vancouver heritage
TLC press release: VANCOUVER HERITAGE AWARD OF HONOUR GOES TO TLC & KOGAWA HOUSE COMMITTEE
Thu, 2007-02-22 16:20 — Todd Wong
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb 21, 2007
VANCOUVER HERITAGE AWARD OF HONOUR GOES TO TLC & KOGAWA HOUSE COMMITTEE
VANCOUVER, BC – TLC The Land Conservancy and Kogawa House Committee has received a 2007 City of Vancouver Heritage Award for their work in protecting the childhood home of Canadian author, Joy Kogawa.
The 28th annual City of Vancouver Heritage Awards were presented on February 19, the first day of Heritage Week, to tribute the extraordinary efforts of architects, community organization, developers, writers, artists and ordinary citizen who work to preserve Vancouver’s heritage.
Mayor Sam Sullivan conferred an award of honour to TLC and the Kogawa House Committee, for its outstanding advocacy efforts in saving the Historic Joy Kogawa House, bringing municipal, provincial, national and international attention to the effort with its theme of “Hope, Healing and Reconciliation”, thus preserving an important part of Vancouver’s cultural heritage.
Historic Joy Kogawa House is the childhood home of author Joy Kogawa, from which she and her family were removed from the home in 1942 as part of the Government’s policy of internment of Canadians of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Located in the Marpole neighbourhood of Vancouver, Kogawa House is a symbol of the wrongs that were committed in the past. It is this house that is featured prominently in her award winning novel Obasan, a powerful story of that internment and features the house prominently as part of her childhood recollections.
“It is an honour to be recognized among the heritage community and I’d like to thank everyone that worked on this fundraising campaign as well as our 550 donors,” says Bill Turner, TLC’s Executive Director. “I’m pleased to say this accomplishment is a testament of what a community of concerned individuals can to do to make a change in the world. It is important for us to ensure our stories as a national do not disappear over time. The story of the Historic Joy Kogawa House will live on with everyone it touched.”
“This house was saved by the poets, writers, film makers, literary and heritage lovers, and the activists and visionaries of our community, “ says Todd Wong of the Kogawa House Committee. “It is a powerful gift to Vancouver, BC, Canada and the world for the voices of conscience. That the house has survived this long is a miracle, and it took a miracle to save it. This house was destined to become both a historical and literary landmark. The Kogawa House committee is honoured to receive this award, and we are in debt to all the believers.”
In light of the fact TLC purchased the Historic Joy Kogawa House in early June 2006, donations are still required for restoration and an endowment to allow the house to be used both as an educational site addressing the issue of the internment of Canadians of Japanese heritage during the World War II and as a site for a ‘Writers-in-Residence’ program. Donations can be made by calling: (604) 733-2313.
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For further information:
TLC: Bill Turner (250) 213-1090; bturner@conservancy.bc.ca
Save Kogawa House Committee: Todd Wong (604) 240-7090; gunghaggis@yahoo.ca
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb 21, 2007
VANCOUVER HERITAGE AWARD OF HONOUR GOES TO TLC & KOGAWA HOUSE COMMITTEE
VANCOUVER, BC – TLC The Land Conservancy and Kogawa House Committee has received a 2007 City of Vancouver Heritage Award for their work in protecting the childhood home of Canadian author, Joy Kogawa.
The 28th annual City of Vancouver Heritage Awards were presented on February 19, the first day of Heritage Week, to tribute the extraordinary efforts of architects, community organization, developers, writers, artists and ordinary citizen who work to preserve Vancouver’s heritage.
Mayor Sam Sullivan conferred an award of honour to TLC and the Kogawa House Committee, for its outstanding advocacy efforts in saving the Historic Joy Kogawa House, bringing municipal, provincial, national and international attention to the effort with its theme of “Hope, Healing and Reconciliation”, thus preserving an important part of Vancouver’s cultural heritage.
Historic Joy Kogawa House is the childhood home of author Joy Kogawa, from which she and her family were removed from the home in 1942 as part of the Government’s policy of internment of Canadians of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Located in the Marpole neighbourhood of Vancouver, Kogawa House is a symbol of the wrongs that were committed in the past. It is this house that is featured prominently in her award winning novel Obasan, a powerful story of that internment and features the house prominently as part of her childhood recollections.
