GRACE EIKO THOMSON

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GRACE EIKO THOMSON

(NISHIKIHAMA)

Grace Eiko Thomson passed on July 11, 2024, in Winnipeg. Grace was born at the Japanese Fisherman's Hospital in Steveston, BC (on unceded Musqueam, Squamish and Selilwituth territory), on October 15, 1933.

Her father Torasaburo Nishikihama (Taguchi) arrived in Canada in 1921 (age 19 years), later marrying her mother Sawae Yamamoto. She was the second oldest of their five children, Kikuko, Toyoaki, Kenji and Keiko, her only surviving sibling. The family settled in Vancouver (Paueru-gai/Japantown) at 522 Powell St., and then 510 Alexander St. Her father worked in the offices of the Codfish Cooperative Sales Society (founded by hakujin (white), Indigenous and Japanese immigrant fishers).

At the age of eight years began the traumatizing family and personal experience of loss of livelihood, confiscation of property, and transport to an internment camp in the interior of BC (Minto), where her little sister was born, and where they were forced to remain until early 1945. Though Canadian citizens, the law then prohibited them from living "west of the Rockies" until after 1949 (coinciding with the return of their voting rights), and so Grace and her family arrived in Manitoba - in Middlechurch (they lived in a barn), then Whitemouth, and finally Winnipeg, in 1950.

That Grace was a force of nature became evident very early in her life. In the turmoil of her family's wartime and later experience (as her older sister was with family in Japan), she was thrust into the role of family interpreter and intermediary with government officials, landlords and her siblings' teachers. After arriving in Winnipeg, she soon left school and took office work to help support her family, quickly rising through the ranks of the "steno pool" to become a valued personal secretary/assistant in business (Anthes Foundry, UGG) and law (Piblado and Hoskins, Tupper and Adams).

She married Alistair Thomson in 1959 and was blessed (she said) to know his approving and loving parents. Though they subsequently went their separate ways, their two sons benefited immensely from their continuing respectful and supportive relationship.

She attended university as a mature student (BFA (honours) 1973 to 1977), and later studied under Griselda Pollock at the University of Leeds (M.Soc. History Art; 1990 to 1991), which began her renowned career as a teacher, curator, advisor and writer - in Manitoba (U of M), Saskatchewan and British Columbia (Burnaby Art Gallery); with the Sanavik Inuit Cooperative in Nunavet; and as inaugural curator and director of the Japanese Canadian National Museum. She was especially proud of the JCNM exhibition "Leveling the Playing Field: Legacy of Vancouver's Asahi Baseball Team", and the role she played developing the Japanese-Canadian gallery at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

She served her and the wider community; the first female president of the MJCCA (1955); president of the NAJC (2008) and executive member (2005 to 2010); activist and advocate for justice for - Chinese head tax, Hogan's Alley displacement, Komagatu Maru incident, the Downtown East Side, the Musqueam Sacred Circle Society, and BC Indigenous communities and residential school survivors.

In 2021 came publication of her memoire based upon her family's experience "Chiru Sakura: Falling Cherry Blossoms", weaving together her and her mother's journals, recounting stories of identity, trauma and racism, and her efforts to find social justice for herself and others - shortlisted for the 2022 City of Vancouver Book Award.

Grace leaves behind sons, David (Mary), Michael (Donna); beloved grandchildren, Jamil, Sarah (Kevin), Samuel (Rebecca), Isaac and Ava, and great-grandchildren, Solomon, Harris, Noa and Ari; sister Keiko (Art Miki); special niece Brenda (Doug); and many other cousins, nieces and nephews who were dear to her.

Before she returned to Winnipeg in September 2023, she had been a resident of Vancouver for some 30 years. She would want her friends and colleagues there to know she loved and respected them. She would also wish that Dr. George, Palliative Care and Home Care staff be recognized for their dedication and friendship.

A memorial event is planned for September 3 at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Centre (180 McPhillips) would be appreciated.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 27, 2024, Jul 27, 2024