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Second Generation Asian Canadians Dominating in Baseball

Christine Le
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Second Generation Asian Canadians Dominating in Baseball

Over the previous few decades, very few North American Asian baseball players have been able to make it to the major leagues. Baseball is among the harder sports to master. A recent survey by Routine, a baseball streetwear brand, discovered that 2.9 per cent of Major League Baseball (MLB) players are Asian. Financial, cultural, and societal hurdles that prevent Asian youth from having opportunities to pursue baseball.

Asian baseball players are underrepresented both on the field and in sports management positions. The Institute for Diversity, Ethics, and Sport’s founder and director, Richard Lapchick found that 41 per cent of players are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), but only 7 of 100 leadership positions are filled by people of color. Asians who belong to the BIPOC group experience racial discrimination and inequality in the baseball industry. Although some parents believe they can impact society by encouraging change in professional sports. Having a solid family support system motivates Asian youth to excel and outperform the competition.

Hayden Le. Photo courtesy Ken Le.

Young rising Vietnamese Canadian Baseball Player

Hayden Le, 15, resides in Oakville, Ont., became a fan of baseball after seeing Jose Bautista play for the Toronto Blue Jays. He participated in his first baseball game in 2015 at the age of eight. Hayden’s parents decide to enroll their children in baseball to foster a sense of collaboration and provide physical activity. Currently, Hayden is in the Canadian Premier Baseball League (CPBL) for the Fieldhouse Pirates as first baseman and pitcher. The organization includes the top amateur players and programs supported by the province of Ontario. It produces high-calibre players, with a focus on development, and enhancing the profile of the game in Canada.

On July 27, Hayden attended The Prep Baseball Report (PBR) Future Games 2022, a high profile summer scouting event to recruit baseball prospects in North America. Hayden is also invited to a baseball academic camp in October where top US University coaches from Division 1 and Ivy Leagues in training to be a professional baseball player.

Hayden hopes to receive a baseball scholarship to play professionally in the United States. His parents think his performance as a baseball player is directly related to his academic and athletic achievements. Baseball, according to Hayden,“teaches me that hard effort and discipline can pay off and failure is not always bad.”

Baseball Tournament at Butler University in Indiana. Hayden Le #6 is 10th from the right end and Owen Ralph #2 is 4th on the right. Photo courtesy @baseball.tagg.art.

Family comes first

Denise Quek, mother of sons Ethan and Owen Ralph, says it was difficult to overcome Asian cultural prejudices and sport industry hierarchies.

“Growing up, my Hong Kong immigrant parents placed a higher importance on regular physical activity over athletics. They never encourage my siblings or me to play team sports.”

That did not deter her from participating in a variety of sports including baseball, volleyball, running cross country, and soccer. Once she started a family, Denise enrolled both of her sons in baseball to be physically active to dispel stereotypes and expectations. She had seen that Asian players in North America are rarely recruited for MLB. Due to a lack of encouragement both from parents and the baseball community, Asian children often do not pursue the sport.
Things are starting to change, however. Currently, Owen plays on the same team with Hayden in the position of middle infield and right-hand pitcher. Owen aspires to get drafted into MLB and would like to make baseball his livelihood.

“If he can’t play baseball for a living, he still wants to do something in the sports field,” said Denise.

Like Denise, Ken, and Karen Le, support their kids in pursuing their goals. They would drive Hayden and his brother Blake to baseball games, practice drills, and lift weights on days off. This occurred five days a week on a rotating schedule.

“Team work is not only on the field. Ken and I work together to balance it out and ensure our children’s success,” explained Karen.

When it comes to higher education and sports scholarships, academic achievement is important in order to get accepted early to the university and play on a good team, scouts start looking at grade point averages (GPA) in Grade 9.

“If they don’t have a good enough grade average, they won’t even get a scholarship,” noted Ken.

There are some baseball scholarships awarded to visible minority groups, but not many. “I’m hoping that baseball scholarships were announced. They don’t cover the whole tuition. Hopefully there’ll be some kind of academic scholarship as well. If the athletes are also academically inclined, they could get two scholarships that will help them go into university.” explained Denise.

Getting children involved in sports while they are young helps build life skills. Ken said that playing baseball has given Hayden more confidence to participate in games and learn from his mistakes. Karen believes that Hayden can excel as a baseball player and develop both personally and professionally via the game.

