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Tommy

In 1943 Canada was not a welcoming home to families of Japanese descent. That was the year Tommy was born - in an internment camp in southeastern British Columbia. In 1945 the government forced his family to move to Japan. Seventeen years later, he returned to Canada as he felt there were better opportunities here. A former kendo champion, Tommy moved to the Downtown Eastside 25 years ago. He has lived at the Savoy Hotel for 18 years and works at the Drake Hotel. He appreciates how much safer these buildings are now that the government and non-profit societies are involved. Despite health issues, he is always friendly and smiling.