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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Friends,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As per the information below, we received word
yesterday that significant unauthorized alterations were going on at the Kogawa
family home in Vancouver, immortalized in Joy's classic novel <EM>Obasan</EM>.
Please find below my message to Mayor Campbell and the Vancouver City Council
informing them of the situation and asking them to take immediate
action.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Could you send a similar message to the Vancouver
City Council and ask anyone else you know of to do the same? The email address
to send to would be</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="mailto:mayorandcouncil@city.vancouver.bc.ca">mayorandcouncil@city.vancouver.bc.ca</A> Thank
you for your assistance. Best wishes, Anton.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=awagner@yorku.ca href="mailto:awagner@yorku.ca">awagner</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=mayorandcouncil@city.vancouver.bc.ca
href="mailto:mayorandcouncil@city.vancouver.bc.ca">mayorandcouncil@city.vancouver.bc.ca</A>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Friday, December 05, 2003 1:34 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Unauthorized renovations of Joy Kogawa Home at 1450 West
64th Ave.</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Dear Mayor
Campbell and Vancouver City Councillors,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>The Vancouver
Heritage Commission and the Vancouver Heritage Foundation have both recommended
to the Vancouver City Council that the former Joy Kogawa home at 1450 West 64th
Avenue, immortalized in Joy's novel <EM>Obasan</EM> about the forced evacuations
and internment of Japanese Canadians during W.W.II, be listed as an "A" heritage
designated building.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>The new owner
of the building has rushed to make significant changes to the house despite
attempts by the Vancouver Heritage Commission to meet with the owner to discuss
the cultural and heritage significance of the building and the need for its
preservation.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Alterations to
the house began two days ago and may be irreparable by the time the Vancouver
Heritage Commission meets with the new owner on Monday. I urge you to take
action</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>immediately to
preserve the cultural and heritage integrity of the Kogawa home. This is a
cultural matter of great interest to people across Canada and internationally,
as indicated by the hundreds of letters of support posted on our
website</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><A
href="http://kogawa.homestead.com">http://kogawa.homestead.com</A><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>As Vancouver
prepares for the Olympic Games, this question of how the City preserves its
cultural heritage, as shown by how Vancouver City Council responds to this
emergency with the Joy Kogawa home, will be of great interest to Canadians and
visitors to Canada. Please act now to save the Joy Kogawa home. Thank you for
your assistance.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Sincerely,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Anton
Wagner,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Secretary, Joy
Kogawa</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Homestead
Committee</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>416-863
1209</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>fax: 416-863
9973</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><A
href="http://kogawa.homestead.com">http://kogawa.homestead.com</A><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>----- Original
Message ----- </FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, December 04, 2003 5:53
PM</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B>Subject:</B> RE: 1450 West 64th Ave
Renovations</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003>Hello Anton, </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003>I am shocked and dismayed that the new
owner would proceed with changes without applying for permits. I can assure you
that the City of Vancouver was not informed about this. Terry is in the process
of alerting the District Building Inspectors who will go out to the property and
assess whether a "Stop Work Order" can be applied to the site and visiting the
site himself to verify what's occurring. In addition he has made contact
with the rental agent for the new owners and is arranging a meeting
with the owner and the agent as soon as possible. A Stop Work Order,
is a serious issue for an owner to address and restricts any further work
occurring to the site until approved through the Cities permitting process.