Hayden’s family: Ken,Karen, and Blake holding up Dog Coco picking up Hayden after practice Photo courtesy Ken Le.
Hayden’s family: Ken,Karen, and Blake holding up Dog Coco picking up Hayden after practice Photo courtesy Ken Le.

In every leader, there is a mentor

Wayne Forman, Perry Scott, Hayden Le, John Mariotti (Head Coach), and BJ York. Courtesy Ken Le
Wayne Forman, Perry Scott, Hayden Le, John Mariotti (Head Coach), and BJ York. Courtesy Ken Le

Scott was born in Stewart, B.C and raised in Prince George, B.C. He began playing baseball at the age of five. He was an outfielder and an infielder for Team British Columbia (BC) by 16, then went to Clarke College in Taft, Calif. Scott was named to the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) all conference team in his both junior and senior years (2000-2001). In his senior year, Scott was chosen as a member of the All-Region Baseball Team. After completing his college years, Scott spent two years as assistant baseball coach for first base and infielders. Currently, he is full time at Fieldhouse.
Coaching is an opportunity for him to learn more about an athlete’s parents long-term baseball aspirations.

Hayden and Scott. Photo courtesy Ken Le
Hayden and Scott. Photo courtesy Ken Le

“We meet with families and find long-term goals by helping them find the right placement whether it be at the university level or pro level. We look at the quality of the player versus ethnic background.”stated Scott.
Under Scott’s training, athletes train and advance at Fieldhouse, in Burlington, ON.
He advises players improve their work ethic and demeanor off the field. Scott believes having a good work ethic and attitude will translate the athlete’s potential being drafted into professional baseball.
‘As coaches we have high expectations for our players to succeed. By showing up to work hard, we can guide them to become the baseball players they want to be.”

Hayden Le with TJ Singh. Photo courtesy Ken Le.
Hayden Le with TJ Singh. Photo courtesy Ken Le.

Hayden Le with TJ Singh. Photo courtesy Ken Le.

TJ Singh, one of Hayden’s coaches is of South Asian descent was a Division 1 baseball player in the United States.

Singh was raised by his grandparents in Vancouver. He discovered baseball by playing outside with the neighborhood kids. At the age of 12, Singh joined the all-star team at Oakville League All Star and eventually made it to the Ontario Blue Jays. After graduating from high school, Singh played for a year in Tennessee, at Freed Hardman University and at Central Methodist University in Missouri. In Summer 2021, Singh became a coach at Fieldhouse to encourage young people to play baseball.
He experienced hardships as a person of color in the sport. Singh, who is half Indian and half North American, felt like an outsider at the time.
“When I was in Kansas City, Missouri, one of my teammates approached me and called me Mexican. It was a racial slur,” Singh recalls.
He had no assistance or services for visible minorities.
“In addition, I had no guidance in selecting the right courses for high school because my grandparents do not speak English,” said Singh.
However, racism is not as prevalent as it was in the past.
“Now when I go back to high school to coach baseball, minorities are everywhere. There’s Muslim, Black, and Asian people. It’s diverse people in one area.” Given how the North American socio-cultural landscape is changing, baseball can provide a promising career path for Asian Canadians.

Scott and Singh agree baseball should be an inclusive sport for minority populations. In Canada, young individuals can pursue professional baseball through private or public organizations. Fieldhouse receives direct funding from their annual golf fundraiser that helps to run facility and program operations.The Jays Care Foundation is another option that provides more accessible grants through programs for youth across 10 provinces and 2 territories in Canada to play baseball. Examples: Rookie League, Field of Dreams, Jays Care Community ClubHouse, Girls at Bat, James Bay Girls at Bat, and Challenger Baseball (Charity Intelligence,2022).

As more seasoned players of diverse backgrounds on the field, younger athletes will have role models and a better chance of reaching their goals and participating in professional sports.

In baseball, similar to hockey, there still aren’t many role models for visible minorities. Danny Graves #32 (aka Baby-faced Assassin) former pitcher (1996-2006) is the only Vietnamese descent player in baseball in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. Graves was well known for leading the Cincinnati Reds as saves leader from 1999-2004. A saves leader is a pitcher who entered the game with a lead and finished off a win (MLB,2002).
“It’s a great feeling like you’ve accomplished something and have an impact on children,” said Graves (Youtube, Graves).
To be more inclusive, sport organizations need to work with visible minorities and hiring practices need to encourage diversity participation. As for the players, upcoming athletes like Hayden and Owen are setting an example by encouraging Asian Canadians to participate in sports.

