Harry Aoki, Const. Bob Underhill, Joy Kogawa and Dr. Jean Watters (president of Canadian Club). Joy Kogawa was the keynote speaker for the "Order of Canada / Flag Day" luncheon, and Harry provided the "gift of song." - photo Todd Wong.
It was a good day for Save Kogawa House and the Canadian Club on Flag Day, the 41st anniversary of the Maple Leaf flag, first unveiled in 1965. Joy Kogawa was the keynote speaker for the annual "Order of Canada / Flag Day" luncheon hosted by the Canadian Club. Recent BC Order of Canada recipients named in 2005 were honoured with a special ceremony remniscent of the actual investiture ceremony that takes place at Rideau Hall with the Governor General.
The Canadian Club is committed to ensuring that each of its major events all feature an abundance of students in the audience. This makes for a very interesting dynamic as many students began arriving as early as 11am, and the lobby filled with mingling guests. There was a definite buzz in the air that something special was happening. I spoke with the Canadian Club members that I knew, as well as helping our committee co-chair Andrew Winstanley to organize some journalism students from BCIT, who were doing a news piece on our event. I also spoke with friends Dr. Wallace Chung and his wife Dr. Madeline Chung who had delivered me. I made a joke as I introduced her to my friends from The Land Conservancy... "If Dr. Madeline had dropped me there wouldn't be a Gung Haggis Fat Choy!"
It was a large head table, and they all gathered in the lobby, as everybody in the ballroom was asked to sit down. Suddenly, the droning of bagpipes was heard, as Pipe Corporal Rosalie MacDonald, British Columbia Regiment, led the procession into the ballroom. She was followed by CC president, Dr. Jean Watters, Joy Kogawa, and the rest of the 27 member head table. The procession came into the centre of the room, and walked around the table to each find their place - amazing!
MC Margaret Gallagher welcomed singers Madeline Busby and Meghan Robinson of the Vancouver Bach Children's Chorus to lead the singing of O Canada. This was extra special for young Madeline as her father Peter Busby was a new Member of the Order of Canada, and being honoured today.
Rose Point, distinguished Elder from the Musqueam First Nation, led an invocation thanking the peoples of the land and the Earth. I learned that "Hich Ka, Siem" means "Thank you, Honoured One."
Dr. Jean Watters, president of the Canadian Club of Vancouver, gave a warm welcome and read greetings from BC Premier Gordon Campbell, then announced the Club's newest gold-level sponsor, Kwantlen University College, and thanked returning event sponsor, Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants.
MC Margaret Gallagher next introduced the members of the Head Table which also included new OC inductees Stewart Blusson, James Cameron Hagg, Peter Busby, Dr. Wallace Chung, Thelma Finlayson, Nancy McKinstry, and Basil Stuart-Stubbs. Also joining the head table were former CC member Patricia Graham, plus Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan, Enzo Guerriero and Skip Triplett.
The wonderful birthday cake celebrating the 41st anniversary of the Maple Leaf flag - photo Deb Martin.
Lunch had begun with a Greek salad, then an entre of chicken breast with mushrooms, very skinny asparagus and mashed potatoes. It was amazingly tasty, and the wait staff was very attentive. I took some time to ensure that my table guests were all looked after, as I had sponsored one table, and set up another table for the Save Kogawa House committee and The Land Conservancy. We had a wonderful group that included Tamsin Baker, Heather Skydt, Nancy Tiffin and Rich Kenney. From the Save Kogawa House committee we had myself, Ann-Marie Metten, David Kogawa, Ellen Crowe-Swords, Richard Hopkins and Deb Martin. My guests also included friend Tony Breen and my cousin Rhonda Larrabee.
Skip Triplett, the president of Kwantlen University College, introduced Joy Kogawa, highlighting her many achievements, such as six universities across the country, have bestowed upon her the titles of , Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters and Doctor of Divinity. She is named in Almanac's recent book of Greatest British Columbians and her first novel Obasan, is listed as one of Canada's most important books.
Joy spoke to the audience and acknowledged that while the audience included both children and many esteemed and honoured Canadians, that she felt it was the children who were the most important because they represented Canada's future. She spoke about how by recieving the Order of Canada, it gave her a sense of belonging, and that by Vancouver Public Library honouring her as the 2005 selection for the One Book One Vancouver program, it meant that Vancouver accepted and wanted her - this same city from which she had been rejected from in 1942.
