10th Annual Asian Comedy Night coming in January

Asian Canadians
can be funny too – and not just the butt of racist jokes.

10 years ago Joyce Lam got together with friends and
started the very first Asian Comedy Night, through Vancouver Asian Canadian
Theatre – which she founded. Along the way VACT has received lots
of critical success and developed a loyal audience. VACT is a pioneer in
pushing the opportunities for Asian-Canadian performerssuch as presenting the
classic Neil Simon comedy “The Odd Couple” with and almost all-Asian
cast, Asian-Canadian director and producers.

Check out the newest Asian Comedy Night event for January 6/7, 2009

For
Immediate Release

MEDIA RELEASE

VACT’s
10th anniversary celebrations kicks off with

two
All-Star Asian Comedy Events in early January

10th Annual Asian Comedy Night – and –
Etch-YOUR-Sketchoff,
January
7 – 10, 2009

VANCOUVER,
BC (December 7, 2008) – To celebrate 10 successful years as the city’s premiere
Asian Canadian theatre company, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (VACT)
kicks off 2009 with two of its signature Asian comedy night events January 7 to
10, hosted by Tom Chin. First is the
return of its wildly popular Asian sketch comedy contest: Etch-YOUR-Sketchoff!#$%!!, where
amateur teams compete for applause and prizes on January 7 & 8. Following that on January 9 & 10 is the All-You-Can-Laugh: 10th annual Asian Comedy
Night, an all-star smorgasbord of North
America’s
best and funniest professional Asian sketch comedy troupes. Both productions are
at the Roundhouse Performance
Centre. Tickets are available online at www.vact.ca and at the
door.

Needless
to say, these 2 VACT productions provide a rare and not-to-be-missed showcase of
some of the best Asian comedic talent in North
America
– alongside nearly 50 of Vancouver’s up-and-coming Asian Canadian performers and
comedy writers, all on one stage.

The
Etch-YOUR-Sketchoff!#$%!! Contest
gives sketch teams 2 weeks to write and rehearse at least 2 sketches, one of
which must incorporate a creative element provided by VACT that each team will
choose at random. On the first night, January 7, each group will be given a
6-10 minute set to perform their sketches in front of a live audience, where a
panel of celebrity judges will award the winner the coveted RICE BOWL trophy from the Top 3. On January 8, in a 2nd performance, the
audience will be the judge and its winner-take-all for the cash
prize.

All-You-Can-Laugh:
10th annual Asian Comedy Night
is a gathering of 5 of the funniest Asian sketch comedy troupes from
North
America:
18
Mighty
Mountain
Warriors
(San
Francisco,
Los
Angeles),
Assaulted Fish (Vancouver), OPM (Los
Angeles),
The Kupps
(Toronto),
and Hopsing’s Offspring (Vancouver)
for two hilarious performances. Also performing is stand-up comedian Jeffery Yu. The VACT Asian Comedy Night
has been a sold-out event every year and the annual show has provided a rare
showcase for various Asian stand-up comedians and sketch groups from all over
Canada
and the US.
As a developer of new talent, VACT had previously incubated such successful
local Asian-Canadian sketch comedy troupes as HOT SAUCE POSSE and ASSAULTED
FISH.

For
more information please visit http://www.vact.ca.

Event #1 Details

Etch-YOUR-Sketchoff!#$%!!

@
Roundhouse Performance Centre

Davie
& Pacific
Blvd.,
Vancouver

January
7: The Rice Bowl Competition

January
8: The People’s CHOYS Award

Both
performances at 7:30
PM

$18
in advance, by phone (604) 713-1800 and online
(www.VACT.ca)

$22 at
the door

Event #2 Details

All-You-Can-Laugh:
10th Annual Asian Comedy Night

@
Roundhouse Performance Centre

Davie
& Pacific
Blvd.,
Vancouver

January
9 and 10

Both
performances at 7:30
PM

$22
in advance, by phone (604) 713-1800 and online
(www.VACT.ca)

$27
at the door

Ticket
Special: The Bundle of Laughs Deal

See
both shows and save! Great stocking stuffers! (Until Dec. 19)

$35
in advance, available only online (www.VACT.ca)

For
media access please contact Joyce Lam at the e-mail address or phone number
listed below, no later than January
2, 2009.

