In 1985, or something, my parents’ Buddhist teacher, Chogyam Trungpa, decided to move the HQ or ‘capitol’ of his American Buddhist community to Canada. Halifax, to be exact. Within a few years, my mom had joined the burgeoning community up there—a community that was, with its many businesses, a first organic grocery store, fine/fun restaurants and cafes, found itself welcomed with open arms by the economically-depressed, sick-of-their-own-food Haligonians. 

And so I would up spending some time, now and again, up in Halifax—and through Buddhist slash Canadian comedic star Cathy Jones (who I’d done a Dathun with, at Karme Choling in Vermont, way back in…1992?), I got to take a girlfriend (or some friends, I don’t remember, this is wayyy back in my youth) to Canada’s SNL, called “This Hour has 22 Minutes.” Cathy was one of the stars of the show, along with a young man by the name of Rick Mercer.

Years later, Rick shoved off on his own, and has since become Canada’s Jon Stewart—smart, funny, vicious with a smile, a man more powerful in politics than just about any representative. Here he visits Toronto’s Chinatown for a little cultural intrique, and requisite trouble-making.

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