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Year-old flame still burns bright Memories of torch reignited BY A LAN CAMPBELL
acampbell@richmond-news.com
Chinese contribution ignored: Society Asians’ role in history should be better recognized in curriculum — trustee BY A LAN CAMPBELL
acampbell@richmond-news.com
The Chinese contribution to the building of B.C. should be properly recognized in the education system. That’s the view of the Canadians for Reconciliation Society, which hosted a press conference in Richmond yesterday (Thursday) to highlight what it brands a “vacuum” in B.C. history. The society — which chose Richmond for the event due to its high Chinese population — is sending to each of the $
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provincial NDP and Liberal party leadership candidates a document to sign and pledge to affect more acknowledgement of Chinese history, should they win their respective races. Richmond school trustee Chak Au is one of the society’s supporters who believes, B.C. schools could be doing more to include what the Chinese and other minority groups have done for the province. “It’s always good for students to have a deeper understanding of the history and the contributions made by the different groups,” said Au.
“I really think it’s better for fostering a mutual respect and I’d like to see more programs in the curriculum in recognition of what these groups contributed to the country and province. “This is all from a perspective of Canadian history, as our nation was built by different groups at different times and is still being developed.” Au added that he thinks, “It’s good for students to understand this process and therefore make our society more inclusive.” “It would be great to see (the leadership candidates) taking a stand on this,” he said.
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Bill Chu, chair of the Vancouver-based society, said the organization wants to make serious suggestions to all the party leadership candidates. “We will be sending (the pledge) to all the candidates today for them to sign and make a promise. That’s the measure of people power and it will be interesting who signs it and who does not,” Chu said. “In the case of Richmond, more than half the city is Chinese or Asian and that’s one of the reasons we’ve decided to hold this event here.” see Chu page 3
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CHUNG CHOW/RICHMOND NEWS
Peek-a-boo into a new year. Emma, 4, makes an incense prayer for the Lunar New Year at the Lingyen Mountain Temple.
The big hand had just ticked a few seconds passed 4:30 p.m. on a cold, sunny late winter’s afternoon when a glow emerged from the black of the Massey Tunnel and lit a fuse under a city. It’s almost a year to the day when the Olympic flame arrived in Richmond from Delta, igniting a passion never seen before in the city. Tens of thousands of star-struck people lined the streets of the Olympic Torch route, creating an atmosphere that will live long in the minds of Richmondites. Many can remember where they were on that route and can vividly recall their emotions as they waited and waited and then finally caught their first glimpse of the flame. That unforgettable day is etched into the memory of Bob Mukai — a senior and lifelong Steveston resident, who was one of the lucky few to bear the torch in his home town. “I was nervous that morning for sure, because I was wondering how I could carry it for 300 metres and not drop it,” said Mukai, who uses a wheelchair. “I had been practicing a lot before that day, but I was still worried. When I saw the torch coming towards me, I thought, ‘Oh wow, my time’s coming.’ “I remember thinking ‘I can’t flub this one, I can’t mess it up,’ as there were thousands of people there.” see page 3 for full story