KJCA LAUNCHES BOOK ON ITS HISTORY

In May of this year, the book KJCA – the first 30 years (plus one) was completed and a successful Book Launch was held at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre on July 25, 2009. Each member family was given a copy of the book free of charge.

The book is the history of the Kamloops Japanese Canadian Association compiled using the monthly newsletters of 1976 to 2007, starting with how we got started, our role in the Nikkei Centennial and Redress Movement and listing the highlights and activities of each of the years. It also lists the Boards of Directors, Merit Award Winners, Nikkei Honour Roll Winners, and Scholarship/Education Award Winners for each of the years.

As we were getting ready to celebrate our 30th anniversary, it was decided to write a book on our history as so many of our adult members were not even born when we formed our organization, and did not know our background. It would let our younger members know how and why we started the organization, and let them know of the many activities we had held and how their parents and grandparents had been involved.  For the older members, it would be a reminder of the many activities that had been organized, and bring back fond memories. I agreed to do the writing. After all, I had edited the monthly newsletters over the last 30 years, and ‘everything’ was in them so it was just a matter of compiling the information, right? Little did I know how long it would take.

The book was to cover the years 1976 to 2006 and was to be ready in the fall of 2007. I started on the book, but there were too many other things to do, and the book writing kept getting put on the back burner. Soon it was 2008 so I decided to include the year 2007, and thus the ‘plus one’. Then, in February of 2008, our Cultural Centre burned down, and again the book writing was put aside. When 2009 rolled around, I knew that writing of the book had to take priority, no more excuses, and the book was completed in mid-May of this year.

I thank the NAJC Endowment Fund for their support in granting funds to cover part of the printing cost, and I hope that our younger and newer members enjoy learning the history of our organization. Our older members will, of course, enjoy being reminded of all the different activities they took part in. I urge other organizations to consider writing their history as it is important that there is a record of all activities and accomplishments so they are not forgotten.

If interested, books are available through the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Kamloops. Cost is $20 (plus postage and handling of $3.50 if mailed).