Making space for the Vancouver Japanese Language School’s 120th anniversary

Russ Gray, a board member of the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall, also looks after the maintenance and repairs of this historic school. Ahead of its 120th anniversary, he’s been in charge of tackling a big task–clearing out years’ worth of clutter to make space for new initiatives and community storytelling. 

The history of the Japanese Language School

Founded in 1906, the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall is a National Historic Site and one of the only properties returned to Japanese Canadians after the Second World War. It stands as a powerful symbol of community resilience. 

Making room for a new chapter 

As the school is hitting the big 120, it’s also preparing for a new chapter. Renovations are underway, including plans for a new history exhibition space set to open in the fall. This exhibition will tell the story of the school’s survival through WWII while creating opportunities for the community to learn about Japanese Canadian history for generations to come.

Of course, with renovations comes…junk.

That’s where our team came in!

Tackling the junk: From old piping to a 1905 piano

We helped remove decades' worth of stored clutter, from old equipment and piping to a broken piano from 1905. Russ entertained us with stories of what he’d managed to salvage and repurpose over the years, including the piano keys for a set of chopstick rests! Every item cleared made room for the school’s next stage of transformation.

We were also happy to help Russ save a lot of time. It’s safe to say his Daihatsu mini truck would have needed a few too many trips to handle this cleanout. Russ shared, "It was such a big help and a relief for everyone to have that waste taken care of. We really appreciate the generous and thoughtful help from you and your team." 

It’s been an honour to support a space with such deep cultural significance. We can’t wait for the renovations to be completed and to see how the school continues its legacy of cross-cultural learning, making space for the future while honouring the past.