“It is an honour to be recognized among the heritage community and I’d like to thank everyone that worked on this fundraising campaign as well as our 550 donors,” says Bill Turner, TLC’s Executive Director. “I’m pleased to say this accomplishment is a testament of what a community of concerned individuals can to do to make a change in the world. It is important for us to ensure our stories as a national do not disappear over time. The story of the Historic Joy Kogawa House will live on with everyone it touched.”
“This house was saved by the poets, writers, film makers, literary and heritage lovers, and the activists and visionaries of our community, “ says Todd Wong of the Kogawa House Committee. “It is a powerful gift to Vancouver, BC, Canada and the world for the voices of conscience. That the house has survived this long is a miracle, and it took a miracle to save it. This house was destined to become both a historical and literary landmark. The Kogawa House committee is honoured to receive this award, and we are in debt to all the believers.”
In light of the fact TLC purchased the Historic Joy Kogawa House in early June 2006, donations are still required for restoration and an endowment to allow the house to be used both as an educational site addressing the issue of the internment of Canadians of Japanese heritage during the World War II and as a site for a ‘Writers-in-Residence’ program. Donations can be made by calling: (604) 733-2313.
-30-
For further information:
TLC: Bill Turner (250) 213-1090; bturner@conservancy.bc.ca
Save Kogawa House Committee: Todd Wong (604) 240-7090; gunghaggis@yahoo.ca
TLC and Save Joy Kogawa House committee both receive City of Vancouver Heritage Award of Honour
Tue, 2007-02-20 20:28 — Todd WongTLC and Save Joy Kogawa
House committee both
receive City of Vancouver
Heritage Award of Honour
It was a great night for the members of Save Kogawa House Committee and TLC: The Land Conservancy of BC. We were all honoured with the City of Vancouver Heritage Awards of Honour. It was the last award presented following the multiple recipients for awards of recognition and awards of merit. TLC executive director Bill Turner and myself, for Save Kogawa House Committee, were tagged to give the aceptance speeches.
The awards were held at the beautiful and historic Coastal Church, at 1160 West Georgia St. A reception was held from 5:30 to 7pm, and it was great to see and socialize with all the event's attendees. I had a great chat with historian Jean Barman. City Councillor Peter Ladner congratulated me on a well-run Gung Haggis Fat Choy that he attended. Other City Councillors Heather Deal, George Chow and Suzanne Anton congratulated us on saving Kogawa House. Friends Kelly Ip, Howe Lee were there. Parks Commissioner Spencer Herbert gave me the latest update on his petition to name the new Vancouver park at Selkirk and 72nd, as David Suzuki Park. Artist Raymond Chow and house genealogist James Johnstone were there. Dianne Switzer of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation waved to us.
The evening's emcee was Christopher Gaze, creator and director of Bard on the Beach. Gaze gave a summation of Vancouver's early arts and cultural history, accompanied by projected pictures. It started with the first piano arriving in 1851, and included great names and performances such as Nijinksky, Boris Karloff and Benny Goodman, as well as local luminaries such as Dal Richards and Jimmy Pattison. This "introduction" to the awards event finished with a musical performance by Destino, the four tenors "popera" group.
Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan came to the stage to welcome and thank all the nominees. Mayor Sullivan handed out the award certificates, after Gaze read descriptions of each of the award winning projects.
Here is the draft of the acceptance speech which I presented at the Vancouver Heritage Awards:
Once upon a time, 6 year old Naomi Nakane was told to pack for a train vacation with her brother Stephen. But it wasn’t a vacation. And the train took them far away from the house that they loved. They would never ever again live in a house as nice or as loved. They would learn that as Canadians of Japanese ancestry… they were being singled out, removed from the West Coast, interned in former ghost-towns as make-shift camps, have their houses, businesses and property left behind confiscated and sold by the government, and then given an option to “repatriate” to Japan or move East away from the coast, because the government and community leaders did not want them trying to reclaim their former property. They were dispersed across Canada like the blowing snow.
That is the fictional story of Joy Kogawa’s award winning books Obasan and Naomi’s Road.
Joy’s real story is that after they were interned, as a little girl, she would dream about their house. She would write letters to the occupants of the house, asking politely if someday, when they no longer wanted the house, if they could buy it back.
The little girl – Joy Kogawa grew up to become one of Canada’s most important writers. Her first novel Obasan was the first major Canadian fiction to address with Japanese Canadian internment. It later became a children’s story Naomi’s Road.
On later visits she discovered that the house, her childhood home was still standing. Attempts in 2002 to raise money to purchase the house, was thwarted when the house was sold to an overseas owner.