Sources

Bulletproof Baseball Academy. (2022) Bulletproof welcomes Perry Scott to the 18U Coaching Staff. Retrieved from.
https://www.bpsportspark.com/teams/?u=BULLETTPROOFBASEBALL&s=baseball&p=newsstory&newsID=33909

Heroux, Devin and Strashin, Jamie. (2020) Sidelined: How diversity in Canada’s sports leadership falls short. CBC Sports. Retrieved from. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/diversity-canadian-sports-leadership-falls-short-1.5648402

Major League Baseball (MLB). (2022) Danny Graves #32. Retrieved From.
https://www.mlb.com/player/danny-graves-115056

The Mayor’s office with Sean Casey. (2021) Ep18: Danny Graves!. Retrieved from.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krwO82iZGkM

Routine. (2020) Player Demographics Major League Baseball (MLB). Retrieved from.
https://www.routine.com/blog/post/mlb-player-demographics/

Virginia’s Culture, Courage and Creepiness

Maureen Littlejohn
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Virginia’s Culture, Courage and Creepiness

A piece of his coffin lies under glass, a pocket watch gleams from a display case, and ivy from his mother’s grave blankets the garden. I was at the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in downtown Richmond, Virginia, where the author grew up. A master of mystery and the macabre, Poe’s harsh life was filled with lost love and death. The Raven is one of his most famous poems and his short stories include chilling titles such as The Tell-Tale Heart.

My husband Steve and I were on a driving trip from Toronto. Virginia is chock-a-block with history and I was eager to dig into the past and experience the thriving present.

A big Poe fan, the museum was at the top of my sightseeing list.
Maeve Jones, the museum’s executive director, took me on a tour of the garden.

“We have all the plant species Poe included in his stories and poems,” she explained.
Inside, curator Chris Semtner showed me a lock of Poe’s hair and photos of the author from the 1840s. I was curious about the piece of his coffin. “He was first buried in an unmarked grave. When it was moved to a marked grave, the coffin broke apart and people grabbed chunks,” Semtner explained.

Keeping with the creepy theme, we headed to the oldest museum in the city. The Valentine opened after the Civil War and the museum’s quirky contents were not unsettling. But the product that funded the private, family-run institution was.

Meat Juice, I learned from museum director William Martin, was a nutritional tonic concocted by Mann Valentine in 1870 for his ill wife. She recovered after a strict regime of the juice and by the late 1870s doctors were singing its praises. It became one of the most popular patent medicines in the world, although Valentine’s wife died two years later.

Afterwards, we picked vegetarian options at The Daily Kitchen & Bar in a funky pocket of the city called Carytown. Nearby was the Virginia Museum of History of Culture. Freshly renovated, the museum’s atrium was magnificent, and a new café served gallery goers.

That night we tucked into a buttery dinner of shrimp and grits at Parterre in our hotel, the Linden Row Inn. Comprising seven joined row houses built in the mid-1800s, the 70-guest room inn was furnished with period antiques and is on the National Register of Historic Places. I was excited to learn that Edgar Allan Poe spent his childhood playing in the garden which is now the hotel’s courtyard. Local legend has it this was the enchanted garden he refers to in his poem “To Helen.”

The next day we headed to Fredericksburg and Historic Kenmore, the Georgian-style brick mansion that belonged to Betty Washington Lewis and her husband merchant Fielding Lewis. Betty was George Washington’s sister and Fielding supported the American Revolution with supplies paid for from his own pocket.

History overflowed here. The Rising Sun Tavern was built by Washington’s youngest brother Charles around 1760 as a home and it became tavern in 1792. You can also tour Mary Washington’s House, where George’s mother once lived.

Having worked up an appetite, we dug into crispy chicken sandwiches at Foode, owned by Bravo TV’s Top Chef participant Joy Crump and her partner Beth Black. The restaurant is housed in the former National Bank building, where Abraham Lincoln addressed the townspeople during the Civil War.

Our accommodation, the Richard Johnston Inn, still had charred beams and exterior bullet pock marks made during that conflict.
The final stop on our tour was Alexandria, across the Potomac River from Washington D.C. Founded in 1749, the city had an Old Town district with cobblestone streets and more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques.

Around the corner from The Alexandrian, our hotel, was the Stabler Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. Bottles labeled ether and opium, and drawers full of dried plants such as Dragon’s Blood lined the walls.
“The business started in 1792, but moved to this building in 1805,” explained Lauren Gleason, site manager.

