OKANO FAMILY

Kumanosuke Okano and his wife Riyo with three of their children, Sayoko, Miyoko and infant, Kazue who died in 1911 at the age of two years.
Kumanosuke Okano was considered a leader amongst the Japanese on Salt Spring Island. He was a successful fisherman who later bought acreage around Booth Canal and virgin forest on Rainbow Road.
Kumanosuke knew that the Japanese on Salt Spring must become an intregal part of the community, so encourgaed giving to the churches, such as the fund to buy a new organ for the Anglican Church, giving food to people in need, fighting forest fires on the Island, giving money and labour for the building of the Consolidated School on Rainbow Road.
Kumanosuke was an upstanding citizen who gave much to his community.