</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003>For clarity purposes, we sent a registered
letter to the home of the new owners last week, requesting a meeting
to go over their plans for the property and alerting them to the heritage
value of the site. We had not heard back from them. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003>The house is not listed on the
Vancouver Heritage Register, nor are there any restrictions against changes
to the building that would normally be permitted under the area
zoning. City staff have flagged the site if any permits are
applied for which would give city staff the opportunity to
discuss with the owners alternate approaches before a
permit was issued. however if an owner proceeds without approvals we
won't hear about it unless an e-mail such as this is sent. </SPAN><SPAN
class=286092122-04122003> </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003>The latest news that we have from the rental
agent is that the new owner is planning on moving onto the house
herself.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003>Terry will keep you informed as to our
progress, thank your for alerting staff so quickly. If you have any further
information please let us know. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003>regards</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003>Yardley McNeill,</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=286092122-04122003>Vancouver Heritage Commission</SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> awagner
[mailto:awagner@yorku.ca] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, December 04, 2003 1:28
PM<BR><B>To:</B> Yardley McNeill<BR><B>Cc:</B> Terry Brunette; Tracy Matsuo;
Tim Nakayama; Stephanie Gould; Roy Miki; Margaret Steffler; Lois Wilson; Linda
Ohama; Joy Kogawa; Daphne Marlatt; Chris Kurata; Keiko Miki; David
Kogawa<BR><B>Subject:</B> Fw: 1450 West 64th Ave
Renovations<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Dear Yardley,</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Terry Brunette had assured us that the City would flag any applications
for renovations at the Kogawa home. Joy Kogawa left for Hawaii this morning to
see her daughter and grandchildren. It is extremely upsetting for us that this
construction is going on when we were under the impression that the Vancouver
Heritage Commission was establishing communication and dialogue with the new
owner of the Kogawa home to discuss the heritage preservation of the house in
an orderly manner. Please advise us how the City inspectors can put a stop to
the renovation/construction going on at the Kogawa home.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Anton Wagner,</DIV>
<DIV>Secretary, Joy Kogawa</DIV>
<DIV>Homestead Organizing Committee</DIV>
<DIV>416-863 1209</DIV>
<DIV>fax: 416-863 9973</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT size=3>----- Original Message -----
</FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=3><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, December 04, 2003 3:58
PM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><B>Subject:</B> Re: 1450 West 64th Ave</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT><FONT
face=Arial></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Dear Terry, Steve and Diane,</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Can anything be done re the reports below of renovations/alterations at
the Kogawa home? We were all under the impression that the Vancouver Heritage
Commission designation would prevent the kind of renovations/alterations being
reported below. Please advise. </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Anton Wagner</DIV>
<DIV>Secretary, Joy Kogawa</DIV>
<DIV>Homestead Organizing Commitee</DIV>
<DIV>416-863 1209</DIV>
<DIV>fax: 416-863 9973</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, December 04, 2003 8:17 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> House renovations</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#000080 size=2>Dear Anton---I would say that a
substantial amount of change has happened for the short time (day or two) of
work. I didn't mean to sound like it was nothing to be concerned
about.....because I think if the work isn't stopped or supervised properly,
much of the historical essence of the home as described by Joy and in
Obasan.....will be lost. We are just lucky that the original windows have been
salvaged (to now).</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#000080 size=2>A few more days, who knows what
the workers will remove...they seem to be very fast
workers.</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#000080 size=2>David will probably write and
update you as well.</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#000080 size=2>Linda O</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, December 04, 2003 8:04 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Lots of construction on the house</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT
size=2></FONT><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT
size=2></FONT><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT
size=2></FONT><FONT size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#000080 size=2>Dear Anton---Please call me when
you get a chance.</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#000080 size=2>I have just returned from the
house and there have been lots of changes....12 windows and 3 doors and the
music room partition..........David was there and Terry Brunette also showed
up..............I am not sure what the city is going to
do.....</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#000080 size=2>Linda 604 732
7215</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><BASE
href=file://C:%5CProgram%20Files%5CCommon%20Files%5CMicrosoft%20Shared%5CStationery%5C><FONT
face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid000f01c3bb44$eb1380c0$b9fe5218@va.shawcable.net