The shop stayed in the Leadbeater family until the business went bankrupt in 1933. When it closed, the store was sealed up with all its original contents including a box of poisonous mandrake root.
“The only difference between poison and medicine is the dosage,” explained Gleason.

Walking up King St., we stopped at The Turkish Coffee Lady’s shop, owned by Gizem White. The strong brew was delicious. Miniature works of art sat on the shelves, done by Turkish painter Hasan Kale whose masterpieces almost require a microscope. White, who is married to an American, is from Ankara originally and started out with a Turkish coffee truck.

“I see my business as a way to bridge cultures. Coming into this shop is a way to connect, learn and share,” she noted.

Another side of the Alexandria story is African American. Walking tour guide Linda Powell told us that people were bought and sold here until 1864, the domestic trade continuing after the British Empire’s Slavery Abolition Act came into force in 1834.

After the American Revolution in 1776, Virginian farmers stopped growing tobacco because they lost their prime market in the U.K. Switching to cattle, which required less labour, they sold their enslaved people to plantations in the South. A famous tale is of the Edmonson sisters who were going to be sold and sent to New Orleans to work in a brothel. They tried to escape by ship but were caught and returned. Due to the efforts of their father Samuel, who was a free man, funds were raised and the sisters were freed. A statue of the two women can be seen today in Edmonson Plaza.

For a step back in time, we opted for dinner at Gadsby’s Tavern where George Washington had dined. On the menu was his favorite dish, a roasted half duck with corn pudding.

Our final stop was Washington’s farm and home, Mount Vernon a 30-minute drive outside Alexandria. The sprawling property had a museum, farm animals, orchard, dock and mausoleum where George and his wife Martha are buried. Washington owned more than 300 enslaved people and a burial site on the grounds honours these men and women.

Virginia’s stories go deep. The state is a fascinating destination for anyone who likes to dig into the past. I find doing this helps me see the present more clearly.

Discovering the Canadian Film and Screen Industry 

Culture Magazine
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Discovering the Canadian Film and Screen Industry 

Filmmaking is more than just artistic expression. As an industry, it has evolved into a highly profitable enterprise. Canada’s film and screen industry contributed over $10 billion to the Canadian economy last year. While the Canadian film and screen industry is lesser known than American cinema, it has a rich history full of struggle and strength, making its presence today an impressive feat. Frequently referred to as Hollywood North, the Canadian film and television industry’s vibrant presence has a long-standing history in Canadian arts and culture. In the last decade, it has doubled in size thanks to the industry’s global studio partners and the popularity of video streaming.

The History of Canadian Film and Television:

Canada’s film industry is as old as filmmaking and dates to the late 1800s. The first Canadian films were produced in 1897 by a Manitoban farmer named James Freer. His films focused on his life in the Canadian Prairies. In 1899, The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) sponsored Freer to travel to Britain to show his movies abroad in a collection called Ten Years In Manitoba. The series received mass success and prompted the Canadian federal government to sponsor a second tour for Freer to continue to share his films with a British audience.

A flyer advertising James Freer’s Ten Years in Manitoba, image courtesy of Library and Archives Canada.
A flyer advertising James Freer’s Ten Years in Manitoba, image courtesy of Library and Archives Canada.

Following the second tour, CPR partnered with a British company to create the Bioscope Company of Canada. This was a collective of filmmakers hired to produce a series of 35 films called Living Canada. The project aimed to advertise life in Canada abroad to British citizens to convince them to immigrate to the country. The series debuted the country’s first dramatic narrative film, Hiawatha, The Messiah of the Ojibway, released in 1903. A work of fiction, the film was produced and photographed by British documentarian Joseph Rosenthal. Inspired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem The Song of Hiawatha, the 15-minute movie featured Ojibway actors and was set in the woods of Desbarats in northern Ontario. CPR continued to create films promoting immigration to Canada into the 1930s.

Most of Canada’s early productions were funded by Canadians and made by non-Canadians to advertise Canada and Canadian products to a global audience. Canada also began to gain popularity as a place for foreign film producers to set their films.

Today, Canada is still a popular location for foreign productions. Last year, 58 per cent of screen production in Canada came from outside of the country, with the United States making up 79 per cent of foreign production projects. Vancouver ranked the top location for filming, with 44 per cent of the foreign productions. Other popular filming locations in Canada include Toronto and the provinces of Quebec and Alberta. Foreign Location and Service (FLS) provides the most production volume. In contrast, Canadian content makes up only a third of screen production.

