Donate

Aya’s Story

Aya Higashi, born on Canada’s west coast, lived most of her adult life in Kaslo, British Columbia. She never chose to grow up there. But after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor Japanese Canadians, newly labeled enemy aliens, were uprooted and sent to work or to internment camps. Their homes, businesses and possessions were confiscated and sold. Their families were broken up. They lost the rights and freedoms that most Canadians take for granted.

Aya Higashi was among them: the government relocated her, along with 1,200 other internees, to abandoned, decrepit hotels and houses in Kaslo, tripling the former ghost town’s pre- war population.

While her story is unique, wartime tribulations were common to all Japanese Canadians: hers is only one of 22,000 such stories to be told about this lamentable time in Canada’s history and the diaspora it affected.

The Langham Cultural Society now owns the heritage former hotel that housed 80 internees during the 1940s. This exhibition, created by Brent Bukowski, Ian Fraser, Aya Higashi and Alice Windsor for the Langham Cultural Society and respectfully dedicated to Japanese Canadians, covers the internment years in Kaslo.

By encouraging viewers to learn from past mistakes, it promotes the notion that a Canada free of racism is critical to its multicultural identity and that the price of freedom is not only eternal vigilance but also empathy for all of our neighbours.

 

Be a Part of the Langham Community

Join us as a volunteer, become a member, or support us with a donation. Your involvement keeps arts and culture thriving in Kaslo.

Get Involved Today
Copyright ©
2025
Langham Cultural Society
|
Built by Partner Web by Societ

Group Tour Request

Contact Person(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Preferred Tour Start Time(Required)
:
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Volunteer Sign-Up Form

Name
Address
Volunteer Opportunities
I’m interested in volunteering for
If you chose: Gallery Program (Friday – Monday, 1 pm – 4 pm) (optional)
How often would you like to volunteer as a Gallery Host?
If you chose: Theatre Program (optional)

Theatre Hosts assist with tickets and concession during performances. You will be contacted in advance of shows to sign up to volunteer for a particular performance.
Are you available to assist at evening or weekend performances?
Do you have a BC Liquor Special Event Server or Serving it Right certificate? (not required to volunteer, just helpful to know for our events!)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Gallery Rental Inquiry Form

Name(Required)
Rental Details
Which space(s) are you looking to rent?
Please enter up to 3 preferred dates and provide any additional notes on date flexibility or requirements. If looking to rent on an ongoing or weekly basis, please note so in the additional date info box.
MM slash DD slash YYYY
MM slash DD slash YYYY
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Set Up Time(Required)
:
Lock Up Time(Required)
:
Consent for Contact(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Loki Room Rental Inquiry Form

Name(Required)
Rental Details
Please enter up to 3 preferred dates and provide any additional notes on date flexibility or requirements. If looking to rent on an ongoing or weekly basis, please note so in the additional date info box.
MM slash DD slash YYYY
MM slash DD slash YYYY
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Set Up Time(Required)
:
Lock Up Time(Required)
:
Consent for Contact(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Theatre Rental Inquiry Form

Name(Required)
Mailing Address
Rental Details
MM slash DD slash YYYY
MM slash DD slash YYYY
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Preferred Set Up & Lock Up:
Set Up Time(Required)
:
Lock Up Time(Required)
:
Which of the following best describes your event: (Required, choose one)
Would you like to include any of the following add-ons for your event (additional fees will apply):
Consent for Contact(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Studio Rental Inquiry Form

Name(Required)
Studio Requirements
Sink Access
Preferred Floor
Size Requirements
Availability Preferences
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Flexible with start date?
Address
Consent for Contact(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.