The year was 1948 when a Japanese Canadian by the name of Toma Fujioka came to work on this farm. Fergus Campbell’s sons had left to continue their studies in Toronto and Fergus needed help, not only with the harvest, but also his small dairy herd.
At the time,Toma, his wife Mitso and 9-year old daughter, Mariko had been living in a cramped 3-room apartment in Toronto. They had arrived in Ontario in 1944. Before that, they had been living in British Columbia where they had established a very successful market garden business in the Fraser Valley. Of course, all that changed in 1941 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor when all ‘persons of Japanese Canadian heritage’ were ‘systematically removed’ from their homes and businesses and sent to internment camps. Later, in 1944 an ‘official policy’ stated that Japanese Canadians must move east of the Rocky Mountains or be ‘repatriated’ to Japan after the war. The policy was rescinded in 1947.
While living in Toronto, Mitso’s wife was working as a seamstress. Toma had been employed in low-paying jobs such as washing dishes in a restaurant and cleaning floors in one of the large department stores.
Being frugal, Toma and Mitso were able to put aside enough money so their daughter Mariko could receive violin lessons. Since these lessons were expensive, Mariko’s instructor, recognizing his student’s exceptional talent, offered to teach her at one third of the cost.
Three years passed and Toma was becoming restless. He wanted to get back to farming.
One night, while at work in the department store, he noticed a newspaper which someone had casually left on a counter. Tomas walked over, laid down his broom and leafed through to the WANT ADS section. It was there he saw Fergus Campbell’s ad requesting a farm manager. Excided, Tomaa brought the ad section home to show his wife. Mitso, however had reservations, not only because of her own business, but also their daughter’s future. After much discussion, Tomas persuaded his wife and she at least agreed that he should reply to the ad.
And that’s how Toma Fujioka came to work on this farm.
In the beginning, he received room and board at the farm and every Sunday, he was able to bus to the city to spend the day with his family.
Toma was a very hard worker and by the end of three years, he was taking over much of the running of the farm. Fergus had also turned over one of his pick-up trucks to Toma so he could travel back and forth to the city to be with his family.
In 1954, several significant changes took place. Fergus offered Toma three acres of land near the farmhouse in order that Toma might build a house for himself and his family. Fergus offered to assist financially. Now, Toma and his wife would again be able to settle on their own piece of land and start a market garden business.
That year, their daughter Mariko was a guest performer at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The performance was broadcast on radio and many of the neighbours who had heard about the Fujioka’s talented daughter were eager to hear her play. That evening as Mariko stepped on the stage and the first pure, plaintive notes of Massenet: Méditation from “Thaĭs” floated out, the audience sat spellbound. As Mariko finished her playing and gently lowered her bow, there was dead silence. Suddenly, enthusiastic clapping broke out. As the audience rose to its feet, more clapping ensued with shouts of “Bravo! Bravo!” Even the conductor and orchestra were clapping as Mariko turned and bowed graciously to her hosts.
That evening marked the beginning of Mariko’s ascendancy in the world of music. She was given a full scholarship to the University of Toronto’s School of Music. Now, she plays with major orchestras throughout the world.
“And her parents?” Tony asked.
“They are both now deceased and their ashes buried around the base of that magnificent Gingko tree you see in front of you. The tree itself was planted by Toma from seed he had brought from Japan. The two stone benches were placed there by Mariko and the Campbell family to honour her family.”
As Tony looked about the clearing, he said, softly, “This is not only a place of beauty and tranquility, it is also a sanctuary.”
“Indeed, it is,”Jake replied.
THE END
