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image of entryway at the NIMC, photographer unknown, no date.
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1) Girls Dressed in Kimonos on a Parade Float; New Denver, BC NIMC A994.5.8, Kanaye (Ethel) Okura collection. Photographer unknown, no date.
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Taken in front of the completed NIMC, 1994, photographer: Nobuyoshi (Nobby) Hayashi. Image shows some members of the Kyowakai Society and NIMC project facilitators posing in front of the Centennial Hall. Mrs. Kamegaya is front and centre with the cane in hand.
Submitted by Momoko Ito. Additional photos provided by Perry Mack
The Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre is a Parks Canada National Historic Site located in New Denver, B.C., and is dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of the internment experiences of over 22,000 Nikkei during the Second World War.
June 23, 2014 officially marked the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre (NIMC). Spearheaded in the early 1990‘s by the late Mrs. Chie Kamegaya, a former teacher, Kaslo internee, and respected community elder. This important community project involved the collective efforts of the New Denver Kyowakai Society, the greater Nikkei community, the Village of New Denver, grant support, generous donations, and countess volunteer hours.
The NIMC proudly opened its doors to the public in the summer of 1994 with a community celebration that brought together Nikkei from across the nation for a truly momentous event in Canadian history.
In the years to follow, the NIMC was successfully managed by the Kyowakai Society, which drew upon a dedicated group of volunteers and a few paid staff to handle the multitude of tasks required to operate the facility.
The Heiwa Teien (Peace Garden), designed as the final landscape project of Tomomichi “Roy” Sumi, a former Rosebery internee and founder of the Vancouver Japanese Gardener’s Association, was a source of pride for many who tended to it, and to this day remains an integral feature, adding tranquility and harmony to the site.
Playing host to educational tours for schools and bus groups, the Centre has also seen many visitors from far and wide. A regular fixture of the NIMC, Nobuyoshi “Nobby” Hayashi was the seasoned tour guide who’s talent for engaging and educating, left many with such an impact that even in retirement, is continually requested and reminisced about by repeat museum goers.
In most recent years, the Village of New Denver has assumed the regular operation of the NIMC. Acknowledging the necessity for long-term provisions, the Society agreed upon from the outset that when their aging membership and declining capacity reached a point, the care of the NIMC would fall to the Village. The Kyowakai Society however, continues to provide an important advisory role with NIMC matters.
In 2013, the Village of New Denver implemented a NIMC manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the site. With a focus on increasing the museum’s profile and developing a sustainable operational foundation, new projects are on the horizon.
The 20th anniversary, took place on August 9, 2014. The celebration honoured the legacy of the Kyowakai Society and thanked all of those people who have helped the NIMC throughout the years. The free public event featured exciting and entertaining cultural presentations and performances throughout the day.
The NIMC is located at 306 Josephine St. New Denver, BC. Open from May 1 – Sept 30, hours: 10:30am – 4:30pm, 7 days a week.
For info and admission rates, please visit: newdenver.ca, or contact the NIMC manager at nimc@netidea.com, or 250-358-7288.