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ROY AKIRA MIKI
It is with inconsolable sadness that we announce the passing of a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, poet, scholar, activist, and teacher, who left us on October 5, 2024. Roy is mourned by his forever-together spouse of 57 years Slavia, children, Waylen and Elisse, grandson Ellery, and siblings, Art (Keiko) and Joan (Brian).
Roy’s family was forcibly removed from British Columbia in May 1942 during the Second World War to a sugar farm in Manitoba where he was born and educated.
Roy was a leading spokesperson for the National Association of Japanese Canadians, and was instrumental in the signing of the historic Redress agreement in 1988. His 2004 book Redress: Inside the Japanese Canadian Call for Justice offers an eloquent account of that arduous process. Roy received his PhD from UBC in 1981 and later joined the English Department at SFU in the 70s where he taught until his retirement in 2007. There, he played a pivotal role in establishing Asian Canadian literature courses as a field.
Roy wrote and edited many critical studies, literary essays, and books of poetry. His work, Surrender, received the Governor General’s Award for Poetry in 2001. Roy received the Order of Canada in 2006, the Order of British Columbia in 2009, the 20th Annual Gandhi Peace Award, an honorary doctor of Divinity, the Thakore Visiting Scholar Award, and the Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy. In 2007 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
He and Slavia co-authored two children’s books, Dolphin SOS, winner of the BC Book Prize in 2015, and Peggy’s Impossible Tale, which won the Chocolate Lily Award in 2023.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 19, 2024, Oct 19, 2024
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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Roy and Slavia have been friends since my teenage years. My deepest condolences. I remember Roy in may phases of his life, although later on, I seldom saw them, so most of my memories are from a younger age. He had a unique sense of humour, I certainly remember that! And his gentleness and kindness are inspiring qualities. Our best times were when we lived in Vancouver and visited each other at our homes, my late husband Harold and Roy were often referred to as Mutt and Jeff because Harold was so tall. We even did some travelling in Europe together. And, of course, he was close friends with my late brother Glen as well. Different times, for sure, He is missed. - Posted by: Tanis L Moore (friend) on: Nov 09, 2024
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Our sincerest condolences to Slav, Weylen & Elisse. Our thoughts & prayers are with you. We have known Roy for 57 years & realize we were the luckiest people to have had such a beautiful soul grace our lives, leaving many fond memories. We remember the kindness of his presence, his ability to listen & the wisdom he freely shared. Roy embodied all the positive qualities of the best of men. He was a truly remarkable man of great integrity, compassion & friendship, yet never judging. The lives he has touched are many & varied, leaving everyone feeling better for having known him. We all have such a high regard for Roy, not only as an accomplished scholar, writer & teacher, but also, as a wonderfully balanced person. His wisdom & kind demeanor are so deserving of all his awards & recognition of accomplishments he received. He was a kind, gentle soul, always humble, a 'Gentle Giant'. To know him was to love him. Thank you for being such a bright spot in our lives Roy-you were one of the best. There will be a brighter star in the heavens tonight. RIP - love Liz, Shannon & Mychelle. - Posted by: elizabeth hawkins (sister in law/nieces) on: Oct 20, 2024
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I met Roy and Slavia decades ago while I was their real estate agent. I knew then that he'd go on to do great things and by coincidence met his brother, Art years later when I moved to Vancouver. They were a lovely couple, so pleasant and easy to work with. I'm very very sorry to hear of his death. Meeting Roy and Slavia opened my world to all things Japanese and I visited there in 2013. My son lives there permanently now. - Posted by: Gunny Tennese (Former realtor) on: Oct 19, 2024