Cumberland BC: The Cumberlander Articles Section
No. 1 Japanese Town · 14th October 2009
Grace Doherty
JULY 2009 T. AOKI
Subject: Rotary Club centennial
Bridge and Torii gate
Intro: Gm L&G etc. Jill Cornwell
Name: T.A.
We, Grace and I, thank you for inviting us to join you in your early morning sunrise breakfast and for the opportunity to submit a brief report on the Bridge/Torii Gate Project.
Our usual spokesperson on matters of some concern such a s the Bridge/Torii Gate Project is Ray Iwaasa, who is presently back in Stony plain Alberta attending to his acreage. Consequently I shall do my best to be his back-up person today. Ray has, however, forwarded his written submission, which shall be addressed later by Grace Doherty.
I wish to commence by firstly thanking Mr. Keith Tatton and Mr. Stefan Pletscher for their advice and recommendation that we submit our report directly to your Rotary Club general membership.
I would like to present a brief background of the project from its origin to the present.
Several years ago a group of concerned persons with a common purpose was already actively proposing that the Cumberland Chinatown and No.1 Japanese Town properties be preserved and maintained as an environmentally friendly, green parkland. Some time later I was asked to join this Ad Hoc group which has now formally evolved into the COAL CREEK Historic park Advisory Committee, a committee responsible to Village Council; and as the name suggests, with limited liaison and advisory roles.
Shortly after I joined the Ad Hoc group during the fall of 2005, Mr. Dave Klassen contacted me on behalf of your Rotary Club, regarding your interest in a footbridge which would span that portion of the rail bed trail bordering Chinatown and No. 1 Japanese Town, which continues to suffer erosion and flooding due to the forces of nature and from other invasive usage. Due to its location, the bridge would predicate Asian design influences.
In response to Dave Klassen's request, photos of various types of bridges incorporating Japanese design principles were submitted. Thereafte4r periodically we were advised by your directors that the bridge project remained on the agenda. fast forward a few years to the Torii Gate.
Through continuing discussion held between Mr. Keith Tatton and our Ray Iwaasa the idea of a Torii gate became part of the equation. Addition of a Torii gate to the bridge has merit since the simplicity of design of the bridge and Torii esthetically and physically complement each other, with the Torii gate inviting both spiritual and physical passage through it's threshold. It is a good fit.
Planning for the project has crystallized, and at this time we wish to acknowledge Mr. Stefan Pletscher and his (engineering) staff for bringing the project into direct focus. The tangible results are the concept drawings and cost analysis, which Mr. Pletscher has kindly passed along to us for safekeeping. I now wish to submit these drawings and firm prices (F.O.B. Island Timber Frame Plant) for the Bridge and the Torii to your care for appraisal and pro-active participation. Structural Engineering Drawings are in process with specified costs the responsibility of the Advisory sub-committee representing No. 1 Japanese Town Heritage Park interests.
May I now digress somewhat from the practical aspects - The project bridges cultures. It honours those former residents of Cumberland who were forcibly removed from their homes solely because of their Japanese heritage. It brings recognition to a difficult time borne with dignity and strength of character.
The former residents have been advised of your project. They and their children and grandchildren have heard. They have asked me to convey their appreciation to you, their "thank you" for embarking on this meaningful project.
A strong leadership group representing all former residents of No. 1 Town is alive and well and through this group from the greater Toronto area, the former residents are now committed to planting 31 Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees this fall in No. 1 Town Heritage Park. I would dare to say that it is a way for them to hold on to their past.
Their sentimental attachments to Cumberland do run deep, so much so that some continue to consider it to be their "home".
Presentation complete
Comment on another closely related matter, the Cumberland Japanese Cemetery.
Thank you to Mr. Keith Tatton and the Rotary Club of Cumberland for your generous contributions towards improvements being made to the "Japanese Cemetery Heritage Project" headed up by Councillor Wm. (Bronco )Moncrief.
In essence, may I respectfully make reference to the inscription, which reads "WALK" provided by the Rotary Club of Cumberland Centennial.
