The New Canadian

The New Canadian,  “the voice of the second generation,” included news for the second generation of Japanese Canadians to help foster a sense of collective identity. The British Columbia-based paper shared news about the impending internment, which kept the alert to accurate information, and then connected the Japanese-Canadian community during World War II when families were separated and communities broke apart. 

As an English-language paper, The New Canadian remained the only newspaper for Japanese Canadian audiences. All others published in Japanese had been shut down and left as the main communication between the Government of Canada and Japanese Canadians, which this edition announces. 

In the article “New Canadian To Publish All Official Commission News,” we see reference to those who have moved from the protected areas. These were areas along British Columbia’s southwest coast, including Vancouver Island, from which Japanese Canadians – particularly men – first had to leave. It also cites ways for people to connect with loved ones who had already been moved from their homes to camps.

Bibliography:

[1] Nakagawa, Carolyn. “The New Canadian.” Canadian Encyclopedia. January 26, 2024. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-new-canadian.