Trailblazing Canadians – serie

The inspiring and true life story of Kimiko Murakami, a Japanese-Canadian pioneer and internment camp survivor, beautifully illustrated for a young audience.

Ganbaru is a Japanese word that means to keep going during hard times and never give up. This picture book introduces young readers to Kimiko Murakami (1904–1997), a brave and determined woman whose life embodied the ganbaru spirit. Born in the village of Steveston, BC, and raised on Salt Spring Island, Kimiko was part of a long tradition of Japanese-Canadian families who made their livings fishing and farming. During the Second World War, she was among the 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were sent to live in internment camps because they were seen as “enemy aliens.” The camps were dirty and crowded, but worst of all, they robbed Japanese Canadians of their basic rights and freedoms. Following the War, Kimiko and her family were allowed to return to Salt Spring Island and had to rebuild their farm and their life from scratch. Through it all, Kimiko—a pioneer and survivor—never lost hope. This book celebrates her achievements, courage, and ganbaru spirit through vivid illustrations and a clear, informative, and inspiring narrative.

A beautifully illustrated children’s book chronicling the amazing life story of Lilian Bland, the first woman ever to design, build, and fly her own airplane.

Ever since she was a little girl, Lilian Bland (1878–1971) wanted to fly. She loved to watch black gulls soaring through the sky near her England home, and she was fascinated by the mechanics of flight. However, airplanes were still very new when she was growing up, and those who did fly were usually men. Lilian would not give up. When she could not find anyone to teach her to fly, she took matters into her own hands. She designed and built her own plane, and after many tries, she finally got it to fly. This delightful picture book celebrates the life of Lilian Bland, remembered both in England and in her adopted home of Quatsino Sound, on Vancouver Island, for her many achievements—especially her ground-breaking achievements in aviation. Told with beautiful illustrations and a clear, inspiring narrative, Lilian’s story of adventure and creativity is sure to enchant young readers.

Named for the city in which she was born, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria Chung was the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Despite racist laws that initially prevented her from attending public school, and sexist attitudes that prevented many women from pursuing careers in the sciences, Victoria had an ambitious dream—to become a doctor and help heal people around the world. Her unrelenting pursuit of education led her to become the first Asian-Canadian to study medicine at her university, where she faced further racism and sexism from some students and professors, and eventually became the first woman resident in her hospital. But Victoria was not done breaking down barriers. She travelled to China, the birthplace of her parents, and worked to give women and children the same medical care as men. She became the head doctor of her hospital and introduced modern technologies and practices to ensure that her patients received the best care possible. Today, more than half a century after her death, her accomplishments, ambition, and compassion are remembered in both Canada and China.