2005 was the year of Joy Kogawa. Vancouver Public Library chose Obasan as the 2005 selection for One Book One Vancouver. Vancouver Opera premiered a 45 minute opera based on Naomi’s Road to tour to BC Schools.
And during a week when Joy’s work was being celebrated all across the city, at Word On The Street, Vancouver Arts Awards, and by Asian Canadian Writer’s Workshop… We learned that the demolition permit was being applied for.
This house was saved.
This house was saved by poets, writers, film makers, human rights activists, historians, and visionaries.
That is the fictional story of Joy Kogawa’s award winning books Obasan and Naomi’s Road.
Joy’s real story is that after they were interned, as a little girl, she would dream about their house. She would write letters to the occupants of the house, asking politely if someday, when they no longer wanted the house, if they could buy it back.
The little girl – Joy Kogawa grew up to become one of Canada’s most important writers. Her first novel Obasan was the first major Canadian fiction to address with Japanese Canadian internment. It later became a children’s story Naomi’s Road.
On later visits she discovered that the house, her childhood home was still standing. Attempts in 2002 to raise money to purchase the house, was thwarted when the house was sold to an overseas owner.
2005 was the year of Joy Kogawa. Vancouver Public Library chose Obasan as the 2005 selection for One Book One Vancouver. Vancouver Opera premiered a 45 minute opera based on Naomi’s Road to tour to BC Schools.
And during a week when Joy’s work was being celebrated all across the city, at Word On The Street, Vancouver Arts Awards, and by Asian Canadian Writer’s Workshop… We learned that the demolition permit was being applied for.
This house was saved.
This house was saved by poets, writers, film makers, human rights activists, historians, and visionaries.
From people all across Canada. From Canadians abroad – We heard from Sweden and Japan and USA. This house is for all Vancouverites, and for Canadians and global citizens who care about Canadian history. Culture and human rights. Anton Wagner, Ann-Marie and I are not Japanese-Canadians. We weren’t interned. We aren’t married into JC families. But we are concerned Canadians who love our history, culture and heritage. There is little in Vancouver to celebrate our Japanese Canadian, Asian Canadian pioneer heritage in Vancouver. We need to recognize our Asian-Canadian pioneers and our centuries long heritage.
Vancouver’s literary landmarks are a Robbie Burns statue and Pauline Johnson memorial in Stanley Park. Kogawa House gives us something contempoary. It lives and breathes with each reading of Obasan, each performance of Naomi’s Road. Millions of people visit Amsterdam to visit Anne Frank House. Millions of people visit Prince Edward Island to see the home of Anne of Green Gables. But Anne Shirley was fictional. Joy Kogawa is real. And Joy’s stories continue to tell the history and the culture of Canadians.
With a Kogawa House Writing Centre, we can continue to celebrated Joy’s works and the history of Japanese Canadians. We can also encourage writers to share their stories and help write our future story of Canada – hopefully one free of racism and internment camps.
We wish to thank:
Gerry McGeough and Hugh McLean of the City’s Heritage Planning department, who first communicated with Anton Wagner about the demolition. Hugh was responding to an Attention Read Note that former heritage planner Terry Brunette had placed on the Kogawa House property listing in the City’s planning department. Gerry was very helpful in drafting an unprecedented motion to delay approval of a demolition permit for 120 days.
Heather Redfern of the Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture, Marion Quednau of the Writers Union of Canada and Diane Switzer, for speaking on our behalf to Vancouver City Council on November 3, 2005.
Diane Switzer and Vancouver Heritage Foundation for first coming to Vancouver City Hall to meet with Terry Brunette in October 2003 and then connecting us with TLC The Land Conservancy after we had won the 120-day delay.
Jim Green and Sen. Larry Campbell for declaring Joy Kogawa Obasan Day at Vancouver City Hall, for making the first public announcment and telling the audience at Vancouver Arts Awards about the need to save the house.
Chris Kurata in Toronto for organizing to stop the demolition and creating the first Kogawa House website.
Roy Miki for always being there for consultation and readings.
With a Kogawa House Writing Centre, we can continue to celebrated Joy’s works and the history of Japanese Canadians. We can also encourage writers to share their stories and help write our future story of Canada – hopefully one free of racism and internment camps.
