
Uncle Victor Wong is a WW2 veteran and is currently president of the
Chinese Canadian veterans unit in Victoria.

Great-grandchildren interviewed by Halya were Janice Wong (grand-daughter of Rose Wong), Gary Lee and Rhonda Larrabee
(grandchildren of Kate Lee).  Last year, Janice wrote a book
titled CHOW: From China to Canada: memories of food + family, which
shared not only recipes of her father Dennis Wong, but also stories of
Rev. Chan Yu Tan and his son Luke Chan, who became an actor in
Hollywood.  Rhonda is the chief of the Qayqayt (New Westminster)
First Nations Band, which she resurrected from obscurity.  Gary is
a a longtime community builder who has been involved with many
community organizations, as well as having been a child actor.

Also interviewed were Rev. Chan Yu Tan's great-great-grandchildren Tracey Hinder
and myself.  Tracey was the BC regional winner of the inaugural
Canspell spelling bee contest, and is a great example of our family's
future generations.