Welcome to Historic Joy Kogawa House

Historic Joy Kogawa House brings writing into the community

Historic Joy Kogawa House proudly announces Victoria author Deborah Willis as our 2012 writer-in-residence.

Deborah Willis was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. Her short fiction has appeared in Grain, Event, Prism International, and The Walrus. Her first book, Vanishing and Other Stories, was named one of the Globe and Mail’s Best Books of 2009, and was nominated for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize in British Columbia and the Governor General’s Award. Willis resides in Victoria, B.C., but will live and work at Historic Joy Kogawa House from January 15 to April 15, 2012.

“I’m so pleased to have the chance to live in the Joy Kogawa House,” says Willis, who will work on her second collection of stories during her residency. The mandate of the house states that writers-in-residence will spend sixty percent of their time writing and forty percent on community outreach. “The personal, private work of writing is balanced by time spent on community programs. It’s a wonderful way for me to experience living in Vancouver.”

Willis will work with three community groups, offering a four-week writing program for teens from local high schools, a reading program for newcomers to Canada in partnership with the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Centre, and co-facilitating writing workshops for sex workers and former sex workers in partnership with Aaron Golbeck of Downtown Eastside Studio Society. She will also run a writing workshop for children, with Sarah Maitland, in the KidSafe Writers’ Room at Queen Alexandra Elementary School.

Willis will take writing into the community in a public program that creates new audiences for Canadian literature and encourages new writers to contribute their stories to our literary canon.

To interview Deborah Willis about her work and about living and working at Historic Joy Kogawa House, to volunteer to assist with these community programs, and for further information, please visit www.kogawahouse.com.

We acknowledge the Canada Council and the B.C. Arts Council for their financial support of this project.

Note to Editors:

1. Information on Historic Joy Kogawa House

Historic Joy Kogawa House is the former home of the Canadian author Joy Kogawa (born 1935). It stands as a cultural and historical reminder of the expropriation of property that all Canadians of Japanese descent experienced after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.

The Historic Joy Kogawa House writer-in-residence program brings well-regarded professional writers in touch with a local community of writers, readers, editors, publishers, booksellers, and librarians. While in residence, the writer works to enrich the literary community around him or her and to foster an appreciation for Canadian writing through programs that involve students, other established and emerging writers and members of the general public.

Since 2009, as a partner with TLC, the Historic Joy Kogawa Society has hosted four writers to live and work in the house on a paid basis. Funding is provided through the Canada Council, the BC Arts Council, and through donations from the general public.

Contact:

Kogawa House Society: Ann-Marie Metten / kogawahouse@yahoo.ca

2. Information about the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society

The TCCS provides settlement services hoping to help newcomers enjoy a smooth transition to Canada and plays an important role in promoting mutual understanding and cultural harmony between Taiwanese and other ethnic groups in Canada.

Contact:

Kogawa House Society: Cecilia Chueh / cecilia@tccs.ca

3. Information about Downtown Eastside Studio Society

Downtown Eastside Studio Society is a non-profit arts workshop and publishing house in Vancouver. We provide support for people facing social barriers such as mental illness, addictions, and homelessness to undertake creative writing projects and publish their work into books.

Contact:

Downtown Eastside Studio Society: Aaron Golbeck / info@studiosociety.ca

4. Information on the KidSafe Writers’ Room

In partnership with the Vancouver School Board’s Community School Team and the York House School, the KidSafe Writers’ Room offers an after-school tutoring program for students in grades 1 through 7. Writers’ Room tutors also help with KidSafe’s school-break literacy programming. When a child is given the opportunity to work one-on-one with a tutor, he or she can complete projects to the best of his or her ability, and boost literacy skills and self-esteem.

Contact:

KidSafe Writers’ Room: Sarah Maitland / writersroom@kidsafe.ca

In a few days non-fiction writer and activist Susan Crean will arrive to take up residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House. On Thursday, September 15, Crean will begin to live and work at the house for a three-month term, ending Thursday, December 15. While in residence, Crean will work with writers and host this year's Writing for Social Change reading series. The fabulous line-up of authors invited to join Crean in conversation about their work will be announced this week. While in residence, Crean is writing a blog that you can find at www.susancrean.ca.

Susan originally moved to British Columbia in 1989 to take up a position in the Creative Writing department at the University of British Columbia. She stayed for ten years, during which time she wrote her groundbreaking work of creative non-fiction about Emily Carr's legacy, as well as a biography of CUPE leader and feminist pioneer Grace Hartman, and numerous book reviews for the Vancouver Sun. The Laughing One: A Journey to Emily Carr, won the BC Book prize for non-fiction in 2002.

Susan lives in the South Riverdale neighbourhood of Toronto, and is currently working on a book about Toronto which includes the story of head-tax payer, Wong Dong Wong, who came to Canada in 1911. For more on that story, check out her website at www.whatistoronto.ca.

We are most grateful to the Canada Council author residency program and the BC Arts Council for their assistance in funding this residency.

Hello everybody Here are the media google hits for "Kogawa House" and "yarn" Yarn bombing gets a jump on spring ‎http://www.theprovince.com/news/vancouver/Yarn+bombing+gets+jump+spring/4393200/story.html The Province - Sean Sullivan - 20 hours ago It's a show of support for Joy Kogawa House, which after being declared a heritage site, will serve as a residency for writers. Bright pink yarn bombs have ... Yarn bombers in city ‎http://www.royalcityrecord.com/entertainment/Yarn+bombers+city/4387783/story.html The Record (New Westminster) - Joanne Robertson - 2 days ago Yarn Bombers are guerrilla knitters who are making the world a warmer and more ... The historic Joy Kogawa House, at 1450 West 64th Ave. in Vancouver, ... History project blossoms with students' knitting ‎http://www.bclocalnews.com/greater_vancouver/bowenislandundercurrent/community/116505228.html Bowen Island Undercurrent - Sarah Haxby - 18 Feb 2011 Inspired by the story of how the historic Joy Kogawa house in Vancouver was saved, they are participating in a yarn bombing art installation that is to ... バンクーバーで「ヤーン・ボミング」－桜の木をニットの花で満開に ‎http://vancouver.keizai.biz/headline/1193/ バンクーバー経済新聞 - 8 hours ago Joy Kogawa House Societyエグゼクティブ・メンバーのLeonore Rowntreeさんは「この ... 現在はJoy Kogawa House Societyによって運営され、歴史とコガワさんの作品を ... 最美的活動 櫻花節3‧1展開 ‎http://www.worldjournal.com/view/full_news/11670536/article 另外，小川樂之家（Joy Kogawa House）舉行針織塗鴉活動（Yarn Bombing），活動中將以櫻花作為針織圖案。時間：3月6日下午2時至3時30分，地址：溫哥華1450 W 64th Ave. ...

Date: Monday, June 14
Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 West 64th Avenue, Vancouver

When Karen Connelly finds herself in Burma in the late 1990s, she is immersed in a world of students staging mass demonstrations in opposition to Burma’s dictators, revolutionaries fighting an armed insurgency against that same military regime, and refugees living in hellish limbo in Thailand. Connelly first comes to love a wounded, remarkably beautiful country, then a gifted man who has given his life to its struggle for political change. Her new novel Burmese Lessons is illuminated by the sensual language and flashes of humour that have won this author fans around the world.

Please join writer-in-residence Nancy Lee in conversation with Karen Connelly as part of our social justice reading series. To join this event, please RSVP to kogawahouse@yahoo.ca

John Asfour strums his oud (arabic lute), while Neworld Theatre's Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong read his poems - photo Todd Wong

Tuesday night was wonderful.  Marcus and Adrienne dimmed the lights to create an intimate setting.  Kirsty set up the book table.  I put out copies of Ricepaper beside them...  I made the official VPL announcements because VPL Community Librarian Sophie Middleton called me at 4pm, asking  me, because she had an allergy issue.

Richard Hopkins corrected me on my announcement of the June 9th event for VPL when the George Woodcock Award will be presented to W.P. Kinsella (I had said Patrick Kinsella)... and I did say that last year the award went to Joy Kogawa.

I gave brief intros and welcomes to John, Adrienne and Marcus and Sahaib.  Acknowledging their upcoming events...  such as May 30th at Kogawa House, Mixie & the Halfbreeds, as well as to Ariadne Sawyer of World Poetry, with her Gala anniversary at the Roundhouse next Monday,

Joh Asfour makes a brief introduction and acknowledges Neworld Theatre, Historic Joy Kogawa House Society, Vancouver Public Library and Sahaib - photo Todd Wong

John gave a short introduction, and explained how the evening would work.  First the translations read in English by Marcus and Adrienne, then in Arabic by Sahaib.  Then followed by John's works.

We actually started at 7:40, and continued non-stop to 8:40.

It was a special magical evening.

The audience paid rapt attention.

The "performance" flowed.... without the usual interruptions, explanations, flippings of pages... etc that are at most poetry readings.

Sahaib reads the original poems in Arabic language, while translator John Asfour plays his oud - photo Todd Wong

The readings were all well done.  Marcus and Adrienne brought life and drama to the words, as did Sahaib.  I didn't understand Arabic words, but the rhythm, the rhyme, the meaning, and the presence were all projected strongly.  The audience listened.  The audience paid attention listening to words they didn't understand... listening to sounds they understood... like music.

John Asfour plays oud, while Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong read his poetry works - photo Todd Wong

The duo voices of Marcus and Adrienne were matched in perfect timing, with a warm chemistry.  Marcus' reading during "Beirut" emphasized the "drunkeness" of the character, while Adrienne grounded the poem with her narration.  "Gaza" was incredibly timely and insightful.  With recent happenings in Gaza, I wished that we could have sent it out to the media, or asked Adrienne how if felt having played "My Name is Rachel Corrie." 

John Asfour plays oud - photo Todd Wong

John's playing of the oud, was soft or loud, slow or fast... accompanying the poems like a musical soundtrack.  Afterwards, he told me he had played 12 songs, as well as improvisation.

Marcus Youssef lead Q&A with John Asfour - photo Todd Wong

After the reading... Marcus led a Q&A for the final 20 minutes.  But I had to interrupt him briefly just to remind the audience of the May 30th Kogawa House event, and the Mixies event... and to share that Marcus had just been nominated that day for a Jessies Awards... for artistic achievement.  Lots of audience applause.

This successful event reminder me of when we paired actors up to read poetry" similar to our April 25th 2006 "Joy of Canadian Words" event that had featured:

• Joy Coghill reading "Klee Wyck", 
• Bill Dow, Maiko Bae Yamamoto, Manami Hara and Hiro Kanagawa reading Dorothy Livesay's "Call My People Home"
  
• Sheryl Mackay reading "Ann of Green Gables",
• Doris Chilcott reading Alden Nowlan,
• Chief Rhonda Larrabee reading Thomas King's "Coyote and the Enemy Aliens"
• jazz singer Leora Cashe singing Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love."

Wow... definitely a wonderful collaboration of Neworld Theatre and Historic Joy Kogawa House Society...

Kirsty, Marcus, John and Adrienne - photo Todd Wong

Afterwards we went for snacks at Subeez restaurant down the street, where we all joked and told stories, and complimented each other, and deepened our friendships.

It was one of the best poetry performances I have witnessed in years.

Next reading at Kogawa House with Gary Geddes and Ann Eriksson:
By reservation and donation only.

Telephone:  604-263-6586
Email:   kogawahouse@yahoo.ca



 

More Upcoming Events for Kogawa House and with John Asfour

There will be two more events in May with John Asfour at Kogawa House. John has invited authors Gary Geddes and Ann Erikson for an intimate reading at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 30. To reserve a seat, please email kogawahouse@yahoo.ca.

Arabic Poetry in Translation
Featuring the work of John Asfour (Montreal), Syrian poet Muhammad al-Maghut and Mahmoud Darwish, Palestine’s national poet. John Asfour will also play the oud! Neworlders Marcus Youssef and Adrienne Wong will read, with guests.

Tuesday, May 19, 7:30 p.m.

Alma VanDusen and Peter Kaye rooms, Lower Level

Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street

Admission is free. Seating is limited.

For more information about this event, contact Historic Joy Kogawa House at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca

 

Shelagh Rogers (host of "The Next Chapter" on CBC Radio), Jean Baird (organizer of "Save Al Purdy A-Frame"), George Bowering (Jean's husband and first poet laureate of Canada), John Asfour (inaugural writer-in-residence at Kogawa House), George Stanley (BC Book Prize nominatee for poetry) + "Joy Kogawa" - photo Todd Wong

7:30 p.m., Monday, April 20Historic Joy Kogawa House, 1450 West 64th Avenue, Vancouver

John Asfour is indeed the perfect choice for our inaugural WIR.  On Monday night, I shared with the group that the connections we have between Roy and Art Miki, George Bowering, Purdy House, are amazing.  How is it that John could have been friends with Art Miki on panel forums, and that Roy was a consultant for Kogawa House... and great friends and an editor with/for George Bowering, and we bring it all together with Daphne Marlatt, who has read for Kogawa House events before, and Shelagh Rogers (2005 former co-host for Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner) for an evening of poetry and friendship, and to help save another literary landmark.

Nilofar, Daphne, George and John - photo Todd Wong

The evening started with three BC Book Prize-nominated poets—George Stanley, Nilofar Shidmehr and Daphne Marlatt as part of BC Book and Magazine Week.  Daphne read first, then George, followed by Nilofar.

Jean Baird talks with Shelagh Rogers. - photo Todd Wong

After a brief intermission that allowed people to purchase books and have them signed by the guest poets, the talk turned to Save the Al Purdy A-Frame.  Shelagh Rogers shared her story of doing the last public interview with Al Purdy at the Eden Mills Writers Festival.  Jean Baird is heading up the Save the Purdy A-Frame campaign, and she and her husband George Bowering shared their many stories about Al Purdy and his wife Eurithe.

Asfour, a Montreal poet, is the first writer-in-residence at Kogawa House and will present poetry readings to a variety of audiences, in collaboration with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Simon Fraser University’s Writers Studio, Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature and Art and the Vancouver Public Library.

See more pictures on Flickr:

Kogawa House Purdy Party

Historic Joy Kogawa House welcomes Joy Kogawa to 1st Annual General Meeting

April 2008 - Joy Kogawa holds the Globe & Mail Story about the revealing of the $500,000 anonymous donor who helped save her childhood home from demolition, to become a literary and historic landmark and a writers-in-residence program - photo Todd Wong

It's always a special feeling walking into the Joy Kogawa House.  This is the house that a six year old future Order of Canada recipient was forced to leave when Japanese Canadians were interned during WW2.  This is the house that was saved from demolition when a dedicated few led a rally by thousands of supporters across Canada.

The first Annual General Meeting was held for the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society on Dec 11th, 2009.  It was a special meeting because writers Hiromi Goto and Caroline Addison were there to give their insight and share their experiences as the Writers in Residence for the Vancouver Public Library for 2007 and 2009.

It was more special because author Joy Kogawa was present, having just flown in from Toronto to spend time with family.

Executive director Ann-Marie Metten had brilliantly organized the evening, and it had a strong exciting buzz as wine and gourmet snacks were served.  Books by Kogawa, Goto and Addison were for sale.  Board members and guests mingled with authors and the representatives from The Land Conservancy of BC, the owners of the house.

The evening unfolded with a good in depth descriptions of what it was like to be a writer in residence for the Vancouver Public Library.  Hiromi Goto and Caroline Addison freely shared their experiences and their expectations as the Historic Joy Kogawa House now prepares for their first writer in residence program to be created with author Madeleine Thien, author of Simple Recipes and Certainty.  It is somehow fitting that it is Madeleine who is the first WIR author, as she returns to the city where she not only lived before and wrote about, but also the city where the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop first granted her the ACWW Emerging Writer's Award that was shopped to publishers and became the award winning "Simple Recipes" short story collection.  Currently I am president of Joy Kogawa House, and co-president of Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop.

During the AGM part of the evening, Ann-Marie Metten gave an update of the grants applied for and recieved and how the WIR program will unfold with Madeleine. 

The Land Conservancy of BC was proud to report that Historic Joy Kogawa House has recieved a Heritage B category from the City of Vancouver, and we can now proceed with the next steps for re-zoning and re-conditioning the house.  We hope to restore the house to what it was like when the 6 year old Joy Kogawa, her 10 year old brother Timothy and their parents were living in the house before they were sent to the BC interior to spend the next 10 year living in delapidated buildings and beet farms.

I gave a President's report that recapped events in 2008 that involved Joy Kogawa in BC, and events at Joy Kogawa House.
Here is my report:

On Feb 3rd,
Sharon Butala attended the Vancouver opera production "Voices of the Pacific Rim" with members of the Joy Kogawa House Society, and was introduced to some of the singers who had performed  the Naomi's Road opera, based on the children's novel by Joy Kogawa

Sunday Feb 24
Author Sharon Butala mesmerized the packed audience at historic Joy Kogawa House on Friday night.  The Order of Canada author talked how she helped established a writer in residence program at Wallace Stegner's childhood home in Eastend, Saskatchewan.

March 2008 - Royal BC Museum
Joy Kogawa is guest of “THE PARTY”: 150 of BC’s most interesting people

 "The Party" exhibit with some of BC's "fascinating" citizens including: (front row) founding governor James Douglas, Betty Krawcyk, Joy Kogawa, Karen Magnusson, Herb Doman; (second row): Vikram Vij, Cindy Lee, Gordon Campbell, Gordon Shrum. - photo Todd Wong

April 10 Vancouver Kids Books reading and Naomi’s Tree book launch
It was a good event for the launch of  Naomi's Tree.  So good that all the books that had been delivered in advance to Kidsbooks sold out.  When Joy performed her reading, she told the audience of children and adults that she had fallen in love with a tree.  It was a special "Friendship Tree" - a cherry blossom tree.

April 25th Kogawa House cherry tree planting + recognition of Sen. Nancy Ruth
3pm press conference, introduction of formerly anomnynous $500,000 donor (Sen. Nancy Ruth) + baby cherry tree planting
At 3:40pm, we sat inside the living room of Historic Joy Kogawa House and listened to CBC Radio One's Arts Report by Paul Grant.  Paul had interviewed Sen. Nancy Ruth, Bill Turner and Joy Kogawa for his story on how the house was saved, and how Sen. Nancy Ruth's formerly anonymous gift of $500,000 was important.  In this picture Hon. Iona Campagnolo, Sen. Nancy Ruth and Joy Kogawa.- photo Todd Wong

8pm  Music and Poetry with Joy Kogawa and Friends,
Following the music, Joy was presented with the George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award from BC Bookworld Publisher Alan Twigg, Vancouver Public Library Community Programs Director Janice Douglas, and historian Jean Barman.   
Alan Twigg speaks of Joy's accomplishments         Joy Kogawa accepts the George Woodcock lifetime achievement award

This morning Joy Kogawa sent this email out to our Historic Joy Kogawa House Society
Dear Friends,
 
For a day of unalloyed happiness --
 
I have had many many wonderful days in my life -- but this one!  It was the happiest. If ever I've felt at home.... Or felt the love that underlies all...

My friend Heather Pawsey, soprano wrote:
Last night was one of the most beautiful and profound evenings of my musical life.  Heartfelt thanks to everyone behind Kogawa House.  May it continue to rise and spread its wings.

Where is Joy Kogawa in this picture? 

This is the interactive photo display in front of the Royal BC Museum, in Victoria BC,  for the "Free Spirit" exhibition celebrating the 150th Anniversary of British Columbia. 

Sep 22
Kogawa House cherry tree at Vancouver city hall is given a plaque on the 20th anniversary of the Japanese-Canadian redress.
 
"Friendship Tree" plaque at Vancouver City Hall for the "Kogawa House cherry tree" graft - photo
Ann-Marie Metten.

