Vancouver Heritage Foundation: created as a private, charitable organization in 1992 by the Mayor and Council of the City of Vancouver, who remain its honorary patrons until today. Under the direction of a private citizen Board of Directors, the Foundation assists with the conservation of Vancouver’s built heritage, in recognition of its public benefit.


	Joy Kogawa, author of Obasan, one of Canada's great classic novels, lived in a small house in Marpole at West 64 th Avenue until her family was relocated to the Slocan Valley when she was six years old as part of the internment of Japanese-Canadians during World War II. The Kogawa house, the very same childhood home described in her award winning novel, is currently in danger of being demolished.

The news came as a disappointment and a shock despite the fact that the City of Vancouver will be saving a cutting of the cherry tree from the Kogawa house backyard to be planted on city hall grounds to commemorate the experience of the Japanese Canadians during the war. The children's book version of Obasan, "Naomi's Road" premiered as a Vancouver Opera production to rave reviews on September 30th. In response to the demolition plans, a “Save the Kogawa House” Committee was formed to try to save the house as a Vancouver literary landmark and convert it into a writers-in-residence for Canadian and international writers. The property is unique because of its relationship both to a major historical event and to the arts and culture of Canada . The Writers Union of Canada supports the efforts to save Joy Kogawa's childhood home. Margaret Atwood, past Chair of the Union stated: “The destruction of the Kogawa home would be a great loss of cultural heritage for Vancouver , for British Columbia and for Canada . Although Canada scored high on the recent all-nations report card, it scored low on culture, history and heritage. Why destroy yet more of this precious asset?” The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is accepting donations targeted to saving the Kogawa Homestead and is issuing tax receipts for all Kogawa donations. The “Save the Kogawa House” Committee hopes to raise sufficient funds to purchase the house from the current owners or at least to sway them to donate the house to be moved for safe keeping. The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is a registered charity. All charitable donations are eligible for a tax receipt. Please do not hesitate to contact us so that you can help to leave a legacy of heritage buildings for future generations. Vancouver Heritage Foundation 844 West Hastings Street Vancouver BC V6C 1C8 604-264-9642 email mail@vancouverheritagefoundation.org