Artefact 3; The New Canadian newspaper, Vol. 4, No. 50, Dec. 17, 1941

Citation: The New Canadian. December 17, 1941. Accessed December 1, 2024. https://newspapers.lib.sfu.ca/tnc-33495/page-1.

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This page from a local newspaper details the immediate impact of World War II on the Japanese Canadian community. Published shortly after Canada declared war on Japan, the article captures the shift in daily life and public sentiment toward Japanese Canadians. Business owners of Japanese descent faced significant economic hardships, with reports indicating a decline in patronage by as much as 50% as quoted in the newspaper, due to local populations that began to boycott or avoid Japanese-run businesses out of wartime suspicion, fear, and propaganda.

The visual of "a huge boom of Japanese Canadian owned fishing boats anchored in the relative shelter of the 'wing dam,'" watched over by armed naval guards, directly resembles and is obviously related to the previous artefact of the seized fishing vessels. It is interesting to witness the firsthand image of the fishing boats to then later find the it being discussed in the newspaper, especially given how long ago this period was.

Political responses were mixed, with figures like Premier John Hart of British Columbia planning to address the "problems" posed by Japanese Canadians at the federal level, reflecting the national debate over their loyalty and presence. Meanwhile, leaders and prominent businessmen in Regina and Moose Jaw respectively, voiced support for the Japanese Canadian population, emphasizing their continued loyalty to Canada despite the broader conflicts.

Furthermore, the article highlights the strict controls imposed on the mobility and freedom of Japanese Canadians, requiring even naturalized citizens to register at designated police centers and adhere to strict parole requirements. This not only illustrates the community's resilience and adaptation in the face of adversity but also highlights the challenges they faced under government policies fueled by wartime hysteria.


Bibiliography: None available. All information was read from the primary newspaper file.