A new exhibit at the PNE in Vancouver is paying tribute to the resilience and strength of Japanese Canadians who were unjustly uprooted from their homes and detained during the Second World War, shedding light on a dark chapter in history.
Daniel Tokawa, president of the Japanese Canadian Hastings Park Interpretive Centre Society, expressed the profound impact of this memorial, which commemorates over 6,000 individuals who were forcibly relocated under the War Measures Act. The exhibit serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles and trauma endured by these individuals and their families.
After more than 15 years of advocacy, the memorial was unveiled, featuring the names of those incarcerated at Hastings Park. While over 2,000 names are still missing due to deliberate destruction of records, the exhibit stands as a testament to the challenges of reconstructing this historical period.
Henry Wakabayashi, who was detained at Hastings Park as a child, shared his reflections on the lasting effects of that turbulent time, highlighting the struggles faced by many Japanese Canadians post-war in rebuilding their lives from scratch.
The memorial, located outside the livestock building where detainees were held, now serves as a place of remembrance and education at the Japanese Canadian Hastings Park Interpretive Centre.
PNE officials emphasized the importance of acknowledging and learning from this somber part of Canadian history, ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to understand the impact of these past injustices.
