August 3, 2024

Hello Members and Friends,

What a sizzling summer we are having – perfect for the lake or clambering around in our rivers!!

If you get a chance for a drive, check out Phoenix Cemetery. My nephew, Jesse, has again been busy with trimming and cutting at both cemeteries.  We are ever so grateful for his help.  Al’s bench is in thanks to our wonderful Boundary Woodworkers and is ready for viewing at our Picnic this coming Sunday – August 11th.  Hope many of you will be able to attend and enjoy our cabin’s site, the hot dogs and goodies. We’ll have a chance to remember Al Donnelly and all his contributions to our Society.  I’ll send the invite out separately.

We have a special issue this time.  Member, Yoko Nishi, contacted me a while back to let us know that a special event will take place in Grand Forks on Saturday, August 24th to welcome four scholars from Japan. They have studied the immigration of the Japanese from Mio Mura to Canada and the effect of the immigration. Their current focus is to examine the historical significance of Grand Forks among people from Mio during wartime and beyond, and to bring together related people, their memories, stories, photos, letters, etc. from both sides of the descendant community where multiple perspectives and all different voices are heard.

I am sure you will enjoy reading Yoko’s article.

Doreen                                            …………………………………………………………………………..

History of the Japanese Canadians who settled in Grand Forks

  • Yoko Nishi, Independent Historical Researcher

These are some highlights of life for the Japanese Canadians in Grand Forks during our time from 1942 to early 1950’s. My themes come both from historical research and many interviews with survivors and descendants.

The first Japanese Canadian family to live in Grand Forks was the family of Mr. and Mrs. Esumatsu Nakatani who originally came to Canada from Mio Mura, Wakayama-ken Japan in 1918. They arrived in Grand Forks in 1939 from the Okanagan area and worked on the farm in Grand Forks.

Mr. and Mrs. Masutaro Sugimoto emigrated from Kumamoto-ken Japan in 1907 and 1913. They arrived in early 1941 from Rutland and settled in Grand Forks to work on the farm in the Sunnyside area.

When WWII broke out in late 1941, the Canadian Government forced the Japanese people living within 100 miles of the West Coast of British Columbia to move inland.  During this time, Esumatsu received many letters and telegrams from people seeking assistance in finding a place to live and work here.

Many Japanese Canadians from the coast came to Grand Forks as self-supporting families. With the assistance of Mr. Nakatani, they were able to find a place to live and work in Grand Forks. He negotiated with the local and Doukhobor farmers to hire helpers and provide housing for the families. With his sympathetic and helpful reputation, he assisted 343 Japanese Canadians in making Grand Forks their new home.

The Kozo Arai family was the first family to arrive by train to Grand Forks on May 8, 1942. Others followed and were met at the train station and taken to their new homes on the farms. There the weary travelers prepared to start their work on the farm that they now called home.

Some houses were provided for the workers and their families that were very basic single dwellings.  Other larger homes were occupied by two or more families.  There was no indoor plumbing and in many cases food preparation was shared by all the families.

The Struggle

Working long hours in the blazing hot sun was extremely exhausting. The people endured the harsh conditions, built strength and resilience, and helped each other adapt to this new life.

Community Life

Despite the hardships, the community at large came together to support each other and create a rich community life. The local JCCA (Japanese Canadian Citizen Association) was organized after the families settled to their new lifestyle. They were encouraged to build social connections with each other and with the local Grand Forks population over time. Integration of the Japanese Canadians into the regular school classrooms occurred in 1943. The young children in their early school years, took part in the May Day Pageant. The new May Queen and her escort – followed by the flower girls – made their way to the stage adorned with lilacs and sweet fragranced spring flowers. To close the program for another year, the young students performed a special Maypole dance for the many guests.

The opening of the newly built high school in 1946 was very special. In the beginning it was just a very basic classroom, but, as time went by, it became a dream come true with a beautiful auditorium, and an out-of-this-world gymnasium.

So many memories were captured for all the students of Grand Forks.  Drama clubs, basketball rep teams, special performances and of course “Joy Night”.

The Young People Association of 50 members organized activities such as community gatherings and sporting events.  With their combined efforts the annual JCCA picnic was held at the Vienna Woods. This was a large, forested area that they cleared and maintained for major outdoor events to accommodate attendance of the large Japanese community and their guests.

The neighbouring Japanese community in Christina Lake would invite the Grand Forks area children to join them for special surprises like a boat ride. Numerous baseball games were played with local and neighbouring teams that would bring out crowds of baseball enthusiasts who would cheer for their home teams.

On Dominion Day, July 1947, (now known as Canada Day) the JCCA participated in the parade celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the City of Grand Forks.  A “Friendship” float was built by the Young JCCA members and entered in a parade. Beautiful young Japanese dancers danced on the float as it traveled down Central Avenue. In a parade of thirty floats, the “Friendship” float won the first prize!

The religious life in the community was largely led by Reverend Yutaka Ogura of the United Church of Canada.  Reverend Ogura was kept very busy as a circuit evangelist as he traveled from Christina Lake through Grand Forks and into Midway. Through his friendly and caring ministry, many of the non-Christian Nikkei families were baptized,

The adults of the Nikkei community would gather to play cards, view Japanese movies, or listen to Japanese music. On special occasions, they would hold fun evenings of laughter with humorous skits or shows. The celebration of the New Year was a very special time. Families would welcome guests into their homes to partake in the traditional Japanese food and drinks.  Friendship and camaraderie developed very quickly.    

               

On April 1, 1949, shortly after the Third Annual JCCA convention in Greenwood, the restrictions of the War Measures Act were lifted.  The National JCCA from Toronto, JCCA members from Greenwood, Midway and delegates, Faye Sugimoto, and Ben Kondo from Grand Forks were in attendance at that convention.

In the following years, changes began in the community with some families leaving for other destinations. Some stayed behind as well. Several new businesses began to appear in the downtown centre, with many of them operated by members of the Japanese Community. Still living in Grand Forks today (August 2024) are Mr. and Mrs. Seiji Matsuo and Verla Carter and Bob Fujimoto who were here during the formative years when the Japanese Community began.