The Village of Kaslo will name a street after Aya Higashi, the last resident who came there as a result of the Japanese Canadian internment during the Second World War.
Higashi, a longtime teacher, died recently at age 96.
The idea of naming a street in honour of her and her late husband Buck came in a letter from former Kaslo residents Glen and Jeannette Leyden of Sparwood.
“Everyone in town knew and loved her for her caring and unselfish ways but above all in her younger years she was a role model for everyone,” they wrote.
“They lived just up the street from us when we moved to Kaslo in 1952 and right away became long lasting friends of my parents,” Glen said. “[My] younger brother John and I would walk up the alley to visit with Buck when he was home. They both always had time for us and any friends we brought along.”
Although they have not lived in Kaslo for over 40 years, the Leydens kept in touch with Higashi and last saw her two years ago.
They proposed renaming the street in front of her house Higashi Way in memory of Aya and Buck.
Village council endorsed the idea at a recent meeting.
However, administrator Neil Smith says despite the resolution, the precise location of Higashi Way is still in question, although it will be in lower Kaslo, near where they lived.
