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Tomekichi Homma School

Type:: School
Origin:: Homma, Tomekichi
History:: Tomekichi Homma (1865-1945) was born in Japan and emigrated to British Columbia in 1883, being one of the first Japanese settlers in Steveston. He began organizing other Japanese fishermen into an association in 1887 and was very active in the growing Japanese community. Mr. Homma was involved in the construction of the first Japanese school, a fisherman's hospital and started a Japanese daily newspaper, the Canada Shinpo in 1897. His principal cause was his fight for the franchise; after he became a naturalized citizen he was still refused the vote. He pursued his cause to the Privy Council in London without success. Mr. Homma, along with most of the Japanese community, was interned during World War II, and died in Slocan. Japanese-Canadian citizens were finally allowed to vote in 1949. The Tomekichi Homma School was officially opened in November 1991.
Source:: City of Richmond Archives Biography Files, Tomekichi Homma
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