22 ~ Friday, Se’ tome v, oS pes THE CANADIANS entered the Second World War on Sept. 10, 1939, by declaring war on Germany. Two years later the bombing of Pear! Harbour on Dec. 7, 1941, marked the beginning of years of persecution of the Japanese on Canadian soil. Japanese who had immigrated to Canada in the carly [900s came to find work, with the intention of staying for three to four years then moving home with the wealth they had accummulated. After a short time, they found that there wasn’t much work avail- able. The only thing that the Japanese could do was start their own businesses, so everything from gift shops to small markets were ned. Ope . The bombing of Pearl Harbour seemed to start it all. All the Japanese Canadians living along the coast of British Columbia were considered to be a threat to national security, even though 75% of 22,000 Japanese living in British Columbia were Canadian-born. It was thought that some might have been spies, leaking informa- tion to Japanese intelligence. Steps io prevent this were token quickly. Notices were posted by the RCMP telling when “male enemy aliens” were to be leaving, the restrictions on where they could go, and the restrictions on what types ’ of possessions they could bring with them. For exampie, such things as cameras, radio transmitters, radio shortwave receivers, firearms, ammunition and explosives were controlled. ptember 3, 1994 — North Shore News Notices were also posted stating that anyone of Japanese racial ori- gin had to be at their regular place of residence before sunset and remain there until sunrise the next day. "the notices had many other rules and restrictions concerning the Japanese population in B.C. Male Japanese Canadians aged 18 te 45 living along the B.C. coast were the first to be relocated out- side a 100-mile safe zone, inland away from the coast. The places they were moved to were ceferred to as road camps, some of which were located near Jasper. One of these camps, set up by the Canadian government, was sta- tioned at Lemon Creek. The men started to build a hut for their fami- lies who would be arriving within the next week or two. Some of the families who were told to move had only 24-hours’ notice before having to load their train. Luggage was kept to a mini- eee eee NEWS photo Cindy Goodman LONG, THIN, slimy ones; big, fat, juicy ones... Sarah Byrd and Dave McPherson of Shakespeare Ave. Acres had all kinds of worns for sale at the North Shore Recycling Program’s (NSFP) information booth at Park Royal recently. For information on worn composting, call the Compost Hotline at 736-2250. syilcaSe per person, one sul . sftbehind |. to be Tee OA fe behind were con- fiscated by the custorian of enemy Soae ty who Was later given the Pree iy sell these items without e owners. the consent of UO . Fishing boats, such a tl ey owned by J spat an buyers ft a were sold to ia ~ wort. eves rome and childven arrived in the caMP5, they found that the living conditions were very r. t ‘ : wit rein g water or insulation warts, just bunks and ee ming stove. During the winter, temperatures dropped to 43°C. station provided by the Canadian govern- ment. Trains took the f apanese Canadians to differ camp joca- tions set up throughout the Interior. a PiPO & CO. wo families to a hut to the camps was LAST SUNDAY’S page 1 story, “Gun issue flares,” brought the emotionally charged issue of gun control back into focus. Each year, 1,400 Canadians are killed with fircarms. Do you think Canada’s gun laws are strict enough? [s there a place for gun ownership in our society? Wartime internment had profound effect] Trains were thought to be the quickest and cheapest way to trans- port the 21,460 Japanese Canadians 100 miles from the West Coast. The effect that the internment had on the Japanese-Canadian com- munity was enormous. In 1942, the Canadian govern- ment stripped the Japanese Canadians of all their sights, classi- fying them as enemy aliens. They were forcibly uprooted from their homes very quickly, families were split up in all the chaos and sent to unknown destina- tions for an unknown period of time. The government took most of what these families had after mov- ing them and put restrictions on their own individual freedoms. There wasn’t much more that the government could do to the Japanese Canadians. The desiruction of the Japanese community was not an isojated act of racism, but the culmination of discriminatory attitudes directed JULIUS, T CAN See You! Dah AF, ; tlle) Minty SATAY feo CITITT HET; wth ALaAYS tove © O.K. Elkins ANID I Have THIS COUROK) FOR AN anaes Kes a traveling satesrnan! e@ . Once © “aveling salesmant Atway’ 4 i ee ed ee ce weet towards them from the early days of settlement. The war was the perfect reason to attack the basis of the thriving Japanese social and economic com- munity under the guise of national security. . Businesses in the fishing indus- try were wiped out after 1,200 fish- ing boats were seized and then sold. The Japanese-Canadian community today have many memories of being uprooted from their homes and becoming strangers in their own country. This may have had an effect on their attitudes towards Canadians and their system of government, The Japanese-Canadian commu- nity has managed to rebuild what was lost during the war, but will probably never feel quite at home again. dared Lay, 17, is attending Grade 12 at Argyle secondary school. He is interested in ski racing, and other sports, and hopes to become a World Cup racer. THAT'S iT ~ T° NO! HERE AGAIN © john Brundige “Sorry Clancy, | just rerersibered, it's over here.”