The Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop (ACWW) marked its 50th anniversary with a joyful dim sum celebration honouring a historic moment in Asian Canadian literary history—the merger of the Japanese Powell Street Revue and the Chinese Canadian Writers’ Workshop. This milestone gathering commemorated the spirit of solidarity and creativity that led to ACWW’s first groundbreaking project, Inalienable Rice (1979), the pioneering anthology that gave voice to a new generation of Asian Canadian writers. The afternoon was filled with food, laughter, and reflection as community members, writers, and elders gathered to celebrate five decades of cultural resistance, storytelling, and collective vision.
Cheuk Kwan opened with a reading from Have You Eaten Yet and Linda Lau Anusasananan’s The Hakka Cookbook: Chinese Soul Food from Around the World, followed by Alyssa Sy de Jesus’ heartfelt poem honouring Jim Wong-Chu, inspired by her archival journey and his lasting mentorship. Sean Gunn and Effie Pow reflected on the groundbreaking collaboration between the Chinese Canadian Writers’ Workshop and the Japanese Powell Revue, whose unity sparked five decades of creativity and activism, and the publication of Inalienable Rice. Other authors who joined us for this event included Henry Tsang (White Riot), Janie Chang (The Porcelain Moon), David HT Wong (Escape to Gold Mountain), and Scott Steedman (Visions of British Columbia). The event culminated in a festive cake-cutting ceremony and group photo, before many attendees continued to celebrate Larry Grant’s remarkable book launch of Reconciling: A Lifelong Struggle to Belong and his 89th birthday at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum.