I just found this Richmond News on-line story about Joy Kogawa with the Tomsett Elementary School children visit which took place on February 21st. On February 25th, I met teacher Joan Young as she joined the Save Kogawa House committee for a dinner social meeting. She sent me pictures and a letter describing the visit. Joy is presently in Toronto for the Emily Kato book launch at Trinity Church – pictures and description from Save Kogawa House Toronto coordinator, Anton Wagner, to come soon. He did send me a message today that it went well, and that he would send pictures soon.
Joy Kogawa accompanies Tomsett Elementary School children’s visit to her childhood home, after the teacher and students contacted her. They had read the book Naomi’s Road, and seen the Vancouver Opera touring production of Naomi’s Road. Principal Sabine Harper and teacher Joan Young were thrilled when Joy returned their letter inquiry, and an offer to visit the house was extended. – photo courtesy of Joan Young.
Richmond News reporter Eve Edmonds writes:
Students join campaign to save Kogawa house
Richmond News
By Eve Edmonds
What began as a history lesson about the internment of Japanese Canadians has morphed into a political campaign for a group of Grade 3/4 students at Tomsett elementary. The students will meet face to face with Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan tomorrow to appeal to him to save the childhood home of author Joy Kogawa.“This is a wonderfully real educational experience,” says Tomsett principal Sabrina Harpe. “It’s an opportunity for public speaking, letter writing and field trips.” Kogawa wrote Naomi’s Road, an autobiographical novel about a child who was interned with her family in the Slocan Valley during the Second World War. The students read the book and saw the children’s opera version of the story when the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra toured through a number of Richmond schools.