1. Japanese Internment in Canada during WW2
Security or Prejudice?
Japanese Internment in Canada during WW2

2. Internment
Prior to World War II, 22,096 Japanese Canadians lived in British Colombia; ¾ were naturalized or native born Canadians.
Dec 7, 1941 Japanese attack Pearl Harbour and Hong Kong falls by Dec 25th

3. Internment
February 1942, under the War Measures Act, P.M. Mackenzie King evacuates all people of Japanese descent living within 62 km of BC’s coast.
They were considered a threat and possibly saboteurs within Canada.

4. What do you think Dr. Seuss thinks about the threat of resident Japanese to North American security?
Besides the threat to security that Japanese people may have represented, what other reason might people have had to want Japanese people interned?

5. Internment
About Japanese were removed from their homes and sent to internment camps in BC’s interior.

6. Police confiscating a Japanese fisherman’s boat.

9. Community kitchen in Slocan City internment camp.

11. Internment 8 internment camps in interior BC.
They were in Kaslo, New Denver, Tashme, Roseberry, Slocan City, Lemon Creek, Sandon, and Greenwood.
The war had caused a shortage of labor so interned Japanese used in beet farming camps or to do public works projects like road building.

12. In addition to being interned, all Japanese Canadians needed to carry identification at all times.

13. Japanese fishing boats seized by the government and corralled on the Fraser River. Japanese fishermen were evacuated first in response to the rumors that they might actually be operating as spies.

14. Japanese owned store closed because its owner was interned.
What do you think happened to the property of the Japanese interned during the war?

15. Internment All possessions and property was sold in auctions.
After the war, the Japanese were not allowed to return to the coast for several years
Many returned to Japan or worked in agricultural camps on the prairies.

16. Apologies
By 1988, the government apologized for the injustices and gave dollars to each Japanese Canadian who had been interned during WWII.
Unfortunately most had passed away by this time.

17. Other groups interned…
In 1940, an Order in Council was passed that defined enemy aliens as "all persons of German or Italian racial origin who have become naturalized British subjects since September 1, 1922".
Many “enemy aliens” of German and Italian descent were also interned.

18. Who was interned?
Some Canadian heroes, and future Canadian icons were involved in the internment camps.

19. WW1 Veterans Interned 185 Japanese-Canadians enlisted in the CEF.
Two, Tokutaro Iwamoto and Masumi Mitsui were awarded the Military Medal of Honor.
Several Japanese Canadians who had fought in WW1 for Canada were interned along with their families.

20. What is your reaction to the internment of Japanese Canadians?
Anyone recognize this fellow?
What is your reaction to the internment of Japanese Canadians?
Was it justified?