We wish to thank:
Gerry McGeough and Hugh McLean of the City’s Heritage Planning department, who first communicated with Anton Wagner about the demolition. Hugh was responding to an Attention Read Note that former heritage planner Terry Brunette had placed on the Kogawa House property listing in the City’s planning department. Gerry was very helpful in drafting an unprecedented motion to delay approval of a demolition permit for 120 days.
Heather Redfern of the Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture, Marion Quednau of the Writers Union of Canada and Diane Switzer, for speaking on our behalf to Vancouver City Council on November 3, 2005.
Diane Switzer and Vancouver Heritage Foundation for first coming to Vancouver City Hall to meet with Terry Brunette in October 2003 and then connecting us with TLC The Land Conservancy after we had won the 120-day delay.
Jim Green and Sen. Larry Campbell for declaring Joy Kogawa Obasan Day at Vancouver City Hall, for making the first public announcment and telling the audience at Vancouver Arts Awards about the need to save the house.
Chris Kurata in Toronto for organizing to stop the demolition and creating the first Kogawa House website.
Roy Miki for always being there for consultation and readings.
Margaret Atwood and Paul Yee for their valued quotes.
James Johnston for his early genealogy of 1450 West 64th Ave.
Ellen Woodsworth for her early help prepping us for the City Hall Council meeting on November 3, 2005.
City Councilors Suzanne Anton and Heather Deal, whom we first contacted as Park Commissioners.
Raymond Chow for creating a painting of Joy as a child at the house circa 1941.
The 2005 Vancouver City Council for passing a unamimous decision to delay processing of the demolition permit and making donations out of their pocket that day to launch fundraising.
Literary and writing assocations across Canada for their early and continuing support, including the following:
Writers Union of Canada
Federation of BC Writers
Playwrights Guild of Canada
Canadian Authors Association
Periodical Writers Association of Canada
PEN Canada
Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival
Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers
League of Canadian Poets
Ellen Woodsworth for her early help prepping us for the City Hall Council meeting on November 3, 2005.
City Councilors Suzanne Anton and Heather Deal, whom we first contacted as Park Commissioners.
Raymond Chow for creating a painting of Joy as a child at the house circa 1941.
The 2005 Vancouver City Council for passing a unamimous decision to delay processing of the demolition permit and making donations out of their pocket that day to launch fundraising.
Literary and writing assocations across Canada for their early and continuing support, including the following:
Writers Union of Canada
Federation of BC Writers
Playwrights Guild of Canada
Canadian Authors Association
Periodical Writers Association of Canada
PEN Canada
Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival
Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers
League of Canadian Poets
Writers' Trust of Canada
Asian Canadian Writers Workshop
The project has also been endorsed by the Vancouver Public Library Board, Vancouver Opera, the Alliance for Arts and Culture, Heritage Vancouver, The Land Conservancy, the National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre, the National Association of Japanese Canadians, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Association of Book Publishers of BC
VPL's One Book One Vancouver Program & Vancouver Opera's Naomi's Road for really raising the awareness of Joy Kogawa and her work.
Joan Young and her Grades 3 and 4 class at Thomsett Elementary in Richmond, and her principal Sabina Harpe, for motivating the children to take part in the campaign. They created their own initiatives to save the house by writing letters to Vancouver City Council and meeting with Councillor Kim Capri.
The Reverend Val Anderson, former MLA for Vancouver-Langara, who took a special interest in the project because of his connections to the Japanese Canadian community in Marpole.
The Honorable Ujjal Dosanjh, who spoke on behalf of Kogawa House in Parliament on April 6, 2006.
Asian Canadian Writers Workshop
The project has also been endorsed by the Vancouver Public Library Board, Vancouver Opera, the Alliance for Arts and Culture, Heritage Vancouver, The Land Conservancy, the National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre, the National Association of Japanese Canadians, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Association of Book Publishers of BC
VPL's One Book One Vancouver Program & Vancouver Opera's Naomi's Road for really raising the awareness of Joy Kogawa and her work.
Joan Young and her Grades 3 and 4 class at Thomsett Elementary in Richmond, and her principal Sabina Harpe, for motivating the children to take part in the campaign. They created their own initiatives to save the house by writing letters to Vancouver City Council and meeting with Councillor Kim Capri.
The Reverend Val Anderson, former MLA for Vancouver-Langara, who took a special interest in the project because of his connections to the Japanese Canadian community in Marpole.
The Honorable Ujjal Dosanjh, who spoke on behalf of Kogawa House in Parliament on April 6, 2006.