VACT
(Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre) aims to produce quality plays in which
Asian-Canadians take on culturally or artistically significant roles. VACT works
to dispel Asian stereotypes by producing leading and/or supporting roles where
Asian-Canadians are depicted realistically in the performing
arts.

Racoons in Kitsilano

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There are lots of wild urban animals in Vancouver. Every now and then I see in a skunk in Kitsilano or the West End – but more likely I smell skunk.

2008_Dec 048 – photo Todd Wong

I found this little critter beside the walkway to our Kitsilano apartment building. It seemed oblivious to the night traffic on Cornwall St.

Tacos and Kilts in the same night

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Do Mexicans wear kilts? Do Scots eat tacos?

Every first Thursday is Kilts night at Doolin's Irish Pub. Last week on Dec 4th, I started the evening at Burrito Bros. Taco Co. in Kitsilano. How authentic is Burrito Bros.? Well, they speak Spanish when they place the orders to the cook.

My girlfriend likes it on Thursday night because tacos are $2 and Sol beer is $3.50 for “Locals Night.” Last night wasn't Thursday, but we ended up there for dinner again with friends Julie, Marion and Craig, from the Gung Haggis dragon boat team.

2008_Dec 043 -photo D.Martin

Todd has a $2 hard taco with his Sol beer. No sombero wearing for this Chinos-Canadian.

2008_Dec 045 – photo J. Wong/Todd's camera

Two kilted lads + two lassies. Todd wears the ancient Fraser hunting tartan while Derrick wears a black utilikilt. Lee and Carol are first time attendees, and I put them in the modern Fraser hunting tartans that the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team wears. Lee is of Scottish ancestry, and she paddled with our team for the Vancouver Taiwanese dragon boat race. Carol is Irish-Ukranian-Canadian and LOVED my Guinness with a shot of expresso vodka.

2008_Dec 047 -photo Todd Wong

The Halifax Wharf Rats play sets starting at 9pm. They always play a lively mix of celtic tinged traditionals, Canadiana and folk-rock. I LOVE their celtic version of “I Was Made for Loving You” – originally a hit by KISS. Dawn wears a mini-kilt with a sassy lace hem. Dawn paddled on the dragon boat team in 2004 when we raced in the Vancouver Taiwanese dragon boat race.

Vancouver's Robert Burns statue is a copy of the George Lawson original from Ayr Scotland

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The same Robert Burns statue in Vancouver's Stanley Park can also be seen in other Canadian cities + Paris, Australia and Belfast.

Robert Burns Statue in Stanley Park Vancouver – photo Todd Wong

Dr. Leith Davis, Director of the Centre for Scottish Studies, Simon Fraser University, sent me a note saying:

The
following cities have copies of the same statue that Vancouver does
(all are copies of the original by George Lawson which is in Ayr,
Scotland):

Halifax,

Winnipeg,

Montreal,

Melbourne, Australia

Belfast,

Paris

cheers,

Leith

Robert Burns Statue in Ayr Scotland

Original plaster maquette or George Lawson designed statue of Robert Burns

from http://www.burnsheritagepark.com/collection.htm

Statues to Robert Burns are to be found across the world, in London,
Toronto, Sydney, Auckland and New York, to name but a few. This is a
plaster maquette produced by George Lawson for the statue that was
erected in Ayr in 1891. Such was the popularity of Lawson's statue that
full-sized copies were made for Melbourne, Vancouver, Montreal and
Winnipeg and smaller copies for Belfast and the Sorbonne in Paris. The
Sorbonne statue was carefully hidden during the German occupation of
Paris in the 1940s, to prevent it falling into the hands of the Nazis.

Robert Burns statue in Halifax

Burns Statue in Winnipeg

Statue de Robert Burns

Carré Dominion

Montréal-Québec

Robert Burns Memorial in Melbourne Australia

Mayor Gregor Robertson wears kilt to mayoral inauguration

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The New Vancouver Mayor wears a kilt to inauguration.

Gregor Robertson knows how to stand out in a crowd. He looked dashing at the inauguration ceremony for the new Vancouver mayor and city council at the Sunset Community Centre. The incoming mayor had earlier requested the presence of the Vancouver Pipe Band… but hadn't announced his choice of attire… kilt watchers were wondering….

DSC_9549_100227 - Gregor ROBERTSON & Raymond LOUIE by FlungingPictures.

