Mary Kitagawa

Mary Kitagawa (nee Murakami; born 1935) OBC is a Canadian educator. As a Japanese-Canadian growing up in British Columbia, her family was placed in various Japanese Internment Camps during World War II. After the war, she accepted a position in Kitsilano and was later awarded an honorary degree from the University of British Columbia.

Mary Kitagawa

OBC
Born
Keiko Mary Murakami

1935 (age 85–86)
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada
Spouse(s)Tosh
Children2

Early life

Kitagawa was born and raised in Salt Spring Island, British Columbia to a family of five.[1] When she was seven years old, her father was arrested as part of the Internment of Japanese Americans across Canada during World War II. The rest of her family would eventually join her father in various Internment Camps and lose possession of their farm.[2] After the war ended, she returned to Salt Spring Island in 1954.[3]

Career

Kitagawa wished to begin her teaching career at home on Salt Spring Island but faced prejudices due to her race.[4] As a result, she began her teaching career at Kitsilano Secondary School, where she would meet her future husband.[5] After her children were born, she began work as a substitute teacher and eventually enrolled in the University of British Columbia (UBC).[4] In 2011, Kitagawa successfully advocated UBC to gift the 76 Japanese Canadian students who were forced out of UBC following the Attack on Pearl Harbor honorary degrees.[6] She was later the recipient of the 2013 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal[7] and National Association of Japanese Canadians Leadership Award.[8] Kitagawa and her husband Tosh also sat on the Community Council for the Landscapes of Injustice project at the University of Victoria.[9]

In 2018, Kitagawa received the Order of British Columbia for her activism efforts for Japanese Canadians.[10]

References
  1. Peng, Jenny (August 9, 2018). "Japanese-Canadian 'crusader' Mary Kitagawa appointed Order of B.C." Toronto Star. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  2. Maryse Zeidler (February 25, 2017). "75th anniversary of Japanese-Canadian internment camps echoes as fears of Islamophobia rise". cbc.ca. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  3. Angela, Jeffs (January 19, 2008). "Canadian garden of unity and reconciliation". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  4. Jacques, Ian (August 8, 2018). "South Deltan appointed to Order of B.C." Delta Optimist. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  5. Endo Greenway, John (February 12, 2013). "Mary and Tosh Kitagawa: Two Peas in a Pod". jccabulletin.ca. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  6. Takeuchi, Craig (March 22, 2012). "UBC to grant honorary degrees to interned Japanese Canadians, create Asian Canadian Studies program". straight.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  7. Endo Greenway, John (January 25, 2013). "Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals to be awarded". jccabulletin.ca. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  8. "NAJC AGM". jccabulletin.ca. April 1, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  9. "National Honorary Advisory Council Members". najc.ca. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  10. "2018 Recipient: Mary Kitagawa – Delta". orderofbc.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
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