Douglas Jung, the born-to-be-Canadian war veteran

On this Remembrance Day, 11/11/2010, Douglas Jung comes to mind. Back in 2001, I had lunch with him in Vancouver on the same block that now has a federal government building named in his honour. He talked of his youth as a Canadian-born Chinese kid who had no legal status since the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923 had taken away rights from people of Chinese origin, even if their origin included being born in Canada. He was 15 years young in 1939 when Canada found herself at war with Japan and Germany. He rallied his neighbourhood friends, also of Chinese heritage, to enlist to "fight the Japanese Imperial Army". And even though none of his Asian-looking pals had ever been to Asia, they enlisted in large numbers for the opportunity to fight for Canada, and fight for freedom, and to possibly earn the right to be more than a disenfranchised non-status-Canadian. Yes he had another agenda, but putting your life on the line to fight for freedom, and then possibly earn freedom in the country of his birth was a far out agenda. He and his pals had everything to lose and something small yet personally important to gain. Yet they did not know that the BC and Canadian governments were intent on NOT allowing these boys any chance of getting the right to vote and become normal Canadians. A secret order by the government in Canada prevented these Chinese from active War duty. They could train, but they would not be activated. It was because of the British army responding to Winston Churchill's demand for resistance behind enemy lines, that Douglas Jung and hundreds of non-status Chinese were put to use as soldiers. They needed military-trained English-speaking Asians to hide amongst the enemy and execute destruction while training locals. How perfect for the British Army ... these trained willing young men that did not belong to any country. They could fight and they could die, and no one would know. And as Douglas Jung described to me, his mission was considered so secret, there would be no official record, which resulted in more irony upon the war's end for the young man who so dearly wanted recognition for serving the country that had not recognized him.

Douglas Jung and all the other veterans of Chinese heritage eventually did get their recognition. They were recognized as war heroes, and they were invited to become real citizens. As veterans, they were treated to university educations. And all Chinese Canadians were allowed the right to practise as professionals, a right that we now take for granted.

Douglas Jung became a lawyer, a member of parliament, and a judge.

Later in his career, he would take his seat at the United Nations when someone told him that the seat was reserved for the representative from Canada. With much earned pride, he stated, "I am the representative from Canada".

Douglas Jung wove an important thread in the fabric of Canada. He left us too early when he died two months after that lunch meeting on January 2002. His picture is very much lacking in the building that is named in his honour. He would have wanted people to know what this born-to-be-Canadian looked like.

Mazda 1985 RX7 GSL-SE with driver available

This collector's 1985 Mazda RX7 provided a lot of fun driving 25 years ago, but it now sits idle in a heated garage, retired from active duty. Vancouver-based vehicle is available with its owner-driver for film and photoshoots. The car is in great condition and shows well. Kept in a Burnaby garage, it is too much fun to give up, so its owner (also retired) is looking for gigs to keep it busy. Rates negotiable. Modifications for specific film purposes also negotiable. Reply to jackgin20@gmail.com

Torch Relay on Vancouver's Main Street

On February 11, 2010, I was awarded the privilege of carrying the Olympic Torch along 37th avenue to Main Street. It truly was an honour and a responsibility. I had already felt humbled that I was noticed for being the "good Canadian" that I had considered myself to be. But now I had to wear this glorious white outfit complete with red mittens (I never wore mittens as an east end kid as they made for lousy snowballs) with much of my family bearing witness and hundreds of kids, a police escort and six bodyguards in black . "careful what you ask for, you just might get it," is what I thought of my predicament that day. "Go slow, so the children can see the torch." "Look out for friends who have come from afar." "Look out for the kids from the Boys and Girls Club who are here too." "This is another blessing, what am I going to make of this one?" ... all thoughts that meshed into my mind as the approaching torchbearer came to light my torch number 183. And then it happened, all so instantly. My Bombardier device became THE Olympic Torch, burning and blowing and hissing and growling with energy that lifted my arm and moved my feet. "This flame from Greece has crossed Canada and WE are taking it home. And I am just the mannequin inside the uniform that is helping move this important symbol of peace, participation and Canadian pride. "

My job was done in a few minutes, but I left the ongoing relay (Bob Lee, Jan Arden, Trevor Linden were up next) and found the hundreds of kids back on 37th and Main Street to have pictures taken. There's nothing like seeing faces of joy and glee in kids holding the Olympic Torch.