Gregor Robertson and Raymond Louie walk into the inauguration ceremony. Media reported that Robertson wore his family tartan – but it looks like a Robertson hunting tartan – photo courtesy of Patrick Tam / Flunging Pictures.

DSC_9561_100239 - The new CoV Mayor & Council by FlungingPictures.

The new Vancouver Mayor and city council are introduced. l-r Ellen Woodsworth, Andrea Reimer, Suzanne Anton, Heather Deal, Raymond Louie, Mayor Gregor Robertson, Tim Stevenson, George Chow, Kerry Jang, Geoff Meggs (missing – David Cadman). – photo courtesy Patrick Tam

– photo The Blackbird

Here's a great photo of how to sit in a kilt when you are mayor. The trick is to spread your legs wide enough to have extra kilt material in the middle, so nobody can get a photo lens up your kilt. – photo permission from The Black Bird

DSC_9737_99696 - Councillor Andrea REIMER by FlungingPictures – photo Patrick Tam

Andrea Reimer is sworn in as councilor, as Kerry Jang and Geoff Meggs await their turn. 14 hours earlier, Andrea's sense of humor had her questioning what to wear for “a three year marriage to 580,000 people.” I offered to loan her a kilt.

DSC_9687_100359 - Ladies and gentlemen, His Worship Mayor Gregor ROBERTSON of the City of Vancouver by FlungingPictures. Yup… Mayor in a kilt. Hope Robertson is ready for all those 250th anniversary Robert Burns dinners he is going to be invited to including Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner – photo courtesy of Patrick Tam

Check out some of the media stories:
Kilted Robertson sworn in as mayor
http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/local/article/152367

New mayor to announce steps to tackle homelessness in Vancouver
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/12/08/bc-new-vancouver-mayor-robertson.html?ref=rss

Robert Burns Statue in Vancouver’s Stanley Park

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Toddish McWong goes to visit Robert Burns statue in Stanley Park

The Robert Burns statue in Stanley Park can easily be seen when you drive into the park. It is across from the Vancouver Rowing Club, looking southward across Coal Harbour towards Georgia Street.

People often ask me, “How did you become involved/interested in Burns.”

“Well…” I answer, “It all began one winter’s day at Simon Fraser University when no other students wanted to help carry a haggis for the annual Robert Burns Day ceremonies.” see full origins story at http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/OriginsofGungHaggisFatChoy/_archives/2004/1/16/14225.html

It was then in 1993, that I first coined the term “Gung Haggis Fat Choy” and created the nickname “Toddish McWong.”

It wasn’t until 1998 that I created the first Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in the living room of a friend’s town house. We entertained 16 invited guests with music, poetry, Chinese food and haggis. The next year I recreaed the dinner in a restaurant for 40 friends and called it a fundraiser for our dragon boat team. Each year the dinner roughly doubled in size, to 60, 100, 200, 400, then 590 in 2005.

In 2003, CBC Vancouver made a television performance special titled “Gung Haggis Fat Choy” it aired January 23/24 2004.

In 2004, December, I was interviewed by CBC The National’s Peter Mansbridge for the first “Road Story” which focussed on Vancouver’s multiculturalism.

In 2005, Simon Fraser University Recreation Department asked to create the “SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival.” – for which I invented “dragon cart racing” as a kind of “dragon boat on wheels.”

In 2007, The Seattle Caledonian Society asked to create a Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in Seattle. We successfully held it on February Seattle Gung Haggis Fat Choy Seattle: Scots-Americans enjoy a big success for a first initiative south of the border!

In 2008, Vancouver Celtic Fest asked me to play/represent Robert Burns in a fun poetry event called “Battle of the Bards.” I dressed up in a kilt and performed Burns poetry, against Irish poet “William Butler Yeats” and Welsh poet “Dylan Thomas”, played by actors Mark Downey and Damon Calderwood. Here’s my blog article: Toddish McWong’s “Robert Burns” wins Battle of the Bards at Celtic Fest

Life since 1993, has become increasingly Burnsian.

The 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner is set for January 25th, at Floata Seafood Restaurant in Vancouver Chinatown.

Tickets are $60 for individual or $600 for a table of 10 + service charges, and will be available soon – by the end of the week through Firehall Arts Centre.

It will be a grand extravaganza for both the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birthday + Chinese New Year’s Eve countdown for the Year of the Ox.

