On May 31, the Japanese Garden Society of Salt Spring Island was delighted to welcome descendants, community members, project partners, supporters, and guests to celebrate the unveiling of the Memorial Story Interpretive Structure.
The day began at ArtSpring with presentations and reflections on the history and legacy of the Japanese Canadian community on Salt Spring Island. Guests then gathered at Heiwa Garden for the official unveiling and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The event brought together descendants of former residents, local community members, representatives of partner organizations, and elected officials. Throughout the day, guests renewed connections, shared memories, and celebrated the completion of a project that honours the contributions and experiences of Japanese Canadians on Salt Spring Island.
The Japanese Garden Society extends its sincere thanks to everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, spoke, donated, and supported this project. We are especially grateful to our project partner, CRD PARC and the Salt Spring Archives, and the funder, the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society whose support made this important community initiative possible.
We invite everyone to visit the Memorial Story Interpretive Structure at Heiwa Garden and learn more about this history and its enduring legacy.
Photos from the event can be viewed in the gallery. Click on ‘Panel Unveiling 2026’ to open the gallery. Clicking on individual photos will enlarge them and display their captions.
