Tradition calls for temples in North America to observe Obon services for the deceased, and include traditional dances (Bon Odori) on Obon Day. Buddhists consider a memorial service a significant occasion to remember the deceased with feelings of gratefulness and love. In remembering the deceased, we acknowledge the influence of the deceased on our lives.

The BC Buddhist Churches Federation included Cumberland's Japanese cemetery on their annual Vancouver Island Obon tour. Visiting the graves of ancestors, known as Obon, is an important tradition in Japanese culture.

Rev. Masumi Kikuchi, resident minister of the Steveston Buddhist Temple in Richmond, B.C., lead the Japanese service. John Leung, resident of Cumberland and son of parents who lived in Chinatown, performed the Chinese ceremony. The village supplied flowers for both ceremonies attended by over 100 people, many of whom were there for the first time.

Descendents of Cumberland's Japanese town site have often come for the Obon ceremony but this year's ceremony was the first time the Chinese community was involved. They performed their own cemetery service following the Obon. A Japanese traditional dance was held in the parkiing lot at the close of both ceremonies.

A lunch was held at the Cumberland Legion with both groups in attendance. This was followed by a tour of the local museum and of Perseverance Creek Heritage Site (the name of the former Chinatown, and Japanese townsites) conducted by Cumberland historian Ron Bannermen. Dinner was arranged the the Cumberland Legion with Japanese dancing closing out the evening.

This is the first time the Village of Cumberland arranged the entire day's events. The Cumberland Recreation staff produced the program, the Village staff photocopied and folded the program, received by many as a keep sake of the day's events. Each person also received a ribbon to celebrate the day.

Attending for the first time was Hideo Fujuta Deputy Consul-Ceneral of Japan, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver Island Catherine Bell, Mayor Fred Bates and Council members from Cumberland.

The organizing committee included the following residents of Cumberland and Comox:

John Leung

Joyce Lowe

Marie Lowe

Roger Kishi

May Gee

Florence Bell

Bernice Takahshi

LeslieBaird


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