Japanese Canadian Interment In WWII

By Rick McShagger

  • Japan Expands: Invades Manchuria

    This is the first act of aggression made by Japan.

  • Japan Withdraws from The League Of Nations

    A shocking move by Japan, sparking their diplomatic isolation.

  • Japan Attacks China

    Japan begins a campaign that will bring them into the war.

  • War Measures Act Invoked

    The war measures act was put into place so that the government could do whatever they wished because of war. This allowed for the internment of the Japanese to begin.

  • British Colombia at the Start of the War

    1939, the population of British Columbia included around 21,000 Canadians of Japanese origin, 75% of whom had residence rights. These people were blamed for the Canadian problems. They were also believed to be of lower class than european.

  • Japan joins Axis

    Japan signing the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, creating an alliance known as Axis.

  • Pearl Harbour Attack/ America's Entry Into the War

    The Japanese bombed an American naval base. The event that sparked America's entry to WWII. President Roosevelt declared war that day.

  • Japanese Boats Impounded

    Japanese newspapers and schools are closed. As well as 1,200 fishing boats seized.

  • Hong Kong Surrenders

    This marks Japan's victory over Hong Kong.

  • Male Japanese New Immigrants Removed

    All men recently from Japan removed from coastal areas.

  • All Japanese Men Removed

    Any man of Japanese decent between the ages of 18 and 45 removed from a certain radius along the coast.

  • Mass Japanese Evacuation

    People were given 24 hours notice to leave. Curfew imposed. And a range of personal technology confiscated. Including radios and cars.

  • Property Taken

    The government took all property and belongings as a "protective measure". Though those items were later sold for internment funds.

  • Security Commission Forcing Japanese to Camps

    Men sent to road camps. Women and children sent to detention camps.

  • Government Gave an Ultimatum

    The Japanese Canadians were told to leave Canada and lose their citizenship or move to eastern Canada.

  • Japanese Allowed to Return to Vancouver

    Until this point it was illegal for Japanese Canadians to live in Vancouver.