The Nikkei Voice and the National Association of Japanese Canadians, who were supportive from the beginning of the campaign.
Don Luxton, executive director of Heritage Vancouver, who listed Kogawa House as one of Vancouver's Top 10 Endangered Heritage Sites in 2006 and then discussed our campaign during a guided tour aboard a vintage Transit Museum Society bus
Our wonderful anonymous donor (who came to the rescue when TLC was prepared to purchase the house with a mortgage).
TLC, The Land Conservancy of British Columbia, for stepping into the project to take over the fundraising and the nitty gritty details that we had no experience handling. Bill Turner, executive director, their team of Tamsin Baker, Heather Skydt and Rich Kenny, and the many board members.
Our dedicated members and volunteers of Kogawa House Committee:
TLC, The Land Conservancy of British Columbia, for stepping into the project to take over the fundraising and the nitty gritty details that we had no experience handling. Bill Turner, executive director, their team of Tamsin Baker, Heather Skydt and Rich Kenny, and the many board members.
Our dedicated members and volunteers of Kogawa House Committee:
Anton Wagner, Chris Kurata, Margaret Steffler, Tomoko Makabe and Kathy Chung in Ontario
Ann-Marie Metten, David Kogawa, Ellen Crowe-Swords, Richard Hopkins, Jen Kato, Joan Young, Sabina Harpe, Deb Martin, and Harry Aoki in Vancouver
Also . . . journalists who covered the story, including Alexandra Gill and Rod Mickleburgh of the Globe and Mail, Sandra Thomas of the Vancouver Courier; Kate Taylor and Michael Posner in the Globe and Mail; Barbara Wickens in Maclean's magazine; CBC Radio's Paul Grant and Sheryl Mackay for their stories; Radio Canada for covering our November 10 awareness event, and to Kathryn Gretsinger and her producer Rosemary Allenbach, who broadcast Joy’s appeal to rescue her home on a Boxing Day broadcast of "Sounds Like Canada."
Also . . . journalists who covered the story, including Alexandra Gill and Rod Mickleburgh of the Globe and Mail, Sandra Thomas of the Vancouver Courier; Kate Taylor and Michael Posner in the Globe and Mail; Barbara Wickens in Maclean's magazine; CBC Radio's Paul Grant and Sheryl Mackay for their stories; Radio Canada for covering our November 10 awareness event, and to Kathryn Gretsinger and her producer Rosemary Allenbach, who broadcast Joy’s appeal to rescue her home on a Boxing Day broadcast of "Sounds Like Canada."
Thank you all.
CBC: Reprieved Kogawa House opens to public
Fri, 2006-09-15 19:46 — Todd WongHere's a story on CBC about Kogawa House, and the open house event on Sunday.
I will be there with my accordion, and also volunteering.
Repreived Kogawa House
opens to public
http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/09/15/kogawa-house.html
Last Updated Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:59:45 EDT
Joy Kogawa's house, which received a last-minute reprieve from demolition when it was bought by a Vancouver heritage agency this spring, will open to the public this Sunday.
The modest wood-frame house in Marpole is featured in Obasan, Kogawa's much loved novel about the internment of Japanese Canadians, and her children's book, Naomi's Road.
The Land Conservancy of British Columbia bought the house in May and plans to turn it into a residence for writers and an education centre about the Japanese internment during the Second World War.
But the public is being given a one-day chance to see the bungalow before restoration work begins.
Kogawa will be there for a scheduled book signing and the desk and typewriter that she used to write Obasan will be on display.
The event is a fund-raiser to help pay for restoration of the house, which could cost an estimated $500,000.
The house itself was saved from a wrecking ball through the intervention of the Land Conservancy, which led a campaign to save it, working with writers' groups and heritage groups.
The campaign drew donations from 550 people from around the world and a last-minute corporate donation of $500,000 helped with the purchase price.
A developer who owned the property wanted more than $700,000 for the house, which has been neglected over the years.
Kogawa lived in the house with her family from 1937 to 1942, when it was confiscated by the government.
The house has national significance as a symbol of the racial discrimination experienced by Japanese-Canadians during the Second World War.
The house is one of the few residences left in Vancouver that is identified as having been sold by the Canadian government without the lawful owner's permission.