type="cite"><BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(0,0,0) 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid007801c3baa9$55849ee0$ec643f82@n6z3f5 type="cite">
<DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none"><FONT
size=3>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=3><B></B></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, December 04, 2003 2:31
PM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><B>Subject:</B> re: 1450 West 64th
Ave</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Hi Anton,</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Ann-Marie Metten phoned to say workers are at the site this morning
and are replacing windows and converting the front "sun room' into a
second liveable space for rental. The workers apparently agree to let us
have the original windows so I'm going there this afternoon and see if
they would allow us to store the originals in the back yard garage.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Obviously it's now very urgent that Terry Brunette or some other
official from the Vanc Heritage Foundation meet with the owner to
communicate our interest in the property and to put on hold any
further renovations until we have a chance to negotiate a rent to
purchase agreement.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>David.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none"><FONT
size=3>----- Original Message ----- </FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none"><FONT
size=3><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, November 20, 2003 6:39 PM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none"><FONT
size=3><B>Subject:</B> 1450 West 64th Avenue</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><BR>
<P><FONT face=Arial>As mentioned, a summary of discussion at the Vancouver
Heritage Commission concerning the preservation of the former home of Joy
Kogawa follows below:</FONT></P>
<UL>
<LI><FONT face=Arial>A sub-committee of the Vancouver Heritage
Commission is being formed to provide advice with regard to preservation
of the former Joy Kogawa home. It should be clearly understood
that this committee can in no way supplant the efforts of the group
presently seeking non- profit status who will actively pursue the
long-term protection and preservation of this house. Raising
public awareness and financial contributions by your group was supported
and encouraged by the members of the sub-committee. </FONT><BR>
<LI><FONT face=Arial>The City of Vancouver is unable to purchase the
house and recommends the Joy Kogawa Homestead Corporation continue to
pursue options for purchase or rental.</FONT> <BR>
<LI><FONT face=Arial>The Cultural Affairs Office acknowledges the
significance of the property but has no "tools" e.g. policy, precedents,
programs or cash, to consider the capital acquisition or sustaining
funding of such a cultural amenity. </FONT><BR>
<LI><FONT face=Arial>Relocation of the house to another City owned
parcel of land remains a possibility for investigation.</FONT> <BR>
<LI><FONT face=Arial>The City of Vancouver will contact the new owner
with regard to listing the house on the register. Such measures as
an Order for Temporary Protection or required Designation are extreme
measures and have not been used before.</FONT> <BR>
<LI><FONT face=Arial>There are limited land-use/heritage incentives
which could be applied such as creating a secondary suite or strata
titling the existing house into 2 units. Such measures would
require a Heritage Revitalization Agreement and a neighborhood
notification. There might be problems with the existing zoning re
traffic, parking, etc.</FONT> <BR>
<LI><FONT face=Arial>A suggestion was made that the JK Homestead
Corporation seek a short term grant and hire an individual to provide a
point contact and begin to administer the affairs of the
Corporation. Two names were suggested and could be contacted:
please let me know if this would be helpful.</FONT> <BR>
<LI><FONT face=Arial>As requested, donation pledges have been
forwarded. Please contact me if you have any questions.
</FONT></LI></UL>
<P><FONT face=Arial>Regards,</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial>Terry Brunette, Heritage Planner</FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>November 26, 2003</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Please accept this letter from the National Nikkei Museum and
Heritage Centre, a national Japanese Canadian museum and cultural
organization, supporting Joy Kogawa and the work of the Joy Kogawa
Homestead Committee to save the home of the renowned author.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>To the Japanese Canadian community and to Canada, Joy's stories have
captured an important aspect of Canadian history. Her contribution has
enriched Canadian literature, and she has told a story of many of our
people with dignity and grace. Most importantly, through her, Canadians
have gained a better understanding of the need for harmony, understanding
and cultural exchange. It is the opinion of our organization that saving
her home will be a legacy for all Canadians, today and for the
future.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Thank you very much for accepting our letter and we ask that you join
with others in saving Joy Kogawa's home.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Yours sincerely,</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Fred Yada</DIV>
<DIV>President, National Nikkei Museum </DIV>
<DIV>and Heritage Centre</DIV>
<DIV>6688 Southoaks Crescent</DIV>
<DIV>Burnaby, B.C. V5E 4M7</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>November 11, 2003</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>At the National Association of Japanese Canadians Annual General
Meeting in early October, Linda Ohama made a presentation requesting
support for the project to preserve the Kogawa home.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>The Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens' Association would
like to acknowledge and endorse the need to preserve the Kogawa homestead.