Joy Kogawa House is:

BEST NEW PLACE TO

GET WRITING DONE

Pictures: Joy and brother Tim and Kogawa House circa 1944, chery tree and house 2007, Joy Kogawa and children from Thomsett Elementary School, Joy Kogawa and house photo by Dan Toulget/Vancouver Courier, Joy & brother Tim with school friends circa 1944

When I joined the "Save Kogawa House" campaign in September 2005, I just knew it was something that had to be done. Three years later we now have our first writer-in-residence program with the arrival of Madeleine Thien and a grant from the Canada Council. 

The House was purchased by The Land Conservancy of BC in May 2006, and we have since had readings by Ruth Ozeki, Shaena Lambert, Sharon Butala, Heidi Greco, Marion Quednau, and Vancouver’s poet laureate George McWhirter, as well as Joy Kogawa herself.  We have also had musical performances by opera soprano Heather Pawsey, flautist Kathryn Cernauskas and pianist Rachel Iwaasa. 

It's an amazing story that this house has survived not only the WW2 Internment of its previous owners, but also rising real estate prices and the threat of demolition.  It was a vision that we had to create a home for writers, to both recognize the accomplishments and life of Joy Kogawa, as well as to provide a place for them to hone their craft, and hopefully inspire them to their own greatness.

Check out page 77 of the Sept 18-25 / 2008 issue of the Georgia Straight.  Kevin Chong writes that "Madeleine Thine will take up residence at a retreat dedicated to Joy Kogawa"

1450 West 64th Avenue

Now that Joy Kogawa’s childhood home has been purchased and saved from the wrecking ball after years of struggle, it’s set to become a writer’s retreat for visiting authors, starting in 2009. (The first author to arrive in the house, located in leafy, sleepy Marpole, will be Madeleine Thien.) Hopefully, the house, which celebrates the contributions of one of B.C.’s best-known authors while reminding us of a regrettable episode in our nation’s history—the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II—will inspire new books in the years to come. More info is available at www.kogawahouse.com/ .

It was a wonderful busy

busy day of celebration

at Joy Kogawa House

on April 25th.

3pm press conference, introduction of formerly anomnynous $500,000 donor (Sen. Nancy Ruth) + baby cherry tree planting

At 3:40pm, we sat inside the living room of Historic Joy Kogawa House and listened to CBC Radio One's Arts Report by Paul Grant.  Paul had interviewed Sen. Nancy Ruth, Bill Turner and Joy Kogawa for his story on how the house was saved, and how Sen. Nancy Ruth's formerly anonymous gift of $500,000 was important.  In this picture Hon. Iona Campagnolo, Sen. Nancy Ruth and Joy Kogawa.- photo Todd Wong

Hon. Iona Campagnolo (former BC Lt. Gov. speaks about importance of preserving culture and heritage represented through Historica Joy Kogawa house.  She stands next to Joy Kogawa, Bill Turner (TLC executive director), Senator Nancy Ruth, Ujal Dosanjh MP for Vancouver South, Ellen Woodsworth (former Vancouver City councilor) - photo Todd Wong

4pm VIP reception - where we sold 6 baby cherry trees that will be planted at designated public sites (I want to plant one at Government House in Victoria)

Joy Kogawa signs books for MP Ujal Dosanjh and Vancouver councilor Heather Deal - two of the politicians we first contacted in 2005 to find ways to save the house and ensure its heritage designations. - photo Todd Wong

8pm  Music and Poetry with Joy Kogawa and Friends, featuring poets George McWhirter, Heidi Greco, Marion Quednau, soprano Heather Pawsey, flautist Kathryn Cernauskas, pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwassa, and composer Leslie Uyeda.

Author Joy Kogawa reads to a packed house in her childhood home. Composer Leslie Uyeda stands 2nd from left.  Vancouver Public Library Community Programming director Janice Douglas sits in the front row, 3rd from left. - photo Todd Wong

Following the music, Joy was presented with the George Woodcock Literary Achievement Award from BC Bookworld Publisher Alan Twigg, Vancouver Public Library Community Programs Director Janice Douglas, and historian Jean Barman.
Alan Twigg speaks of Joy's accomplishments                        Joy Kogawa accepts the award

This morning Joy Kogawa sent this email out to our Historic Joy Kogawa House Society

Joy Kogawa House, April 25th 2008