Timeline:
1942:
January 12th:
The Federal Cabinet in Ottawa made the final decision to take further steps to 'dispose' of the "Japanese Problem" (The New Canadian)
The Federal Cabinet in Ottawa made the final decision to take further steps to 'dispose' of the "Japanese Problem" (The New Canadian)
February 9th:
"April 1st deadline for removal of nationals" Announced (The New Canadian)
"April 1st deadline for removal of nationals" Announced (The New Canadian)
February 18th:
"Government orders civilian labour corps": The first group of 100 men left for Jasper to begin construction of work camps for the Japanese Canadian Internees (The New Canadian)
"Government orders civilian labour corps": The first group of 100 men left for Jasper to begin construction of work camps for the Japanese Canadian Internees (The New Canadian)
February 27th:
British Columbia Security Commission declared that all Japanese Nationals, Naturalized Canadians, and Canadian-born Japanese must be relocated to internment camps
March 13th:
Letter from F.J. Mead (Commissioner of BC Security Commission) to Ono (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Granted Ono the permission to attend the meeting of the Home Mission of the United Church on March 16th
Letter from F.J. Mead (Commissioner of BC Security Commission) to Ono (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Granted Ono the permission to attend the meeting of the Home Mission of the United Church on March 16th
March 16th:
First group of internees arrived at clearing station
The Red Cross Representatives write that the “arrangements were definitely inadequate” (Folder A3)
First group of internees arrived at clearing station
The Red Cross Representatives write that the “arrangements were definitely inadequate” (Folder A3)
April 9th:
Letter from Ono to Etsuji Morii, Chairman of Japanese Liaison Committee (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Ono asks for official notice of district's evacuation and asks the Chairman to “kindly” consider the following points for a smoother evacuation process
→ 585 district population: Cumberland, Royston, Courtnay, headquarter, Union Bay and Fanny Bay:
Men 16+: 178
Women 106
School children: 207
60+: 29
Under 6: 64 (15 under 1 year)
→ The estimated time of sail from Union Bay to Vancouver is 7 to 8 hours and with the many old folks and infants on board, please make arrangements with the Commision to ensure that there will be a special CPR boat available for this journey
→ Local committee requests the official permit for remaining in Union Bay for a few days after the mass population has been moved out
→ Concludes with: wanting Commissioned to understand predicament and do the best they can for a safe and smooth sail, the district “extends] [their] heartily gratitude towards [the Commission's] tireless endeavor to this problem”
→ 585 district population: Cumberland, Royston, Courtnay, headquarter, Union Bay and Fanny Bay:
Men 16+: 178
Women 106
School children: 207
60+: 29
Under 6: 64 (15 under 1 year)
→ The estimated time of sail from Union Bay to Vancouver is 7 to 8 hours and with the many old folks and infants on board, please make arrangements with the Commision to ensure that there will be a special CPR boat available for this journey
→ Local committee requests the official permit for remaining in Union Bay for a few days after the mass population has been moved out
→ Concludes with: wanting Commissioned to understand predicament and do the best they can for a safe and smooth sail, the district “extends] [their] heartily gratitude towards [the Commission's] tireless endeavor to this problem”
April 10th:
Letter from Ono to Etsuji Morii, Chairman of Japanese Liaison Committee (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Confirms that the order has been received to leave Union Bay on April 15th by the S.S. Prince George stop
Requests for the state room to accommodate women and children, as well as an expressman on board to check in the luggages
Letter from Ono to Etsuji Morii, Chairman of Japanese Liaison Committee (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Confirms that the order has been received to leave Union Bay on April 15th by the S.S. Prince George stop
Requests for the state room to accommodate women and children, as well as an expressman on board to check in the luggages
April 11th:
Letter from Arthur Nishiguchi, member of Japanese Liaison Committee, to Ono (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Permission has been granted for 27 staterooms at $2
Unable to check in baggages but assures a safe arrival
Evacuation Steamship Prince George will arrive in Vancouver at 3pm April 15th
Letter from Arthur Nishiguchi, member of Japanese Liaison Committee, to Ono (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Permission has been granted for 27 staterooms at $2
Unable to check in baggages but assures a safe arrival
Evacuation Steamship Prince George will arrive in Vancouver at 3pm April 15th
April 13th:
Letter from Arthur Nishiguchi, of Japanese Liaison Committee, to Ono (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Denies Ono’s request for High School students to finish their studies before evacuation