Todd examines the rededication plaque on the statue base, – photo J. Maxwell.

The rededication plaque reads:

“This statue of Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Bard, was unveiled by J. Ramsay MacDonald , a Prime Minister of Britain, on 25th August, 1928.
Robert Burns’s sincere desire for friendship and brotherhood among all peoples is clearly shown in his many poems and songs. His poetry and letters, both serious and humorous are worthy of study by those who value liberty and freedom.
This memorial was rededicated on the 200th Anniversary of the Bard’s death by the Burns Club of Vancouver.
21 July 1996
“Then let us pray that come it may
(as come it will for a’ that)…
that man to man, the world o’er
shall birthers be for a’ that

Robbie Burns Statue in Stanley…

Stuart Mackinnon, new Vancouver Parks commisioner thanks his dedicated campaign team and volunteers

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Parks Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon (yellow jacket) with his Vancouver Chinese-Canadian campaign team volunteers James, Ren, Todd, Julie and Raphael. – photo Todd Wong collection.

Stuart Mackinnon was sworn in as Vancouver Parks Commisioner on Monday Dec 1st. He has been an advocate for parks and a Green Party candidate for many years. Check out his blog site Better Parks at http://betterparks.blogspot.com/

On Friday Dec 6th, he held a thank you dinner for his trusted and dedicated volunteers and campaign team at Spicy Court Restaurant at Cambie and 41st Ave. in Vancouver. This was also the 2002 site for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in the middle of a snow storm.

The food was great, the company was greater. Stuart recognized the contributions of each volunteer and what it personally meant to him. We are proud that Stuart was elected as a Vancouver Parks Commissioner with the highest number ever for a Vancouver civic Green Party candidate.

We know he will represent the values of the Green Party and hold the Vision Vancouver Parks board majority accountable for environmental issues, as well as working together with his fellow progressive Vision Vancouver and COPE commissioners.

Some of Stuart Mackinnon's dedicated campaign volunteers -(sitting) Rowan, Andy, Stuart, Ren, James (standing) Todd, Mac, Julie and Raphael – photo Todd Wong Collection

At the dinner, Stuart shared with me that he has been invited to give the Immortal Memory address about Robert Burns, by the Vancouver & District Labour Council, for their annual Robbie Burns Dinner fundraiser for Queen Alexandra Elementary School. Stuart says he is honoured. I am personally miffed that the VDLC didn't invite me…. even though I am now a member of the VDLC as a representative of CUPE 391. Okay… I am kidding… hee hee…. I am busy enough planning my own Robbie Burns Dinner, known globally as Gung Haggis Fat Choy.

Did we say that the food was good? Lobster with cream sauce and noodles. Yum Yum…. Also on the menu were Peking Duck, and Lettuce wrap. Stuart really knows how to please his Chinese constituency! Hey! Did you know that Stuart spent time in China teaching English? And last year he led a delegation of Metro Vancouver teachers on a trip to the People's Republic of China where he gave a talk about Norman Bethune. Heck… sometimes I swear that Stuart Mackinnon knows more about Chinese culture than I do! And maybe he might concede that I know more about Scottish culture than he does…. hee hee hee….

It has been a wonderful journey becoming friends with Stuart Mackinnon. If there is one word to describe him, it is honourable. He is dedicated to the community, and also to his dog Kikujiro. We know that Stuart will serve the citizens of Vancouver well as Parks commisioner.

See my flickr photo set:

Stuart Mackinnon Vancouver…

YES to Coalition Rally in Vancouver

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A YES rally for the Coalition of the Liberal/NDP/Bloc Quebecois opposition to lead Canada's government was held Thursday at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre.

2008_Dec 010 My Friend Charles Demer with his friends holding a YES sign.

Vancouver City Councilor Heather Deal was the first of guest speakers. Standing beside were where councilor-elects Geoff Meggs, Andrea Reimer and Ellen Woodsworth.

Next to speak was Liberal MP Herb Dhaliwal.

NDP MP Peter Julian gave a rousing talk.

