The BC Historical Federation was saddened to hear that Japanese Canadian heritage champion Laura Saimoto has passed away.

Laura was known in the historical community for her work as chair of the Japanese Canadian Legacy Signage Project from 2016 to 2018, working with the Ministry of Transportation to commemorate Internment and Road Camps across British Columbia. She also deeply loved working with seniors and local residents to create the East Lillooet Internment Camp Memorial Garden.

Laura served as President of the Tashme Historical Society from 2023 and joined the board of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation in 2024. Her most recent projects included the VJLS-JH Interpretive Centre, as well as the restorations of Miyazaki House and Hope Station.

You can read her obituary here.

You can view recordings of her 2019 presentation about the Japanese Hall with the Vancouver Heritage Foundation.