Courses for high school students will start at Hastings Park Clearing Station soon
Letter from Grant MacNeil, Assistant to the Chairman of BC Security Commision, to Ono (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Due to early evacuation date, it is not possible to grant Ono’s requests
Students who cannot arrange for maintenance and educational costs once removed to the Hastings Park Clearing Station, arrangements will be made to continue studies and take the June exam
Letter from Arthur Nishiguchi, of Japanese Liaison Committee, to Ono (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Denies Ono’s request for High School students to finish their studies before evacuation
Courses for high school students will start at Hastings Park Clearing Station soon
Letter from Grant MacNeil, Assistant to the Chairman of BC Security Commision, to Ono (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Due to early evacuation date, it is not possible to grant Ono’s requests
Students who cannot arrange for maintenance and educational costs once removed to the Hastings Park Clearing Station, arrangements will be made to continue studies and take the June exam
Class List (File 1.1, Folder A1)
Grade 1 Minoru Yoneda (age 8) Grade 2 Nanao Kishimoto (7) Grade 3 Mutsuo Kishimoto (9) Grade 4 Fumiko Kishimoto (10) Sadaichi Takata (11) Fumi Takata (9) Hiroko Yoneda (10) Fusako Nigashi (10) Grade 5 Yaeko Tateishi (10) Grade 6 Yoshiko Kishimoto (12) Grade 7 Shoni Higashi (12) Grade 8 Toshi Takata (13) Grade 10 Masao Kishimoto (15) Yuriko Kishimoto (16) Fumie Yoneda (16) Grade 11 Saburo Takata (16) --- Total Population: Fanny Bay: 122 Cumberland:
Courtenay: 35 Union Bay: 13 = 589 students |
Pages and pages listing each of the 589 individual's: name, sex, age, occupation, school year, parole no. and Japanese Registration Card No.
→ can see the care Ono put in with the correction and constant reviewing of the census → marked in red ink with either C, N, or yet next to name (C - naturalized citizen, N - japanese national, no mark - Canadian born, “yet” - registered but has not received card yet) → majority are Canadian born, few with “yet,” equally C or N |
April 23rd - June 30th (Approximately):
No volunteered to be the Director of the Boys’ Dormitory in Hastings Park Clearing Station
Roughly 187 teenage boys
Ono was concerned about the boys, so he separated them from the “bad influence” of “older people” by setting up a special dormitory (Folder A3)
Ono organized a library with donated books for them to use
There were lots of fire drills, black-outs, and diarrhea outbreaks that Ono had to contend with
Ono instated inspections so that the boys would keep tidy
Photo on Right: Letter from Ono (Folder A3)
No volunteered to be the Director of the Boys’ Dormitory in Hastings Park Clearing Station
Roughly 187 teenage boys
Ono was concerned about the boys, so he separated them from the “bad influence” of “older people” by setting up a special dormitory (Folder A3)
Ono organized a library with donated books for them to use
There were lots of fire drills, black-outs, and diarrhea outbreaks that Ono had to contend with
Ono instated inspections so that the boys would keep tidy
Photo on Right: Letter from Ono (Folder A3)
May 6th:
Letter from Ono to Colonel Mead of the BC Security Commission (Folder A3)
Asks permission to travel as a missionary around the Blue River area, Jasper Camps, and the towns where Japanese families will be settled
Letter from Ono to Colonel Mead of the BC Security Commission (Folder A3)
Asks permission to travel as a missionary around the Blue River area, Jasper Camps, and the towns where Japanese families will be settled
June 13th:
First group of internees left vancouver to go to internment camps
First group of internees left vancouver to go to internment camps
June 10th:
Red Cross Representatives, Ono was one of them, filed formal complaints to the BC Security Commission members (Folder A3)
“We ask for the emancipation from unnecessary restrictions, the rights of a democratic nation, freedom of speech, and furthermore the sympathetic understanding of an oppressed people”
Especially concerned with keeping the family unit intact
Red Cross Representatives, Ono was one of them, filed formal complaints to the BC Security Commission members (Folder A3)
“We ask for the emancipation from unnecessary restrictions, the rights of a democratic nation, freedom of speech, and furthermore the sympathetic understanding of an oppressed people”
Especially concerned with keeping the family unit intact
June 15th:
Red Cross Representatives file a request to the BCSC (Folder A3) “Restrictions after restrictions were imposed on the people, regardless of the fact that the evacuees were not prisoners of war” Excerpt from request: (Folder A3) Agenda for Discussion with the Red Cross Representatives (unknown date) claims that internment camps are a violation of citizens’ rights |
1) That a resident medical Doctor be appointed to this camp - to be available at night. Doctors are now available in the day time.