Film and Screen Production in Canada Today:

This 2020/21 year—from April 1st, 2020, to March 31st, 2021—brought in a total of $9.09 billion in production volume, creating approximately 216,660 jobs and contributing $11.27 billion toward Canada’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP).

The industry has more than doubled in size in the last couple of decades — starting from $4.6 billion in production volume in 1996/97 and jumping to $9.5 billion in 2019/20 (pre-COVID19). While the industry experienced losses in 2020/21, it continues to contribute to the economy. Last year also saw a minor increase in FLS production, which added $5.27 billion to the industry.

This past year, Canada also housed global studio projects of some of the biggest blockbuster films, including Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Jurassic World 3. Like many industries, Canada’s film and screen production industry took a punch during the pandemic. However, if history has anything to prove, it’s that Canada’s film and television business is a resilient one.

The Canadian film and screen industry is vital to Canada’s financial wellness and economy. For a greater understanding of the country’s film industry and history, visit

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-history-of-film-in-canada.

How Public Libraries Support Newcomers to Canada

Culture Magazine
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How Public Libraries Support Newcomers to Canada

For many Canadians, public libraries play an essential role in daily life. Canada’s first public libraries opened in 1883. One of the oldest publicly funded institutions in the country, libraries have evolved into pillars of society, providing equitable access to thousands of free resources and offering a wide array of services for users. The primary purpose of a public library is to address the needs and wants of the communities they serve. For new Canadians, arriving in an unfamiliar country can be a daunting and isolating experience. Community spaces such as the library are vital in helping them settle into their new home. Below are a few ways library services help to support newcomers.

Use your library card to borrow from collections: Library collections include thousands of physical and digital resources to reference or borrow from. With a library card, users can take out books, films, periodicals and other materials free of charge. The Toronto Public Library is one of Canada’s largest public library systems and provides an expansive multilingual collection serving the city’s culturally diverse communities. Considered one of the country’s largest multilingual collections, you can borrow books and films in languages ranging from Amharic to Yiddish. Visit the TPL’s webpage to learn more about and borrow from the collection.

Register for programs: Many libraries offer a variety of programs and classes. Programming offered specifically for Canadian immigrants includes English Second Language classes, citizenship study groups, English conversation circles, business support workshops, personal finance, and activities for the whole family. Most programs require a library membership to register and participate. Programs are a valuable and free way to engage with others in the community while having the chance to gain new skills, discover hobbies, and expand your knowledge.

Take advantage of career and settlement support services: Settlement support includes connecting Canadian newcomers to partner settlement agencies, finding employment, getting a driver’s license, aiding in skill development and much more. With a library membership, digital resources such as LinkedIn Learning, eLearning courses, citizenship tests and ESL training are also available. Your library card gives you many tools to succeed in finding and building a career through programming and services, including resume building, job search support, and entrepreneur workshops.

Public libraries have come a long way since their conception in the early 1880s. Today libraries are considered community centres, essential for providing local communities with equitable access to everything from books to technology to arts and culture. Libraries also play a vital role in connecting and familiarizing newcomers to their communities through their services. The best part is that all the services and resources provided by public libraries are free to enjoy with a library card membership.

Proverb: Có con phải khổ vì con

Culture Magazine
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Proverb: Có con phải khổ vì con 
Literal Translation: Having children, [a woman] must suffer for her children,
Having a husband, [a woman] must bear the burden of the husband’s household.
English Equivalent: Behind every successful man is a woman.

When I look back at how society used to be, I realize how far women have come. Everywhere in the world, women are at a better place in society than they were yesterday, a year ago or a decade ago. This change is the fruit of an ongoing struggle.

Our March proverb (actually a folk song) demonstrates this. To understand it, we need to explore the historical context of its birth. In the past, women in Vietnam and Asia held very traditional roles within society due to the widespread acceptance of Confucianism. According to the teachings, a woman was expected to be subservient to her husband and other male figures in her family, while carrying out her duties within the household.

In Vietnam, there’s a proverb that expresses the four qualities in an ideal woman – Công dung ngôn hạnh (hardworking, beautiful, soft-spoken, virtuous). Công (hardworking) refers to her labor and devotion to the household and serving her family. Our folk song is further evidence of this gender norm, expressing that a woman must take care of her children and home. Interestingly enough, the folk song actually expresses pity and empathy for women as indicated by the use of the words khổ (suffer) and gánh (carry the weight of/ bear the burden of), both having negative connotations. The folk song is acknowledging and praising a woman’s sacrifice for her family. This traditional role of women was duplicated around the world, not just limited to Asia.

