TLC CLOSES IN ON PURCHASE OF HISTORIC JOY KOGAWA HOUSE
VANCOUVER, BC – As TLC The Land Conservancy of British Columbia hits its final week of fundraising to save the historic Joy Kogawa House from demolition, the non-profit land trust is narrowing its sights on the $700,000 purchase price of the house.
“The time frame was tight from the beginning but that’s what we had to work with,” says TLC’s Executive Director, Bill Turner. “We still need to raise funds for the restoration of the house and for an endowment, but they can come later. Right now we need to focus on raising the money needed to purchase the property. If we can get reasonably close by the April 30th deadline, TLC will take the risk and make the commitment to purchase the house this coming weekend. What we need right now are a couple of substantial donations and as many smaller donations as possible.”
Turner explained that TLC had set a target of $1.25 million to acquire the property. While that amount is still required, the immediate need is to find commitments of $700,000 by this weekend. Requests have been made of the Federal Government, through the Department of Canadian Heritage and of the City of Vancouver, and Turner says that he remains optimistic that both will support the project.
“This means we are getting close and now we need a strong push this week.” Two fundraising reading events are scheduled for last minute donations and pledges (tonight, April 25, at Christ Cathedral Church, 690 Burrard St., Vancouver, 7:30pm and Chapters bookstore, 1212 Douglas St., Victoria, April 27, 6pm). Donations can also be made at any TLC office or online.
Since negotiating its option to purchase the culturally-significant property four months ago, TLC has raised $225,000 from 420 donors worldwide. There has been public interest and support shown locally, nationally and internationally, but time is running out.
The historic Joy Kogawa House has received strong support from the arts community throughout Canada, and several schools in BC have fundraised to save the home through bake sales, used book sales, twoonie-drives, and special Japanese luncheons. The campaign has also received coverage from several major Canadian television, print and radio media. The story has piqued international media attention, too.
Once purchased and protected, the historic Joy Kogawa House will be used for a writers-in-residence program, enabling new and emerging writers to create new works focusing on human rights issues and Canada’s evolving multicultural and intercultural society. It will also be open for public and school tours to educate people about the Japanese Canadian experience during World War II.
Donations and pledges can be made at (604) 733-2313 and www.conservancy.bc.ca.
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Contacts: TLC - Bill Turner (250) 213-1090; bturner@conservancy.bc.ca; Heather Skydt (604) 733-2313; hskydt@conservancy.bc.ca. Save Kogawa House Committee - Ann-Marie Metten (604) 263-6586; ametten@telus.net; Todd Wong, (604) 240-7090; gunghaggis@yahoo.ca