The house is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Todd visits Kogawa House - inside and out
Thu, 2006-09-07 19:14 — Todd Wong
Todd visits Kogawa House
- inside and out
The 1915 house is modest, and now seems out of place beside the new larger homes built on either side of it. There is a tall cedar tree and a tall pine tree, and rhododendron bushes in the front yard, shielding the house, as if it is hiding it from the street trying not to be noticed. It is really a wonder that such a small house has survived until now, with all the redevelopment in the Marpole neighborhood.
I looked carefully at the house that I have visited many times in the past year, always veiwing from the outside. The front door was open. Inside was a planning meeting organized by The Land Conservancy of BC - the new owners of the historic house. We would be planning the open house event on September 17th as the first public event at Kogawa House.
Attending the meeting were staff and board members of The Land Conservancy of BC. Heather Skydt and Tamsin have been working with us since December 2nd of last year when the TLC officially stepped in to lead the fundraising to purchase Kogawa House. Ann-Marie Metten is my colleague and friend on the Kogawa House committee. Fran is the event chair. Janet is a member. Rich Kenney is staff.
We are planning an afternoon that will include:
- book signings by Joy
- musical entertainment
- historical displays
- history of the house
- food and drinks
The house is in pretty good structural shape. Past owners have renovated the house at different times. An addition was created. But it looks like the original wood floor and panels in some areas. Joy's desk from Toronto and typewriter that she used to write Obasan is now sitting in her former bedroom. A door from her childhood bedroom was created into what used to be her parents bedroom, next door. Her older brother Timothy slept downstairs. - musical entertainment
- historical displays
- history of the house
- food and drinks
It is a modest house, but a house that you could imagine a Canadian family celebrating Christmas in during the 1940's. The father telling the children that his sister will come look after them, while their mother has to go to Japan to look after her mother. You can imagine the scenes from the Naomi's Road opera happening in this house.
It is a house that a six year old would dream about in the years to come, pining that she could return, after being shuffled from temporary house to temporary house, in internment camps, and sugar beet farms where they were forced to live and work because the Canadian government had deemed this "Born in Canada" family "too dangerous" to live on the Pacific Coast.
In the past year, I have written much about the need to save this house on this website, and even started up a new website www.kogawahouse.com. I wrote up 20 Reasons to Save Kogawa House from Demolition on Oct 19th.
It had been September 22nd, 2005 when Ann-Marie Metten informed me that an architect was inquiring about a demolition permit for 1450 West 64th Ave. Kogawa House. Anne-Marie and I had spoken earlier in February, 2005 when I first wrote 20 Reasons why Joy Kogawa's Obasan is the perfect nomination choice for One Book One Vancouver 2005 program at VPL.
Later that same day, on Sept. 22nd Ann-Marie and I had sent out the following press release:
Kogawa Homestead threatened by Demolition Permit Application
- same week as Joy Kogawa is celebrated throughout Vancouver
This week, notice was received that an application for demolition was made to Vancouver City Hall by the owner of the Kogawa homestead. It is a house celebrated by the award winning novel "Obasan," and the childhood home of famed writer Joy Kogawa.
Kogawa's reaction has been of shock and dispair, as she knew that efforts were being made to save the beloved cherry tree in the back yard which figures prominently in the novel. Vancouver city councillor Jim Green is a founding member of the "Save the Kogawa Homestead" committee.
This is a weekend when Joy Kogawa is being celebrated all across Vancouver... at the Vancouver Public Library for One Book One Vancouver, at a Sep 24th dinnner celbebration for the Rice Paper Magazine 10th Anniversary Celebration, on Sunday for the Word on the Street Book and Magazine Fair, and next week for the Vancouver Opera Premiere for "Naomi's Road."
A movement to buy the house, and to apply for heritage designation was aborted 2 years ago because of high costs to buy the house and resistance from the new owner to sell. The owner at the time said that she liked the house and did not intend to demolish it.
Now more than ever, it is important to preserve this house for the cultural heritage of Vancouver. There is not another house in Vancouver that is recognized for being confiscated during a dark time in Canada's history.
No other house in Vancouver could be turned into a bright spot on our cultural landscape as a writer's retreat, celebrating the work of a writer which has been called the most influential Canadian novel of the past 20 years. There is no other writer whose work helped fuel the Japanese-Canadian Redress movement, and has also received the Order of Canada.
In May, the Vancouver Public Library selected Obasan as the book chosen for all Vancouverites to read, as part of their award winning "city wide book club." Earlier this summer, during One Book One Vancouver events Joy Kogawa held up a graft of the cherry tree that held such a revered place in the novel Obasan - studied by so many Canadians in high schools and universities across Canada. Both the novel and the homestead have a proven place in Vancouver’s literary history.