T.A.
Subject: Rotary Club centennial
Bridge and Torii gate
Intro: Gm L&G etc. Jill Cornwell
Name: T.A.
We, Grace and I, thank you for inviting us to join you in your early morning sunrise breakfast and for the opportunity to submit a brief report on the Bridge/Torii Gate Project.
Our usual spokesperson on matters of some concern such a s the Bridge/Torii Gate Project is Ray Iwaasa, who is presently back in Stony plain Alberta attending to his acreage. Consequently I shall do my best to be his back-up person today. Ray has, however, forwarded his written submission, which shall be addressed later by Grace Doherty.
I wish to commence by firstly thanking Mr. Keith Tatton and Mr. Stefan Pletscher for their advice and recommendation that we submit our report directly to your Rotary Club general membership.
I would like to present a brief background of the project from its origin to the present.
Several years ago a group of concerned persons with a common purpose was already actively proposing that the Cumberland Chinatown and No.1 Japanese Town properties be preserved and maintained as an environmentally friendly, green parkland. Some time later I was asked to join this Ad Hoc group which has now formally evolved into the COAL CREEK Historic park Advisory Committee, a committee responsible to Village Council; and as the name suggests, with limited liaison and advisory roles.
Shortly after I joined the Ad Hoc group during the fall of 2005, Mr. Dave Klassen contacted me on behalf of your Rotary Club, regarding your interest in a footbridge which would span that portion of the rail bed trail bordering Chinatown and No. 1 Japanese Town, which continues to suffer erosion and flooding due to the forces of nature and from other invasive usage. Due to its location, the bridge would predicate Asian design influences.
In response to Dave Klassen's request, photos of various types of bridges incorporating Japanese design principles were submitted. Thereafte4r periodically we were advised by your directors that the bridge project remained on the agenda. fast forward a few years to the Torii Gate.
Through continuing discussion held between Mr. Keith Tatton and our Ray Iwaasa the idea of a Torii gate became part of the equation. Addition of a Torii gate to the bridge has merit since the simplicity of design of the bridge and Torii esthetically and physically complement each other, with the Torii gate inviting both spiritual and physical passage through it's threshold. It is a good fit.
Planning for the project has crystallized, and at this time we wish to acknowledge Mr. Stefan Pletscher and his (engineering) staff for bringing the project into direct focus. The tangible results are the concept drawings and cost analysis, which Mr. Pletscher has kindly passed along to us for safekeeping. I now wish to submit these drawings and firm prices (F.O.B. Island Timber Frame Plant) for the Bridge and the Torii to your care for appraisal and pro-active participation. Structural Engineering Drawings are in process with specified costs the responsibility of the Advisory sub-committee representing No. 1 Japanese Town Heritage Park interests.
May I now digress somewhat from the practical aspects - The project bridges cultures. It honours those former residents of Cumberland who were forcibly removed from their homes solely because of their Japanese heritage. It brings recognition to a difficult time borne with dignity and strength of character.
The former residents have been advised of your project. They and their children and grandchildren have heard. They have asked me to convey their appreciation to you, their "thank you" for embarking on this meaningful project.
A strong leadership group representing all former residents of No. 1 Town is alive and well and through this group from the greater Toronto area, the former residents are now committed to planting 31 Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees this fall in No. 1 Town Heritage Park. I would dare to say that it is a way for them to hold on to their past.
Their sentimental attachments to Cumberland do run deep, so much so that some continue to consider it to be their "home".
Presentation complete
Comment on another closely related matter, the Cumberland Japanese Cemetery.
Thank you to Mr. Keith Tatton and the Rotary Club of Cumberland for your generous contributions towards improvements being made to the "Japanese Cemetery Heritage Project" headed up by Councillor Wm. (Bronco )Moncrief.
In essence, may I respectfully make reference to the inscription, which reads "WALK" provided by the Rotary Club of Cumberland Centennial.
T.A.
Torii Gate Concept Design Island TimberFrame (IMG_0003.pdf)