The members of the Social Club went on to the Harrison Hot Springs tour from February 27 to March 1. Harrison Hot Springs tour has been continued for 30 years in Tonari Gumi, and first time the survivors joined the tour!
"Nineteen individuals, 12 of whom are survivors, attended the Japanese Canadian Survivors' Social Club outing to Harrison Hot Springs from February 27 to March 1. Despite worries about the weather, everything turned out beautifully and it was a great outing in a winter wonderland.
Although one would think that all survivors in the Lower Mainland knew each other, that is not the case and many of the participants were able to meet some of the other survivors for the first time and to share some very moving stories and personal experiences. For some of the non-survivors in attendance, it was the first time for them to hear some of these stories. Although Tonari Gumi has organized winter outings to Harrison Hot Springs for many years, this is the first time that we have had a large number of survivors from the WWII forced removal, dispossession and internment participate." (David Iwaasa)
"I just wanted to let you know of a comment heard from a senior re our trip to Harrison. She told me "I have been to Harrison so many times, but I never enjoyed the trip so much as she enjoyed the trip with our group." (Lurana Tasaka)
Here is another comment from a non-survivor participant, “Other Japanese ladies and I were grateful to the opportunity that we could listen to the stories of the Nisei people. I once again realized that the reason why we can now live in this land with peace of mind is because our predecessors persevered. They paved the way and built trust. I want to join this kind of event or activity to meet and learn from the Nisei people.”
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