By the next day we had a call from Alexandra Gill of the Globe & Mail, who put a small article in that weekend's edition.
Also on the Friday night, highlights from the upcoming Vancouver Opera production of Naomi's Road were performed by at the 2nd Annual Vancouver Arts Awards. I bumped into then city councillor Jim Green and mayor Larry Campbell. They asked me about the state of the house, and I informed them. Both Green and Campbell announced to the packed audience of Vancouver's cultural movers and shakers that they were distraught to hear that Joy Kogawa's childhood home was threatened, especially when city council had just passed a motion to plant a cherry tree graft from the house at city hall.
On Saturday night, Joy Kogawa was celebrated with a Community Builder's Award by the Asian Canadian Writer's Workshop at the 10th Anniversary Rice Paper dinner. Joy asked me to speak about the campaign to save the house.
On Sunday afternoon, Joy Kogawa read from her novel Obasan, at the closing event for the 2005 One Book One Vancouver program for the Vancouver Public Library, held during the Word on the Street Book and Magazine Fair.
It was a busy weekend - but the word was out - Joy's childhood home was in danger of demolition. Who people be willing to help save it?
It is now a year later. So much has happened.
Here are some of the highlights:
May, 2005 - Obasan named as the One Book One Vancouver 2005 selection by the Vancouver Public Library. Joy also is reunited with her brother Rev. Timothy Nakayama, whom she hasn't seen in 10 years. 
September 27th,
Asian Canadian Writer's Workshop / Ricepaper magazine 10th Anniversary dinner honouring Joy Kogawa as a Community Builder
(left photo courtesy of Jessica Cheung - right photo courtesy of Vancouver Opera)
September 30 - Oct 2.
Naomi's Road (review) opens at Norman Rothstein Theatre. Commisioned by Vancouver Opera for the Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble, it will go on to perform at schools throughout BC, plus Alberta and Washington State.
Naomi's Road (review) opens at Norman Rothstein Theatre. Commisioned by Vancouver Opera for the Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble, it will go on to perform at schools throughout BC, plus Alberta and Washington State.
November 1st,
Obasan Cherry Tree Day, declared by Vancouver City Hall. Event is presided over by then Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell, and attended by Paul Whitney (City Librarian), and James Wright (Vancouver Opera General Director).
November 3rd,
Vancouver City Council votes to delay processing demolition permit for 120 day, effective November 30th. 120 days given to Kogawa House, as demolition timeline extended
November 2005
December 26th,
Joy Kogawa featured on CBC Radio's "Sounds Like Canada"
interview by Kathryn Gretzinger
January 22, 2006
Joy Kogawa is the featured poet/author at 2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner. Kogawa House is included as a recipient from annual fundraising dinner.
February 8th, 2006
Joy Kogawa House named to Heritage Vancouver's 2006 Top Ten list of endangered buildings.
February 11
Joy Kogawa & Friends - Emotionally and Truthful reading at Chapters on Robson, Saturday Feb 11
Joy is joined by Daphne Marlatt, Ellen Crowe-Swords and Roy Miki.
February 15,
Joy Kogawa is keynote speaker for the Canadian Club's annual "Order of Canada / Flag Day" luncheon - welcoming BC's newest recipients of the Order of Canada. Joy recieved the Order of Canada in 1986.
February 27th,
"Emily Kato" Book launch at Vancouver Public Libary - it is a rewritten version of Itsuka, the sequel to Obasan and focusses on the Japanese Canadian redress process.
March 9th,
Joy Kogawa fundraiser in Toronto, at Church of the Holy Trinity.
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2006/3/11/1816004.html
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2006/3/16/1823641.html
March 26th,
Thomsett Elementary School Children visit Kogawa House with Joy
These Richmond school children also went to City of Vancouver to ask Mayor Sam Sullivan to help save the house.
These Richmond school children also went to City of Vancouver to ask Mayor Sam Sullivan to help save the house.
TLC negotiates a 30 day extension for the demolition permit with the owner of the house.
April 25th,
Joy of Canadian Words - fundraiser event in Vancouver, at Christ Church Cathedral. Special speakers include CBC Radio's Sheryl Mackay, actors Joy Coghill, Doris Chilcott, Hiro Kanagawa, Maiko Bae Yamamoto, Chief Rhonda Larabee. Hosted by Todd Wong (Save Kogawa House Committee) and Bill Turner (The Land Conservancy).
