Japanese Internment

Japan was a growing power in Asia and the United States was worried about the spread of their influence and aggression December 7, 1941 – Japanese attack the US Naval base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii

The Japanese also attacked the US base in the Phillipines

Canada was far less involved in the Pacific War 2 battalions were sent to Hong Kong but they were inexperienced - they were defeated by the Japanese at Christmas 1941

Most spent the rest of the war in POW camps

Canadian fear of the Japanese grew stronger in 1941 even though the government and the RCMP assured people that Canadians of Japanese ancestry were not a threat But…after Pearl Harbour and Hong Kong, speeches, editorials and resolutions from clubs poured in saying …”something must be done about the Japanese in Canada…”

Before the war, over 21,000 Canadians of Japanese ancestry lived in BC - treated as “2nd class citizens” - denied the vote - restricted to certain jobs – most worked in the fishing industry The Canadian government was under pressure so in January 1942, “Japanese male nationals” aged 14-45 were relocated away from the BC coast to “internment camps” in the interior of the province

On February 25, 1942, the Canadian government ordered the complete expulsion of all Japanese away from the coast Families were broken up and sent to abandoned mining towns or camps or small towns in the Kootenays, Alberta or northern Ontario.

In 1943, the Canadian government confiscated houses, farms, personal goods, cars, fishing boats… All items were sold at public auction for a fraction of their value and only a small amount was actually paid back to the Japanese families who owned the goods

A wartime “Order in Council” gave the Canadian government the authority to strip Japanese-Canadians of their citizenship Almost 4000 were sent back to Japan Most had been born in Canada and were 2nd, 3rd generation Canadians…and did not speak Japanese…or had even been to Japan In 1988, the federal government apologized and offered each “internee” $21,000 in compensation…but only if they were still living.