When we speak of those who were integral in Niverville from 1960 until today, there are few names that resonate as a community builder more than Fred Kaita.
Fred was born in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia. As a Japanese Canadian, he along with 22,000 others were targeted under the War Measures Act after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. The bombing of Pearl Harbor was the moment when the Allies declared war on Japan. After the attack, there was tremendous hostility towards Japan, and it was further directed to those Canadians of Japanese descent. These citizens were removed from their properties and many had their businesses and homes seized by the Government of Canada. The properties and businesses were sold and the money used to pay for their internment in camps.
Despite the injustice of this act and the emotional impact it had on the Japanese community, Fred made the decision to contribute to the country that had taken him from his home.
After being released from the camps, he came to Manitoba in 1948 and got involved in his life’s great passion: gardening. He was involved in establishing one of the first commercial strawberry farms in Headingly, Manitoba. Fred was also the president and driving force behind the Niverville Horticultural Society.
As his next-door neighbour for the better part of 20 years, I was aware that if I didn’t take care of the dandelions on my yard, Fred would get up early in the morning and take care of them himself. He was gracious, pleasant, and I wouldn’t know that he had done anything until I noticed the weeds starting to wilt.
Fred was a kind, unassuming man. He was a leader, but not in the cultural norm that is so prevalent today. He was a leader because he had the heart to serve and he did it so well.
He was highly regarded. From the early 50s until his retirement, he was one of the most respected men in the hatchery business. Not only was he President of Keystone Hatchery in Niverville, but he served as President of the Manitoba Hatchery Association, Director of the Canadian Hatchery Association, and a director of the Canadian Farm Bureau.
In his home community of Niverville, he served as a director of the Community Club, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Niverville Fair Committee. He served on Town Council, was President of the Golden Friendship Centre, and was also a charter member and officer for the Lions Club. In probably his most significant contribution, he was a key driving force of the history book entitled Niverville: A History (1879–1986).
In his early retirement years, Fred and his wife Edna moved from their home on Roselawn Bay to Steinbach. While living in that community, he involved himself in the gardening club and today there is a bursary named in his honour. It is called the Fred Kaita Master Gardener Bursary Award.
Fred was a gentle and caring husband to Edna (who pre-deceased him), father to Percy, Perry, Cheryl, and Karen, and grandfather to eight grandchildren.
Fred is living out the last years of his life on the farm owned by his daughter Cheryl and son-in-law Scott Rempel. I had hoped to sit down with Fred and speak with him for this article, so I called Scott in late December to arrange a meeting time. I was told that it would not be possible due to his present health. I was saddened by that as I reflected on the incredibly rich life that Fred lived. He was my neighbour for all those years and yet I had never taken much time to know him.
As we go about our lives, may we all be more aware of our neighbours. May we take more time to engage with family and friends. May we honour those who surround our lives so that we all live with fewer regrets.
