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Final run of the season for the little ones {vurb} Wassabi See Page 20 back in the spotlight See Second Section
Friday, April 20 • 2012
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Vol. search 4 • Issue 84 Nelson crew in the spotlight Sports heroes recognized See Pages 14-15 for volunteer efforts See Page 14
UPROOTED
More than 65 years ago Japanese Canadians were forcibly removed from their homes on British Columbia’s coast and brought to internment camps in places like the Slocan Valley during the height of the Second World War. Today those who lived through the ordeal tell stories of struggle, sadness, and forgiveness. Here’s one such tale... GREG NESTEROFF
L
Nelson Star Reporter
ongtime Nelson resident Yosh Tagami mi remembers working for 25 cents an hour building internment shacks on n the Popoff farm near Slocan City. He was 17 and his family would soon move intoo one of those houses, which measured 14 x 25 feet. “The first winter was cold with four feet of snow, and icicles formed inside so we put cardboard from boxes on the walls,â€? he says. There was no insulation beyond paper Vanessa LeFebvre helps students at St. Joseph’s Elementary School with finger positioning for a and shiplap, and no indoor plumbing. chord Wednesday during a ukulele lesson. The class is preparing for a spring music concert on May Wooden beds lay at either end oftalent. 16 that bunk will showcase the students’ Samuel Dobrin photo the house with a kitchen in the middle. They used a wood stove for cooking and heating. School Board Budget “Rice was rationed and we made green tea from alfalfa leaves,â€? he says. “We had a garden arden and also bought vegetabless from the DoukABOVE —Even hobors who camee in horse horse-driven driven before World War II, wagons.â€?third reading and approve a preJapanese yearsCanadians regardless of declining enSAMUEL DOBRIN Tagami, now 85, was born atsubmitted liminary budget to be rollment. like Yosh Tagami Nelson Star Reporter Genoa Bay onprovince. Vancouver Island “The district did not have to to the were ďŹ ngerprinted and raised at Paldi, sawmillthe servicAlong withaaligning be challenged in previous years The Kootenay Lake School and photographed community near He es with the Duncan. needs of students, the in terms of making some hard District is continuing to work for identity cards had four brothers and two decisions through creating a status quo board is facing some challenges whenstaffing they turned 16. as the student sisters.toTheir father Jirosaku, a sustainable budget.a population budget for the 2012-13 school RIGHT — Thou- decreased. millwright, injured a fall we’ve been advised is “Thewas district hasinhad the good year and making efforts to ensure sands of“What internees and unable to work, so the sons profortune of receiving funding that the funding they’re doing so sustainably. were sent to Slocan protection over began logging tection forasateenagers. number of years, â€? where the next three “We’re continuing to gather inCity they en- years will by 98.5 per cent of what we received in formation from participants in said Jones. dured primitive living The funding protection the process,â€? said superintendent Story continues to allowed conditions. districton to Page receive Jeff Jones, adding that at the May the ‘Tagami’ 3 the same (Tak ToyotaStory photo)continues to 8 board meeting he hopes to have amount of funding as previous ‘Budget’ on Page 4
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Nelson city taxes going up 3 per cent
District takes on challenges
Home Owners helping home owners
Council says plenty of number crunching and review went into settling on bottom line increase
Greg Nesteroff Nelson Star Reporter
Nelson city council gave three readings Monday to a five-year financial plan that includes a three per cent property tax increase for 2012. Councillor Bob Adams, however, voted against the budget, arguing that combined with previously approved increases to water, sewer, and hydro rates, it places too heavy a load on taxpayers. “Three per cent is not a whole lot, but some people can’t afford it,� he said. “People like to come to Nelson, but it’s too expensive to buy here.� Adams said Nelson’s tax burden places it 30th among BC municipalities. “About 100 are better than us. We’re very high. This can’t keep going.� Councillor Robin Cherbo said he agreed with Adams, but “continual provincial and federal downloads� Story continues to ‘Average’ on Page 9