This essential piece of property should be preserved as a historic site
because of its significance not only to Japanese Canadians but to all
Canadians.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>We acknowledge the timely need for financial and other forms of
support to save the Kogawa home.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>On behalf of the board of the Greater Vancouver JCCA, we offer our
services in support of this project. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Yours sincerely,</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Ron Nishimura</DIV>
<DIV>President, Greater Vancouver</DIV>
<DIV>Japanese Canadian Citizens' Association</DIV>
<DIV>#200 - 6688 Southoaks Crescent, </DIV>
<DIV>Burnaby, B.C. V5E 4M7</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>THE JOY KOGAWA HOMESTEAD COMMITTEE</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Aims and Objectives:</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>The aim of the Joy Kogawa Homestead Committee is to prevent the
destruction of the Kogawa family home at 1450 West Sixty-fourth
Avenue in Marpole, Vancouver, between Granville and Cartier Streets, and
to have the house designated as a historic site and converted into a
cultural centre. </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Joy and her brother Timothy Nakayama and their parents moved from
Kitsilano to the Marpole house in the mid-1930s. In 1942, under the War
Measures Act, the federal government seized the family home as well as the
property of 21,000 other Japanese-Canadians. Along with thousands of
others, Joy's family was forcibly evacuated by the Canadian government and
interned in the silver-mining "ghost town" of Slocan City deep in the
mountain forests of the Kootenays. The government's "Custodian of Enemy
Alien Property" auctioned off the homes, farms, fishing boats and other
property of Japanese-Canadians seized during the Second World War at rock
bottom prices. At the conclusion of the War in August of 1945, thousands
of Japanese-Canadians were deported to Japan. Joy's family was uprooted
again and relocated further from the coast-"East of the Rockies"-to
Coaldale, Alberta, where they lived among the Japanese-Canadian sugar beet
workers. Restrictions on travel for Japanese-Canadians were not lifted
until 1949.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>The loss of the Kogawa home, and the suffering caused by the forced
evacuation and internment of Japanese-Canadians is movingly told in Joy
Kogawa's classic Canadian novel Obasan and its adaptation for younger
readers, Naomi's Road. In her second novel, Itsuka, Joy Kogawa chronicled
the struggle by Japanese-Canadians to win government compensation for
their loss of property, disenfranchisement, detention, restriction of
movement and loss of their democratic rights. Joy's Obasan, and her own
active participation in this redress movement with the National
Association of Japanese Canadians, were instrumental in winning government
compensation in 1988.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>The small house confiscated from Joy Kogawa's family in 1942 has
miraculously survived but is now up for sale and may be razed by a new
buyer wishing to build a larger house on the property. Joy's childhood
home in Vancouver could be what the Anne Frank House is in Amsterdam. It
could provide educational background to its visitors as well as being a
reminder of a time in history that we want to ensure is never repeated.
History is fragile and always in danger of being rewritten or forgotten.
In preserving the Kogawa home, we can teach future generations about the
suffering perpetrated by our society in dispossessing and disenfranchising
vulnerable minorities. As Joy's brother, the Rev. Timothy Nakayama has
written, "Can the house where we once lived now become a place to learn
about freedom and human rights? Our experiences as people of Japanese
ancestry in North and South America need to be known so that these
tragedies may not be
repeated."<BR> <BR>The
availability of the Kogawa home provides a wonderful opportunity for the
city of Vancouver, the province of British Columbia, and the federal
government to take immediate action to ensure that this house will be
preserved as a historic site for all Canadians. If this one home, out of
all those taken away from Japanese-Canadians during the dark period of
internment, could be returned to all the people of Canada, the act would
be symbolic and powerful indeed. </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Joy Kogawa's home should be recognized as a heritage site so that it
can provide a strong symbol of what so many families lost. It is a lesson
about the insidiousness of racism, a lesson that Canadians must face in
the light of day so that our vision of a harmonious multi-cultural society
has a chance to be fulfilled. </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>What an extraordinary gift it would be to the people of Canada and to
visitors from around the world to have the house that Joy Kogawa lived in
before her family was sent to the camps in World War II restored as an
historic site. School children could visit this site and learn more about
our country's history and the dark side of that history. Adults, too, who
may have forgotten what happened to the Japanese-Canadians at this time,
could hear the story again and be reminded of how vulnerable our freedom
is, how easily it can be taken away, how carefully, how tenaciously we
need to care for it. And all of us, including foreign visitors, could see
first hand one of the great strengths of our democracy-in the fearless
witness to the truth, however dark that truth may be.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>The significance of the Kogawa home in Canadian history and
literature makes it essential that the government designate the house as a
historic site for all Canadians. For hundreds of moving public expressions
for the need to save the Kogawa home, please visit the Joy Kogawa
Homestead website <A
href="http://kogawa.homestead.com">http://kogawa.homestead.com</A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT><BR> </DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BODY></HTML>