Hideo (Ed) Araki was born in Mission, B.C. in 1932, and during the war, was evacuated to Alberta where he worked in the beet fields for 10 years. In 1952, he returned to Hope to become a logger at the Allison Pass Sawmill.
Araki’s passion for sports and fastball was great; he eventually became president of Hope Minor Hockey and coached the ladies fastball team for many years. He also received an Outstanding Service Award in 1993 from Softball Canada for his input into minor softball.
Araki has been a volunteer firefighter in Hope, president of Hope Brigade Days, and a commissioner with Hope and District Recreation and Cultural Services. He’s also served as president of the Hope Crime Prevention Society. Since then, Araki became the coordinator of Hope Block Watch, Crime Free Multi Housing and CPTED; and is on the board of directors of the Block Watch Society of B.C. and the Upper Fraser Valley Crime Stoppers Society.
The District of Hope has greatly benefited from his volunteer work and contributions to the community.
– Contributed by Johanne Losier