2) That arrangements be made to recall husbands of pregnant women - from work camps, so as to be present at the time of delivery. 3) That special considerations be given to families where the sole support is a widower. In such cases the father should be allowed to accompany his children to some interior projects. 4) That the government bear all expense of evacuees. 5) That special consideration be given to destitute families, invalids, and women when pregnant - to secure all from want, privation, and medical attention. 6) That the government positively guarantee the security against want, clothing, etc. of all evacees. 7) That in as much as Canadian born of Japanese origin and Naturalized Canadians have not been treated any differently from Japanese Nationals except that work camps are separated… we submit that the first two groups should not be treated as enemy aliens and their properties partially confiscated as is now the case. 8) That there should be more sympathetic understanding of an oppressed people, all unnecessary restrictions lifted, more freedom of speech and democratic rights. 9) That the family unit should be kept intact. We submit that although the authorities have stressed their intention to do this, up to the present… their promises in this regard have been ignored except in such cases as when the evacee is unfit for any kind of manual labour or when qualified in work obtainable in the district of some housing scheme. |
July 4th:
Farewell letter from Ono to Rev. Bunt and the Conference Committee on Japanese work (Folder A3)
“I shall continue my missionary work as independently and do my best for the entire welfare of Japanese people and try to raise their spirit up by the guidance of our Lord.”
“As I am Japanese my allegiance transferred to Canada from Japan under the International Law so I try to make myself Hundred percent Canadian in spirit. Only 100 percent Japanese can understand 100 percent Canadian.”
Farewell letter from Ono to Rev. Bunt and the Conference Committee on Japanese work (Folder A3)
“I shall continue my missionary work as independently and do my best for the entire welfare of Japanese people and try to raise their spirit up by the guidance of our Lord.”
“As I am Japanese my allegiance transferred to Canada from Japan under the International Law so I try to make myself Hundred percent Canadian in spirit. Only 100 percent Japanese can understand 100 percent Canadian.”
July 6th:
Ono was re-elected to the position of Advisor by the members of the TASHME Youth Organization (Folder A3) |
Excerpt from the constitution of the TASHME Youth Organization:
The object of this organization shall be:
1. Service: To render all possible services to the activities of the community under the present circumstances and to bind ourselves as a part of the community. 2. Training: To render ourselves useful by cultural and physical training. 3. Be prepared: To render ourselves in readiness for Post-War activities. |
July 20th:
Ono helped reassign people from the Thunder River Road Camp to HOPE 14 Mile Ranch (Folder A3)
Ono helped reassign people from the Thunder River Road Camp to HOPE 14 Mile Ranch (Folder A3)
October 9th:
Spanish Vice-Consul inquired about the internees' access to medicine, food quality, recreational equipment, public schooling, clothing, etc. (Folder A4)
Spanish Vice-Consul inquired about the internees' access to medicine, food quality, recreational equipment, public schooling, clothing, etc. (Folder A4)
November 27th:
Letter from nurse at Hastings Park Tuberculosis Hospital to Rev. Ono (Folder A4)
Asks Ono to appeal to the internees to send letters of support and cheer to patients in the Hastings Park Tuberculosis Hospital
Letter from nurse at Hastings Park Tuberculosis Hospital to Rev. Ono (Folder A4)
Asks Ono to appeal to the internees to send letters of support and cheer to patients in the Hastings Park Tuberculosis Hospital
