Talking about OBASAN

Neighbour met neighbour on the evening of 29 March at Whonnock Lake Centre for very successful discussions about the book they all read: Obasan. They also reflected on the fate of Japanese residents of Whonnock and Ruskin in the years of the Second World War.
Jean Davidson and Sue Adair should be proud of their accomplishment of initiating the One Book Whonnock program and making it such a success.

Thursday, March 29

In the spring of 2011 Jean Davidson and Sue Adair launched the "One Book Whonnock" project. Now the time has come to get together and talk about Obasan by Joy Kogawa with each other. That neighbourhood event will happen on Thursday, March 29 at Whonnock Lake Centre. Tea at 7:15. The discussion start at 7:30. We hope you will come along to talk about the book. 
In preparation for the discussion please think about the following questions:

1. what moment in the book had the most impact on you
2. what you liked and didn't like about the book
3. what you learned about your neighbourhood 
4. what you learned about Canadian society.

We also ask you to bring any anecdotes or memorabilia you have of the long-ago presence of Japanese-Canadians in this area.
For adequate preparation we need to know if you are coming. Please call Sue Adair 604-462-7520 or Jean Davidson 604-462-7341 to confirm that you will attend or and other information. Suggestions are also welcome. 
PS: This gathering will also give us all a chance getting to know our neighbours a bit better.

Japanese lands in Ruskin and Whonnock

Before W. T. (Bill) Hashizume published his translation of Yatsuro Yamaga’s History of Haney Nokia (farmers association) he used municipal tax assessment rolls and information gathered by John Mark Read for his 1971 MA Thesis as the basis for a map showing the properties once owned by Japanese settlers. Click here if you are interested to see the Whonnock and Ruskin parts of the map. 

Japanese in Ruskin and Whonnock

The Maple Ridge News of 14 December includes an article on the subject of the Japanese in East Maple Ridge. In case you've missed it for any reason please click here to read it now.

Ruskin School 1936-1937

Most of the children attending Ruskin elementary during the school year 1936-1937 were of Japanese origin.

Chris Mellalieu -- After reading Obasan

Just to let you know that I read  “Obasan”  and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have had several conversations with people who lived through the times including a dear 90 year old friend who leased their farm to displaced Japanese during those times. It was worthy of note that he and his family had  no idea that the family to whom they leased had lost everything.  That sort of speaks to the humility of the Japanese culture.   I also cannot get the image out of my mind of that big bully of a hen killing those "yellow” chicks or the description of the  collectible Japanese doll that was now without her traditional dress and had essentially lost any trace of the beautiful culture.
Anyway, thanks for starting what might turn into a Whonnock tradition.

After reading OBASAN

What a book! It is such a compelling and very disturbing novel. About the time that happened I was in elementary school in Saskatchewan.

Didn’t know until we moved to BC in 1943 that the Japanese people had been moved away from the BC coast.

It’s a real eye-opener as to how people react in such times. The powers-that-be seem to react instantly without careful consideration.

My heart goes out to those people.

Thanks for loaning me the book,

Sincerely,

Margaret Norman