April 30th,
TLC exercises their option to purchase historic Joy Kogawa House.
May 15th
Naomi's Road at Seattle Public Library - seen by Joy Kogawa's brother Rev. Timothy Nakayama
May 18th,
Joy Kogawa named to Order of BC
May 30th,
TLC officially purchases Kogawa House - mortgage free!
TLC becomes proud owner of historic Joy Kogawa House
June 22nd
Joy Kogawa goes to Victoria to recieve Order of BC
http://www.protocol.gov.bc.ca/protocol/prgs/obc/2006/2006_JKogawa.htm
June 23
Gung Haggis Fat JOY KOGAWA HOUSE celebration dinner.
Joy returns from Victoria with Order of BC
Letter of Support from MLA Carole Taylor for Kogawa House
Wed, 2006-07-12 15:57 — Todd WongSave Kogawa House Committee
8107 Cartier Street
Vancouver, BC V6P 4T6
Dear Committee Members:
I would like to recognize you, the members of the Land Conservancy of BC, your volunteers and your donors for the successful conclusion to the project you undertook to save the historic Joy Kogawa House in Marpole. In what is really a very short period of time you have ensured that this cultural landmark will be saved to form part of our history, for future generations of British Columbians to benefit from and enjoy.
Congratulations to you all for your dedication and hard work!
Sincerely,
Carole Taylor, MLA
Vancouver - LangaraKogawa House deadline to raise money to save house is now August 2006
Sat, 2006-05-06 12:15 — Todd Wong
Kogawa House deadline to raise money to save house is now August 2006
It's been an awesome journey along the campaign to save Joy Kogawa's childhood home from the wrecker's ball, and turn it into a writers' centre and historical and literary landmark for Canada.
Even though The Land Conservancy has decided to purchase the home by exercising their option worked out with the owner, we are still a ways from completely saving it.
So far $230,000 has been raised and pledged, but an additional $470,000 is needed complete the $700,000 purchase price.
I am working on a fundraiser event for May, and for the summer. Please call me or Nancy Tiffin at TLC, if you have any ideas, or major donors. See Nancy's letter from the TLC below
Dear Friends and Supporters,
The Land Conservancy of BC has decided to exercise its option to purchase the Historic Joy Kogawa House and take out a short term mortgage to save it from demolition (see press release below). But we only have until August 2006 to raise the balance of the money needed to purchase the property in order to prevent TLC from carrying a long term mortgage on this property. This buys us a bit more time to work towards the goal of preserving this important symbol of Canda's cultural heritage in perpetuity.
Our goal of $1.25M as follows:
Land and House Purchase $700,000
Restoration of Property $200,000
Endowment $300,000 to offset costs of maintaining a writers-in-residence program
Cost of Fundraising $50,000
To date we have raised $235,000 from over 500 people in donations and pledges.
This is still a time sensitive campaign. We have until August 31, 2006 to ensure the preservation of this property in perpetuity. Your gifts and your ability to connect us to others who may be intertested in giving is essential to our success. I am confident that with your help we can reach our goal of making this an educational site and a retreat for writers of conscience. If you or someone you know has yet to donate or pledge to this important campaign, please take a moment to go to The Land Conservancy's website at www.conservancy.bc.ca and make your donation or pledge today. You can also print the attached pledge/donation form off and give it to others.
There are silk threads of hope healing and reconcilation running through this campaign and we've been inspired by the commitment and interest from people all over Canada, throughout the States and from parts of Europe and Asia. It's exciting to see the world become your neighbour and join together in this great cause. We are a significant step closer to preserving this important symbol of Canada's cultural heritage in perpetuity, which is important to us as individuals and as a society. It's a symbol that will carry with it the importance of our past, and even more importantly, provide a reminder for generations to come of the multiculturalism and interculturalism that provide the backbone to our culture and makes us proud to be called Canadian.
Thank you for your interest in and support of our campaign.
Sincerely,
NancyNancy Tiffin
Development Officer - Major Gifts
TLC The Land Conservancy of British Columbia
5655 Sperling Ave, Burnaby, BC CANADA V5E 2T2
CELL: (250) 213-6278 TEL: (604) 733-2313 FAX: (604) 299-5054
ntiffin@conservancy.bc.ca www.conservancy.bc.ca
