Minorities in WWII Canada Women and the War Effort War Brides Japanese Internment Enemy Aliens

Women in the War Effort Women went back to Work! -Worked in war industry roles that were traditionally masculine -Welders, drillers, machine operators Women in high demand! -Some companies built dormitories close to factories

Employment Programs for Women National Selective Service Program -registered women for work in factories and established daycare centers -Ontario and Quebec Canadian Women’s Army Corps -served as clerks, drivers, and nurses By 1945 almost 1/3 of women employed in the War Effort

Rosie the Riveter/ Ronnie the Bren Gun Girl

Enemy Aliens Nationals living in a country that is at war with their homeland The government considered them a security risk

Japanese Canadians 1941 Pearl Harbour attacks and the Invasion of Hong Kong increased anti- Japanese sentiment in Canada Japanese Canadians living in BC

Japanese Internment Camps 1942 the War Measures Act invoked All Japanese Canadians “invited” to move to the Okanogan Valley -Settled in “temporary” relocation centers -Soon forced to leave the coast -Separated families -Forced to stay until the end of the war

David Suzuki Interned with his mother when he was 6 Father forced to work in labour camp

It gets Worse! 1943 federal officials called Custodians of Enemy Property, were given the power to confiscate and sell Japanese Canadian’s property -People lost everything 1945 the federal government gave a choice -Move to war torn Japan or Move to the Rocky Mountains -Supreme Court upheld the government -Over 2000 Japanese Canadians deported

Scar of the Great White North 1947 the government cancels the policy 1988 Apology to Japanese Canadians -$ each in compensation -Restore Canadian citizenship for deported