What: The Joy of Words, An Evening of Readings and Music with Award-Winning Canadian Author Joy Kogawa
When: Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Time: 7:30 to 9:00 pm
Where: Christ Church Cathedral, 690 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Price: Admission by donation
TLC The Land Conservancy of British Columbia is pleased to host an evening of readings and music with internationally recognized author Joy Kogawa on Tuesday, April 25, from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Kogawa will read from her first novel, Obasan, recently re-released as a Penguin Classic. Along with Joy, special celebrity guests, including well-loved actors Joy Coghill, Doris Chilcott, and Bill Dow, along with CBC Radio One host Sheryl McKay and other special guests, will read favourite selections from BC prose and poetry. Japanese Canadian actors Minami Hara, Hiro Kanagawa and Maiko Yamamoto will read from the libretto for Naomi’s Road, the opera based on Joy Kogawa’s children’s novel. Jazz gospel singer Leore Cashe will also perform.
Kogawa’s Obasan, published in 1981, describes through the eyes of a young girl the life of her family before, during and after the Japanese Canadian internment in 1942 and features Kogawa’s childhood home. Over the years, Kogawa’s childhood home has become a symbol of lost hope and happiness and a central image in her writings. Located at 1450 West 64th Avenue in the Marpole neighbourhood of Vancouver, the historic Joy Kogawa House is now threatened with demolition. The owner of the property has given TLC and the Save Kogawa House committee only until April 30 to fundraise the $700,000 needed to purchase the house. So far, more than $220,500 has been raised from 384 donors around the world.
This fundraising event will help TLC reach its fundraising goal and help to save the house as a cultural landmark for all Canadians. Once protected, the house will be a used as a writing retreat, enabling new writers to create works focusing on human rights issues. It will also be open for public and school tours to educate people about the Japanese Canadian experience during World War II.
For more information about this event or to donate, call (604) 733-2313 or visit www.conservancy.bc.ca.