Director Tom Huang made the film after his own father went through depression. He had to figure out what the mental illness and get his parents to understand what it is. “I had to get my parents to understand that depression is a disease, and not just a feeling,” Huang says. “It is hard to… Continue reading Dealing with Dad at FascinAsian Film Festival

The concern over the future of Chinatown has been felt in Calgary, as well as Chinatowns across Canada and the United States. With a protest in 2016 over the proposal of a new building complex, community members in Calgary, along with the city itself made a concentrated effort with the Tomorrow’s Chinatown Advisory Group that… Continue reading Big Fight in Little Chinatown

May Reading Plans – Asian Readathon TBR Happy Asian Heritage Month in Canada, and AAPI month in the United States. I want to read as many books by Asian authors as possible. A new book by Kevin Chong was released in April. I have his book, The Plague (2018), as part of my TBR for… Continue reading Asian Readathon TBR – May 2023

We’re Gonna Die The idea of death can be fleeting or rarely thought about. It can also be more constant for some who must deal with it as medical professionals, or something personal that occurs to loved ones. We’re Gonna Die is a solo performance by Elena Belyea that is being presented in Calgary by… Continue reading Verb Theatre’s We’re Gonna Die

Makambe Speaks After her travels, Makambe K. Simamba returns to Calgary with the World Premiere of a new solo show, Makambe Speaks. A co-creation with Eric Rose and the team at Ghost River Theatre, Simamba sets off to answer the question: where are you from? “As someone who has lived in Zambia, Guyana, Virgin Islands,… Continue reading Makambe Speaks at West Village Theatre

Ministry of Grace begins its run tonight at Making Treaty 7. A play written and directed by Tara Beagan, it is a story based on the life of her grandmother. “The story is inspired by my mom’s mom’s story,” she says, “She was taken into residential school in the 1950s.” World War II had ended… Continue reading The Ministry of Grace at The Grand

Ella Enchanted at Storybook Theatre Ella Enchanted begins its run tonight in Calgary with many shows already sold out. A theatre production for kids and their families, the play follows a young girl as she sets off to break a curse. The curse demands that she must remain obedient all the time. The play stars… Continue reading JKStar88 Stage Happenings

Weekday Reading Update Review The Great Believersby Rebecca MakkaiPenguin Books2018 With a new book published in February, I thought I would read Rebecca Makkai’s previous novel, The Great Believers. Yale Tishman is an art gallery curator in the 1980s and is part of the gay community in Chicago. He finds himself diagnosed with HIV, something… Continue reading April Reading Plans 2023

Friday ReadMarch 24 Review Count Zero by William Gibson is the second book in the Sprawl trilogy that begins with Neuromancer. As the second book, there can be a few words said about it without spoiling the first book. A mercenary wakes up one day beside a woman. He has no memory of what has… Continue reading Here is the March TBR 2023

Saints of Big Harbour – Family and Community Monday Reads Update Feb 13, 2023 My reading is hectic these days, so I haven’t kept up this blog during the last two weeks. It feels like I am making progress, but I am reading several books at a time, so my focus is a bit scattered.… Continue reading February Reading Plans 2023