Vancouver Courier story on Joy Kogawa:

Literary icon's home faces wrecker's ball
By Sandra Thomas-Staff writer
http://www.vancourier.com/issues05/094205/news/094205nn11.html

Last November city council passed a motion to plant a cherry tree propagated from one growing in the backyard of the former home of author Joy Kogawa.

But if a demolition application recently filed at the city by the owner is approved, that tree could soon be one of the last remaining tangible symbols of the home on West 64th Avenue.

Kogawa lived there until she was six years old, when her Japanese-Canadian family was interned in the Slocan Valley during the Second World War. The Marpole house was then auctioned off at a bargain price by the government's "Custodian of Enemy Alien Property" program. Her 1983 autobiographical work Obasan, named one of the most influential novels of the 20th century by Quill and Quire, a monthly magazine of the Canadian book trade, tells the story of the internment camp through the eyes of a child.

Kogawa, who keeps small apartments in both Vancouver and Toronto, noted the irony of receiving the bad news while being honoured at several events across the city.

"It is how life operates," said Kogawa from her children's home in Surrey. "It is the yin and yang of the world."

Kogawa was honoured last weekend at a One Book, One Vancouver event for her novel Naomi's Road, the children's version of Obasan, at Vancouver Public Library, and at a dinner for Ricepaper Magazine, during the Word on the Street Book and Magazine Fair, and at the premiere of Naomi's Road performed by Vancouver Opera.

Kogawa, who was named to the Order of Canada for her writing and work with the Japanese-Canadian redress movement, said she was "dumbfounded" by the news the home is in danger. Two years ago Kogawa discovered the property was for sale and a committee was formed in an attempt to purchase it. The home was eventually bought by private owners. In December 2004 when the owners started renovations without a permit, the Joy Kogawa Homestead Foundation contacted both the city and the media to increase pressure on the federal and provincial governments to save the home as a historical and cultural icon.

The city issued a stop-work order which the new owners followed. They also donated the three doors and 12 windows they had removed to the city for safe keeping. The owners, who have no messaging service, did not answer several phone calls from the Courier.

"I don't want to be aggressive, I don't want to fight," Kogawa said. "We'll see what friendship can do."

Jim Green, a city councillor and mayoral candidate for Vision Vancouver, said he was at the house with Kogawa recently to look at the cherry tree.

"This is too sad," he said. "This is a historical place in Canada and it should be preserved."

Green sits on the city's heritage committee but admits the city can do little to save the home.

"There is very little we can do with the powers we have," he said. "It will be up to the will of council because I expect it to come before the development permit board because it would have a significant impact historically on Vancouver."

Green said he and Kogawa expect to plant the cherry tree on the grounds of city hall within the next couple of weeks.

For more updates on the Kogawa Homestead status, please see:
www.kogawa.homestead.com
For more updates, articles on Kogawa Homestead and Joy Kogawa on this web site, please see:
Joy Kogawa's Obasan and Homestead