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Friday, June 22 • 2012
Vol. 4 • Issue 102
Lymbery Creates Buzz in Gray Creek See Page 5 280 Baker Street Nelson BC (250)
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An ‘act of memory’ School Public Education
Permanent acknowledgement of Japanese internment during World War II now stands in the Slocan Valley; moment celebrated by author Joy Kogawa and other survivors GREG NESTEROFF Nelson Star Reporter
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Bombi Track Taken to Next Level See Page 21
SLOCAN — As a writer in the prime minister’s office in the mid-1970s, Joy Kogawa asked the national monuments board about commemorating the sites of former Japanese Canadian internment camps like those in the Slocan Valley. They replied the government didn’t wish to remember those events. Though disappointed, “I thought someday it will happen. And here it is.” On Saturday, Kogawa, whose family was interned at Slocan City, returned to unveil an interpretive sign at Lemon Creek — the first permanent acknowledgement of what occurred there during World War II. Kogawa, whose acclaimed 1981 novel Obasan is partly set in Slocan, told the large crowd gathered that she was “overcome” and “deeply grateful.” “What we have here is the will of the people to remember and make significant the lives of people who have, to a large extent, disappeared,” she said. “We are all here in
board grilled SAM VAN SCHIE Nelson Star Reporter
Greg Nesteroff photos
TOP — Kaslo resident Aya Higashi unveils the marker at the Popoff farm. RIGHT — Author Joy Kogawa speaks to the large crowd that gathered to mark the occasion.
this act of memory. This act of saying ‘This was significant.’” As cruel as the internment was, Kogawa said, the post-war dispersal policy was worse: it insisted internees move east of the Rockies or be exiled to Japan. Story continues to ‘Signs’ on Page 12
Home Owners helping home owners
It was standing room only in the public gallery at the Kootenay Lake School District (SD8)’s final board meeting before summer break. More than 50 teachers and parents showed up to speak or lend their support during the public comment period and about 20 more attended by video conference from the Creston satellite office. It took two hours for the board to hear all the comments, each punctuated by applause from the gallery. Speakers were distressed by the impact of the 2012-13 district budget the board approved in May. The budget called for the reduction of 19 full-time-equivalent teaching positions, closing of district resource centres in Nelson and Creston, and implementing a fee for students riding school busses outside their catchment area (see related story on Page 9). Story continues to ‘Board’ on Page 4