Today, there is the saying “Behind every successful man is a woman.” While this phrase is not without criticism, it nonetheless recognizes the role women play in men’s success. The phrase is not about housekeeping or childrearing, as in the past, but reflects a woman’s direct involvement. Barack and Michelle Obama, Pierre and Marie Currie, Johnny and June Carter Cash – these couples earned the adoration of spectators for their harmonious relationships.

In each case, the wives played a vital role in the husband’s success. Michelle was the eloquent First Lady who matched Barack in charisma, Marie was the perfect partner whose intellect rivaled Pierre’s, and June was the musical muse and soul mate who inspired Johnny. Women have come a long way in their fight for rights. They no longer stand in their spouses’ shadow, but beside him or her as a partner.

As positive as this progress is, there is still a long way to go in the fight for equality.

A makeup spatula might be your new makeup must-have

Jessica Lopez
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A makeup spatula might be your new makeup must-have

The arrival of one of the year’s first makeup trends has been causing a commotion in the beauty community. Hailing from South Korea, this slender spatula has been praised for its flawless makeup application. So far, #makeupspatula has garnered more than 10 million tags.

makeup spatula
makeup spatula

The tool looks similar to a regular spatula used to ice cakes. Slightly smaller, it is lightweight and used to apply foundation. What makes it different from beauty sponges and makeup brushes is that the spatula leaves a very thin layer of foundation. Not cakey, it gives the wearer light and natural coverage.

How to achieve the “your skin, but better” look
Although it is unknown who started the trend, many influencers and makeup artists have developed their own techniques and tricks with the tool.

The most accurate way to use it is to apply liquid foundation onto the back of your hand. Then gently slide your spatula alongside it, grazing the foundation while pulling it towards you to evenly distribute. Once the makeup is on the spatula, glide it with an even pressure over your face. If necessary, use a damp beauty sponge to blend for a seamless application.

The spatula should be used only for your foundation, not other liquid makeup.

Not so travel-friendly
Even though the spatula can be taken anywhere, it may be wise to leave it at home if going overseas. Some beauty influencers have noted that it can often be mistaken for a weapon at airport security. Although the spatula is blunt and cannot cut through anything, its slender appearance can cause alarm. Instead, substitute beauty sponges or makeup brushes. But other than passing through airport security, no other problems have been reported.

Where to find it?
Available online, the name of one brand is Picasso and retails for under $20.

Midland and Finch

Jessica Lopez
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Midland and Finch

One of the hottest spots in Scarborough nowadays is Sky City Shopping Centre. However, the centre is more commonly referred to as ’Midland and Finch,’ which are the streets on which the centre is located. Specifically, the shopping centre is like a plaza at 3275 Midland Ave, Scarborough. The plaza comes to life at night time and is often packed. Mostly known for the abundance of food, there are also other reasons why lots of people make it a tradition to come.

Midland and Finch are frequently visited by a younger crowd, mostly millennials and Gen Z. However, it’s becoming more family-friendly with newer businesses opening up.

Visit one of the many Asian restaurants:

Almost all the food is Asian. However, there is a wide variety to select from, from making your own personal hotpot to Korean fried chicken and even Asian fusion dishes. There is always something to crave.

Go to one of the MANY bubble tea shops:

One of the highlights and reasons why most people visit Midland and Finch is for their various selections of bubble tea shops. From mainstream franchises such as Chatime and Boba Boy to Asian-based brands like Xin Fu Tang. New bubble tea shops are commonly opened inside the centre, and you can find a new go-to spot regularly.

Grab some snacks:

Now that the food has finally settled, you might be a little hungry. Luckily there are some grab-and-go shops to pick up some snacks while continuing the night at Midland and Finch. One of the most popular snacks includes Korean corndogs from Chunchung, pastries at Bake Code, and mochi doughnuts from La Mochi Doughnuts and Sweets.

Claw Machine Arcade:

Midland-Finch
Midland-Finch

Midland and Finch are more than just the spot to get Asian food and drinks. The latest installment at the center is Claw Me Baby, a claw machine arcade. The arcade is visited by many who are feeling lucky to win and trade for their favourite stuffed toy. The shop changes the selection of toys that one could sell often, so there is always something worth winning when visiting.

