News and Events

Current

2021

• May
  During Education Week at Aylesbury Public School in Brampton ON, Susan spoke virtually to students from Grade 3 to 8 about the history of Japanese Canadians and her own family connection to it.
• January 20
  As part of their Literacy Week, Susan spoke via Zoom to Grade 2 students at Unionville Montessori School (ON) about social justice and her book Torn Apart.

Previous

2019

• October 6 ot 9
  Susan returned to Vancouver for more research.

2018

• October 10 to 26
  Susan was in Vancouver continuing her research.
• January 23
  At Wesley Christian Academy in Markham ON, Susan led a workshop on writing historical fiction for Grade 5 students.

2017

• November 20
  At Our Lady of Peace Catholic School in Brampton, ON, Susan talked with Grade 6, 7 and 8 students about Torn Apart and the 75th anniversary of the uprooting and expulsion of Japanese Canadians from their homes in BC.
• September 25
  At West Vancouver's Chartwell Elementary School in BC, Susan spoke to students about Torn Apart as well as the legacy of Kogawa House.
• September 14
  At Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver, author Stewart Muir, historian Janet Nicol and Susan discussed the murder of Yoshiyuki Uno on January 16, 1942 during a disturbing period of history for Vancouver, British Columbia, and Canada.
• September 5 to October 4
  Susan was writer-in-residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver.
• July 20
  At the Mount Dennis Branch of Toronto Public Libraries, Susan gave a reading from and spoke about her research for Torn Apart.

2015

• A Time for Giving, Scholastic Canada's most recent anthology by various Dear Canada authors, features Susan's short story, "Dear Sachi." Read more about Mary Kobayashi's life in a remote B.C. internment camp during WWII by picking up this book from your bookstore or library.

2014

• Torn Apart was nominated for the Red Cedar, British Columbia's Young Reader's Choice Award.

2013

• The January, February and April issues of The Bulletin, a journal of Japanese Canadian community, history and culture, feature Susan's three-part article, "My Incredible Journey." It explores how the writing of her book led her to a new appreciation of her own heritage.
  My Incredible Journey — Part One
  My Incredible Journey — Part Two
  My Incredible Journey — Part Three

2012

• November 11
  At Beach United Church in Toronto's east end, Susan took part in a moving Remembrance Day service that also featured poet Jacquie Buncel, whose parents were Holocaust survivors.
• November 9
  At Meaford Hall Arts and Cultural Centre in the town of Meaford, ON, Susan spoke during a special Remembrance Day program called Women and War, presented by the Meaford Community Theatre.
• September 23
  Susan travelled to Lethbridge, Alberta for their second annual Word on the Street Festival. She read from Torn Apart, signed books, met enthusiastic area residents, other authors, artists, and illustrators, and had a great time!
• September 19
  Susan was warmly welcomed by the North York Historical Society when she spoke about the background of Torn Apart and how the publication of the book has led her to new discoveries.
• August 9
  Susan returned to Vancouver for a presentation on Torn Apart at Vancouver Public Library's main branch at 350 West Georgia Street.
• July 1 Canada Day
  Susan spoke with Suhana Meharchand during CBC's Cross Country Checkup program about how her book has influenced her thoughts on what it means to be Canadian.
• June 10
  In Vancouver, Susan spoke to Sheryl MacKay of CBC Radio One's North by Northwest program about the emotional journey Torn Apart has taken her.

• June 2
  At Steveston's Britannia Shipyards, a national historic site, a guided tour of the Murakami family house followed Susan's reading at the Murakami boatworks.
  



• June 1
  Susan spoke to Grade 8, 11 and 12 English and Social Studies students at Vancouver's Templeton Secondary, her mother's former junior high school and a source of inspiration for scenes in Torn Apart.


• May 30
  In a moving and unforgettable ceremony,
  the University of British Columbia gave honorary degrees to students of Japanese descent who were unable to graduate because of their forced evacuation from the province 70 years ago.
• May 29
  In association with Laughing Oyster Books of Courtenay, B.C., Susan read from Torn Apart and spoke to students at Cumberland Elementary School on Vancouver Island about her research. Afterwards she toured the site where Japanese families lived before their removal, and visited the poignant Japanese cemetery.
• May 26
  Susan read at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre in Burnaby, B.C.

• May 24
  At Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver, an enthusiastic audience heard Susan read from Torn Apart, show photos and answer questions. Mrs. Sue Miyamoto, the former New Denver teacher of Susan's uncle Alfred, was present that evening and helped to make history come alive for everyone there!

• April 22
  Over 130 people attended the launch of Torn Apart at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto, where Susan read from her book and signed most of the 123 copies sold! For photos, please click here.
• March 31 and April 1
  At a conference held at Toronto's Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Susan read from Torn Apart and answered questions in front of her first Nikkei audience. The conference highlight was Chris Hope's documentary, Hatsumi, an incredibly moving look at the personal journey of the director and his grandmother as they visited the scenes of her life before and during the evacuation and internment.
• February 27
  Susan spoke at the East York Senior Centre in Toronto about how her mother inspired much of the material that appears in Torn Apart.
• February 8
  Susan was warmly welcomed at her first Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP) meeting, and presented her new book.
• February 2
  Susan signed copies of her new book, Torn Apart, at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference held in Toronto.