Kogawa House: The Case to create a literary and historical landmark for Vancouver
Recently I was asked to state a case for preserving Kogawa House. You can visit the discussion here on www.darrenbarefoot.com
The best answer is to experience these upcoming events, Vancouver Opera's Naomi's Road
- Saturday, March 4, 2006 7:00 pm at West Vancouver Memorial Library
- March 11, 2006, 7:30pm at Vancouver Japanese Language School Hall
I will MC a special "Emily Kato" book launch for Joy Kogawa. There will be special guests and presentations. This will be the penultimate One Book One Vancouver follow up program as "Emily Kato" is the reworked (Itsuka) sequel that highlights the JC Redress movement of the 1980's.
The Case for Preserving Kogawa House...
Has recieved Order of Canada?
Has had an opera made from their works?
Here's a link for
15 literary and cultural associations across canada that support preservation of kogawa house
Here's a link for
20 Reasons to save Kogawa House
Quote from Margaret Atwood
2 - The house will become a writing centre, and be restored to it's 1937 to 1942 era while Joy lived in the house as a young child. There will be a writers-in-residence program working in conjunction with writing associations across Canada. Special consideration will be considered for "Writers of Conscience", who write topic of human rights and racial/cultural harmony/issues. We will create programs for author readings and tie in with city cultural festivals.
See link for The Land Conservancy
3 - The history of the house itself provides a landmark to the Japanese Canadian internment - one of Canada's darkest historical periods. There is no acknowledgement or memorial in Vancouver for this incident. Kogawa House is one of the few houses identified as having been confiscated by the govt. and the only house identified with a cultural and literary significance. This was the house that was taken away. This was the house that was yearned for and represented a time before Hate and Negative-Identity virtually destroyed the JC social structure. This was the house that inspired the writing of both Obasan and Naomi's Road.
Here are recent news links generated after having Joy Kogawa as keynote speaker at the "Order of Canada" luncheon organized by the Canadian Club, to honour BC's 2005 appointees to the Order of Canada.
Tribute like coming home, Kogawa says
Vancouver Sun (subscription), Canada -
Canada.com, Canada -
 CBC Nova Scotia | $1 million needed to save Kogawa House CBC Nova Scotia, Canada - |
| Saving the House of Joy TheTyee.ca, Canada - |
| Deadline to save Kogawa's old home draws near Globe and Mail, Canada - |
Through the power of Blogging and google searches, www.kogawahouse.com and www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com have been able to help provide information on the continuing saga of the "Save Kogawa House" campaign. Media stories have been collected, and Media reporters have referenced the websites. Special thanks to Roland Tanglao of www.bryght.com for setting up our blogs.