The differences between Western and Eastern zodiac signs

Jessica Lopez
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The differences between Western and Eastern zodiac signs

Eastern and Western astrology signs can be quite different but there are similarities. No matter what your culture, people look to the stars, check their horoscopes, and refer to their lucky number to see what the year holds for them.

Origins

East: There is no definite story about why or how the 12 animals were chosen to represent birth years. However, there is a common legend in some Asian countries that celebrate the Lunar New Year.

The story centers around a race around a river current between various animals. The first 12 animals to complete the race were chosen. The order of the animals is as follows:

  1. Rat
  2. Ox
  3. Tiger
  4. Rabbit
  5. Dragon
  6. Snake
  7. Horse
  8. Goat
  9. Monkey
  10. Rooster
  11. Dog
  12. Pig

These Chinese New Year animals are mostly the same in the Vietnamese Lunar New Year except for two. Instead of the ox, there is a water buffalo; instead of the rabbit, there is a cat. While most Asian communities are celebrating the Year of the Rabbit this year, the Vietnamese community is celebrating the Year of the Cat. One reason there is this slight altercation is a misinterpretation of the language. The Chinese astrological term for rabbit is mão (卯), but ancient Vietnamese culture misinterpreted the word as mèo, as in cat.

West: Western astrology is influenced by ancient Greeks and Babylon. It is defined as the philosophy of stars, but the meaning has changed since its origin around 1,800 years ago. Credited as the founder of astrology is astronomer and mathematician Ptolemy’s Tertrabiblos.

Tetrabiblos divided Earth’s orbits into 30-degree sectors and documented the distinct constellations, which are now known as the 12 zodiac signs. These are divided into water, fire, air, and earth.

Celebrations

According to the lunar calendar, the Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle, and each animal represents a new cycle. Every year the zodiac animal changes and represents a new group of people born in those particular years.

For example, 2022 represents the Year of the Rabbit and the Cat. However, those born in 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, and 2011 are considered lucky and have good fortune for the year as they were born into the year of the rabbit and cat.

In Western astrology, the zodiac sign is assigned at birth, and no yearly celebrations rotate a new sign for the rest of the year.

For example, the horoscope sign Aries is for those born from March 21st to April 19th. The years are not relevant in Western zodiacs and astrology, unlike Eastern zodiacs that heavily rely on birth years.

Personality Traits and Influences

A common zodiac trait between the East and the West is that each animal has personality traits and beliefs reflected in individuals. For example, in the East, the personality traits of rats include resourcefulness and quickness. In the West, Aries are known to be determined and have fiery personalities.

In both cultures, there are presumptions about the person based on their zodiac sign. Personality traits based on zodiac signs are mostly generalized and aren’t always accurate or factual.

In both cultures, zodiac signs can influence career choices, compatibility, marriages, and even fortune. Although they are not accurate, they can offer some guidelines for the future and provide security to some degree. Like reading horoscopes to get some sense of what the day would be like. Just like how during Lunar New Year, each group can go into the new year with optimism.

East & West Makeup Routines

Jessica Lopez
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East & West Makeup Routines

Makeup is universal. Throughout the world, no matter the gender, makeup can be used by anyone. In every culture there is a different standard of beauty. The traditional look can be drastically different from East to West, but there can also be similarities.

Skin

Skin
Skin

West: There is a more comprehensive range of foundation colors available, although some brands’ shades miss the mark.

East: A paler complexion is common. Having a fair complexion is associated with being of a higher class. This means less working out in the fields and keeping the skin protected from the the elements. It also means that there are fewer shades of makeup to choose from. Darker tones are often unavailable or don’t match well.

Face

Lips
Lips

East: Foundation is ideally lightweight. This results in a natural finish and a dewy, glass-like complexion. Minimal concealer covers slight imperfections.

Contour is kept to a minimum and mainly used to add warmth to the face. Fun fact: In South Korea contouring is referred to as “shading.” This is because rather than sculpting the face, it adds shadows that alter facial features subtly.

Blush and highlighter creates a soft finish. Blush is not as pigmented as in the West. It is used to create a slight flush and subtle glow.

West: Full foundation coverage is most often sought to mask imperfections like blemishes. Applying color correctors helps balance the complexion. Concealer is usually a shade lighter and brightens areas of the face, mainly under the eyes, to conceal dark patches and bags.

Contour is used to shape the face. The common theme between the two cultures is to achieve a smaller and slimmer look.