December 11th:
Letter from Ono to Spanish Vice-Consul F.P. Bernard (Folder A4)
Asks Bernard to purchase some material comforts for internees during christmas time because they had “no means of purchasing articles in Tashme”
Offers to send full reimbursement
Letter from Ono to Spanish Vice-Consul F.P. Bernard (Folder A4)
Asks Bernard to purchase some material comforts for internees during christmas time because they had “no means of purchasing articles in Tashme”
Offers to send full reimbursement
December 16th:
Rev. Ono requested the Sunday service to be photographed on behalf of the Tashme Church (Folder A4)
Part of a picture show sponsored by the TASHME Youth Organization to raise a Christmas Cheer Fund for internees and Hastings Park patients
Rev. Ono requested the Sunday service to be photographed on behalf of the Tashme Church (Folder A4)
Part of a picture show sponsored by the TASHME Youth Organization to raise a Christmas Cheer Fund for internees and Hastings Park patients
December 23rd:
Letter from Ono to Spanish Vice Consul-General Schwartz (Folder A4)
Protests the handling charge that internees must pay to receive parcels
Letter from Ono to Spanish Vice Consul-General Schwartz (Folder A4)
Protests the handling charge that internees must pay to receive parcels
- Rules regarding mail to and from internees
1943:
Jan 30th:
Letter from Camp 101 in Angler, Ontario to Rev. Ono (Folder A4)
Thank-you letter for sending tobacco and candy through Spanish Vice-Consul
Letter from Camp 101 in Angler, Ontario to Rev. Ono (Folder A4)
Thank-you letter for sending tobacco and candy through Spanish Vice-Consul
March 6th:
One requested clerical work in Montreal at the end of April (Folder A4)
Not allowed into Québec as a Japanese National
One requested clerical work in Montreal at the end of April (Folder A4)
Not allowed into Québec as a Japanese National
March 26th:
Reverend Ono requested a post office at Tashme, B.C. and it was approved as an exception because their situation was so isolated (Folder A4)
Reverend Ono requested a post office at Tashme, B.C. and it was approved as an exception because their situation was so isolated (Folder A4)
July 13th:
Ono's final wishes as he is being transferred East (Folder A4)
Ono's final wishes as he is being transferred East (Folder A4)
Works Cited:
Ono, Yoshio. Tashme Secondary School Teachers. 13 Oct. 1943. Japanese Canadian Research Collection. UBC Library Digital Collections. Web. 1 Feb. 2015.
Ono, Yoshio. 1942. File 1.1. Folder A1. Box II-6-2. Rev. Yoshio Ono Collection XXXI. University of British Columbia Library Rare Books and Special Collections, Vancouver, Canada.
Ono, Yoshio. 1942-3. Folder A3/A4. Box II-6-2. Rev. Yoshio Ono Collection XXXI. University of British Columbia Library Rare Books and Special Collections, Vancouver, Canada.
The New Canadian: Voice of the Nisei. Ed. Shoyama, Tom & Umezuki, Takaichi. Vancouver Newspaper. 1942. Folder C1/C2. Box II-6-2. Rev. Yoshio Ono Collection XXXI. University of British Columbia Library Rare Books and Special Collections, Vancouver, Canada.
Ono, Yoshio. Tashme Secondary School Teachers. 13 Oct. 1943. Japanese Canadian Research Collection. UBC Library Digital Collections. Web. 1 Feb. 2015.
Ono, Yoshio. 1942. File 1.1. Folder A1. Box II-6-2. Rev. Yoshio Ono Collection XXXI. University of British Columbia Library Rare Books and Special Collections, Vancouver, Canada.
Ono, Yoshio. 1942-3. Folder A3/A4. Box II-6-2. Rev. Yoshio Ono Collection XXXI. University of British Columbia Library Rare Books and Special Collections, Vancouver, Canada.
The New Canadian: Voice of the Nisei. Ed. Shoyama, Tom & Umezuki, Takaichi. Vancouver Newspaper. 1942. Folder C1/C2. Box II-6-2. Rev. Yoshio Ono Collection XXXI. University of British Columbia Library Rare Books and Special Collections, Vancouver, Canada.