She told a story about standing in line for the Order of Canada, and a person next to her had told her that they had "visited her country." Incredulously... she was telling a story about how people in 1986 still assumed that because she had a Japanese name and a Japanese face that she was from another country other than Canada. Her reply was simple. I have visited "your country" too, in fact... I was born in it."
Joy talked about how racism shapes our cultures and our sense of belonging, knowing that their was much cultural and racial diversity amongst both the students and the adults in the room. She talked about the future of Canada, and introduced her grand-daughter - half-Japanese, and half-Caucasian, asking her to stand up. She did so shyly, encouraged by her grandfather, David Kogawa, sitting next to me. Then next she said that Todd Wong also represented the future of Canada, because of my activities in cultural diversity. I sat surprised until Mayor Sam Sullivan gently said to me "Stand up Todd."
Constable Bob Underhill, Joy Kogawa and Todd Wong - wearing the "Maple Leaf Tartan". - photo Deb Martin.
People listened attentively to Joy speak about how to live our lives despite incredible challenges. She said that even up to last night, she wasn't sure what she would speak about. But with the prompting of an e-mail from me... a single word came to her... TRUST. She expounded that we must learn to trust ourselves and to act upon our inspirations. It was a wonderful talk - warm and heartfelt. And many CC boardmembers came up to me afterwords, saying how wonderful a speaker she had been, and how perfect for the event.
But next to follow was a gift of song, as a thank you present from the CC to Joy. MC Margaret Gallagher introduced Harry Aoki, who himself had been forced to leave Vancouver during the so-called "coastal evacuation." I knew that Harry was a perfect choice because Joy had partially based the creation of the Naomi's Road character of Steven Nakane on Harry. Because of the internment of Japanese Canadians, Harry had been forced to leave behind his beloved violin, and could only take his harmonica with him. Joy always remembered listening to Harry play harmonica at the music competitions at the community gatherings following the internment, in Alberta.
Harry introduced a duo piece as something he had performed before while in Romania. They had asked him for something Canadian... "What is Canadian?" he questioned to the audience, but he said he drew on something from his own Japanese ancestry, and played a country hoe-down piece. As he played you could see the smiles of people throughout the audience, as they nodded to the rhythm of Harry's performance. After the luncheon, OC member Dal Richards, noted Vancouver band leader and musical legend, went straight over to Harry to congratulate and talk with him.
Harry Aoki and Dal Richard talk music following the luncheon -photo D. Martin
But the luncheon wasn't over yet. Next came the Cake Cutting Ceremony with RCMP Constable Bob Underhill who had selected two students to participate. Everybody sang "Happy Birthday" to the Maple Leaf flag.
Dr. Watters, Joy Kogawa with Enzo Guerriero (Celebrate Canada president) came up to the stage to each welcome the new 2005 Order of Canada Appointees resident in Vancouver. Linda Johnston from Canadian Heritage read out the citations about each person, detailing their achivements to Canadian community, arts, society or science. It was impressive to be in a room filled with so many members of the Order of Canada, many more seated around the room, sitting with students.
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Applauding and thanking the new Order of Canada recipients: Canadian Club president Dr. Jean Watters, keynote speaker Joy Kogawa, and Enzo Guerriero, president of Celebrate Canada - photo Deb Martin.
The event concluded with the Vancouver Bach Children's Chorus coming into the room and performing the song "This is My Home" which had been commissioned for Expo 86 and was featured at the Canada Pavillion. Seated nearby was Patrick Reid O.C. and a special advisor for the Canadian Club, who had been Commissioner for Expo 86. The song is beautiful, and I love the chorus, when the melody goes "This is My Home.... O Canada." It did bring a tear to my eye.
What a wonderful event. I am very glad to be a member of the Canadian Club, and very pleased that I was able to contribute to this very inspiring and impressive event. Margaret Gallagher did an outstanding job as MC. Joy touched and inspired people as keynote speaker. Harry Aoki, thrilled people with his harmonica performance. I am so glad to be able to call each of them my friend.
