Japanese Canadians During WWII
...ere forced to perform manual labor. Living in any of Canada’s ten interment camps was a difficult life to live. Many families were forced to live in cramped quarters with ten other families sharing one stove. Some camps, such as Slocan City, did not have the resources to house the huge amounts of people coming into the camps. Many Japanese were placed in tents until there were houses available. One would think that moving from a tent to a house would be a step up, but that was not true. Most houses consisted of panel board with no insulation, rickety walls and possibly a stove. During the harsh, cold winters many Japanese put lanterns under their beds to try and maintain warmth. World War Two had a significant impact on every country even remotely involved in the war, and although Canada was never attacked, the war had an enormous impact on the nation. Although the country certainly had an industrial base, it was still a mostly agricultural country prior to entering the war. When England declared war on Germany, Canada did in fact wait a few days before announcing its own declaration. This was done as a symbolic indication of the country’s independence, although it was virtually a predetermined conclusion Canada would follow Britain’s lead. Almost overnight, the country began a transformation from a mostly agricultural society, to one of the world’s top industrial powers. Along the way, it became a world leader in several areas of technology, including medicines and medical research, optics and communications, including radar-metallurgy, synthetic rubbers and other materials, and much more. Of a total population of around eleven million during the war years, over one million served in uniform. Canada contributed vast numbers of light and heavy weapons, a wide variety of military vehicle types, armored and transport, artillery, fighters and bombers, and a variety of fighting and cargo ships. The country also set up the world’s biggest aircrew training program along with providing clothing material for uniforms and kits, and such semi-related items like a vast amount of food and resources all of which combined to make a major contribution to victory. Post-war, there was an economic slump as society went through a disorder trying to employ the thousands of returning soldiers, in turn replacing the thousands of women who had found a new independence and place in society as industrial workers. Many good things changed the once solitary country into a blooming industrial age. Many bad effects were mostly aimed towards those of Japanese origin, including those who had obtained Canadian citizenship long before wartime. Many lost their homes and belongings, friends and family for what Canada believed was right. Children and adults alike were treated nearly as bad as the Jewish in Europe. Many lives were lost, and some hearts would be affected for the remainder of their lives. The Japanese-Canadians suffered a great loss during the Second World War. Immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, almost two-thousand Japanese-Canadian fishing boats were seized and impounded. Japanese language newspapers were shut down. The government passed the War Measures Act and transferred power from the representative of Parliament to the Prime Minister's Cabinet. Within three months, the Federal Cabinet Orders-in-Council forced the removal of Japanese-Canadian males to camps, and then authorized the removal of all people of Japanese origin. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police was...