Blush comes in many versions including cream, liquid, and powder. It can add warmth or lift to the face, depending on how it is applied. Highlighting also adds lift and brightness to areas such as the arch of the eyebrows, cheekbones, and nose.

Eyes

In both cultures, the eyes create the biggest impression.

eyes
eyes

East: Usually eyebrows aren’t as defined as they are in the West. The eyebrow shape is often straight, fluffier and with a softer arch. Brows sometimes have a powdery look and rarely are bold or dark in color.

Eyeshadow is not used as much, but when it is the colors are coral, light pink, and light brown. A more natural look is the standard. Occasionally layers of subtle color are used to make the eyes pop more. Eyeliners sometimes accentuate the eyes, but are never too dramatic.

On the lashes, curls are the most important. Because Asian hair grows naturally straight eyelash primers are applied with curling mascara.

West: Bolder than East Asian, popular eyebrow shapes have a higher arch resulting in a fiercer look.

Eye makeup is more experimental, with many colors and possibilities. Graphic eyeline designs are becoming more prevalent and are more creative than the basic winged application.

Eyelashes are evolving. Mascaras are volumizing and lengthening. Adding eyelash extensions has become a common beauty practice since they are longer lasting than mascara.

Lips

Both cultures have a lot of similarities and only a few differences.

Lips
Lips

East: The main common difference is the product type and application. Lip tints, usually sheer, are the most popular. They are either water or cream based. Rather than applying a single lip tint directly, blending some of the colors with the ring finger is common. This can often leave an ombre or gradient finish.

West: There is a lot of product variety including lipstick, liquid lipstick, stains, and tints. The most popular is gloss, which makes the lips shine.

Although every culture is different, analyzing the various products and applications can be exciting and inspire you to try something different in your beauty routine.

Asian Canadian content creators who you should follow

Jessica Lopez
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Asian Canadian content creators who you should follow

Social media has become one of the most powerful tools to share your voice and opinions. It can also be used to build a platform to send a certain message or represent a community. These Asian-Canadian content creators are doing all that and adding a few chuckles on the way.

CantoMando

CantoMando
CantoMando

CantoMando compromises three close friends, Sheldon Ho, Mike Wu, and Edward Leung. Ho started the channel to teach Cantonese speakers to learn Mandarin. Wu and Leung then joined him, and things took a turn as they ventured into comedy and gained popularity. Throughout the years they have been sharing their Chinese culture through videos. Whether hitting the streets and handing out free bubble tea to strangers or connecting with their heritage by learning traditional lion dancing these boys are always trying something new. Their antics guarantee a good laugh while providing powerful insights into the Asian-Canadian experience.

Leenda Dong

LeendaDong
LeendaDong

Based in Vancouver, Leenda Dong is a well-known Asian-Canadian TikToker. Her channel is always a source of laughs with a bunch of comedic skits that most people find relatable. She also helped push the “what kind of Asian are you?” trend. What most fans don’t know about Dong is that she used to have a YouTube channel called LeendaDProductions that is filled with short films about relationship troubles, adolescence, and quirky skits. Fun fact: You’ll see a young Simu Liu pre Shang-Chi, and Jason Y. Lee, founder of Jubilee Media, acting in one of her short films.

Aashim Aggarwal and Amaara Dhanji

Aashim Aggarwal and Amaara Dhanji
Aashim Aggarwal and Amaara Dhanji

This couple is eating up the city one restaurant at a time. They are notoriously known for trying to find and eat every culture’s food in the GTA and their videos highlight Toronto’s diversity. The more you scroll down their Instagram and TikTok feed, the more you start craving a bite of their meal. Luckily, Aggarwal offers private food tours around the city, and the link can be seen in his Link Tree that’s in both description boxes.

Hafu Go

HafuGo
HafuGo

Born in Chongqing, Hafu Go moved to Vancouver from China with his family when he was nine. Go’s YouTube channel was originally filled with college study tips where he would give advice to fellow students. A famous segment on his channel was “College Crawl,” where he would visit different college campuses. Now Go’s channel focuses on bizarre tests, like surviving training in Shaolin Kung Fu. By challenging himself, he aims to liberate viewers from their own limitations.

Reangsei Phos

More of an indie film director than a content creator, Reangsei Phos is active on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram where he promotes his work. Phos is honest about how he became a successful filmmaker on his own after dropping out of university. The National Film Festival for Talented Youth has awarded his short films #StopAsianHate and Talisman the Audience Award. He continues to use social media to generate buzz and also as casting calls for his productions.

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