Yes Coalition Rally in…

Peace, Order and Good Government: The Canadian parliamentary crisis can be addressed by Robert Burns' poem “A Man's A Man For A' That”

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With the current parliamentary crisis, and government and opposition members of each side calling each other names… one must remember that ALL were elected by their own constituencies to represent their ridings. Their party leaders are voted by in by the parties. And all must work together to put into action the words of from the 1867 Constitution Act “Peace, Order and Good Government“

Please take a moment to read the words of Scottish poet Robert Burns in his 1795 poem “A Man's A Man For A' That“

The following explanation of the stanza's is from a discussion on the Robertburns.org website, and can be applied to the current Canadian parliamentary crisis where Prime Minister Harper tried to introduce legislation that included taking away the rights of public sector workers to strike, as well as the funds for all political parties based on how many votes they receive in an election. I think the verses and interpretation are easily applied in the maelstrom that has errupted as a unity crisis, a class divide, and a question of who claims the title of Prime Minister.

1. Burns is reflecting that a downtrodden, hardworking and penniless

peasant—is nevertheless still a dignified MAN. However he is highly

contemptuous of the servile creature, who hangs his head to the arrogant

poseurs whose power has been bought with gold.

2. He considers that deprivation, poor food, and rough simple clothes,

do not diminish the pride of a victim of circumstances.

3. He sneers at the swaggering, strutting 'Lord', with the Peacock-

attitude, unaware that his wealth cannot purchase respect.

4. Burns' view is that Titles and Honours, which have not been earned

are meaningless and worthless. The working man, despite being poor,

has a wealth of dignity and worth…

5. He forecasts that the day will come, when Rank and Power will be

dramatically diluted as the common man gains equality.

Is there for honest Poverty
That hings his head, an' a' that;
The coward slave-we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a' that!
For a' that, an' a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The Man's the gowd for a' that.

What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, an' a that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;
A Man's a Man for a' that:
For a' that, and a' that,
Their tinsel show, an' a' that;
The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that.

Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,
Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that;
Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that:
For a' that, an' a' that,
His ribband, star, an' a' that:
The man o' independent mind
He looks an' laughs at a' that.

A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an' a' that;
But an honest man's abon his might,
Gude faith, he maunna fa' that!
For a' that, an' a' that,
Their dignities an' a' that;
The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,
Are higher rank than a' that.

Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a' that,)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.

BC Fed convention supports $10 minimum wage

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Last week on Wednesday, delegates at the BC Fed convention spent their lunch hour distributing information about the campaign to raise the minimum wage to $10 in BC.

Jim Sinclair, president of the BC Federation of Labour, is interviewed while a BC Fed convention delegate holds up the $10 Now information card. – photo Todd Wong.

Convention delegates took time out from their lunch time and went to different nearby Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre in the Vancouver downtown area. BC Fed president Jim Sinclair went to the Seabus terminal and handed out pamphlets to Seabus, Skytrain and Westcoast Express goers.

Transit users were generally positive and supportive of the $10 Now campaign. I opened doors for people entering the Seabus causeway and gave out the information pamphlets.

The minimum wage in BC was last increased to $8 in November, 2001. In 2002, the provincial government rolled back the minimum for new workers through the $6 training wage.

2008_Nov25 003 Bill Sinclair talks to reporters at the Seabus terminal – photo Todd Wong

At the BC Fed convention, delegates voted unaminously to support the $10 Now Minium Wage campaign.

In August 2007 MLA's voted in Bill 37 a 29% pay raise boosting salaries from $76,100 to $98,000. The premier would
see his salary increase by 54 per cent to more than $186,000. NDP MLA's voted against the pay raise and would donate their portion to charities.
see: NDP to give pay raise to charity
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/archive/index.php/t-477061.html

And in August 2008, “100 of BC's top bureaucrats in the provincial government will receive
salary increases as large as 43 per cent, all in a bid to attract and
keep top executives, B.C.'s minister responsible for labour market
development said Friday.” http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/08/08/bc-salry-hike.html

“Gordon Campbell boosted his own salary by 54% and now he’s doling
out taxpayers’ money to the highest paid people in government,” says
Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour.

The Deputy Minister to the Premier has been given a 43% salary increase and will be paid $348,600 a year. Other Deputy Ministers will be paid $299,215 per year, a 35% increase. Assistant Deputy Ministers will see their salaries increase 22% to $195,000 a year.

http://www.bcfed.com/node/1298

Gung HAGGIS Fat Choy

Toddish McWong's Misadventures in Multiculturalism: through arts, culture, food, dragon boats, travel + more…

10th Annual Asian Comedy Night coming in January