Heritage Markers and Sakura Trees Memorialize Former Japanese Canadian Labour Camps in Chatham-Kent
2018/9/14
From left: Ontario Minister of Infrastructure Monte McNaughton; Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope; Consul-General of Japan Takako Ito;
Mr. Ken Noma, Former President of the National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC);
Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Rick Nicholls.
On Sept. 7, Consul-General of Japan Takako Ito attended a ceremony in Chatham-Kent to unveil heritage markers installed in memory of local Japanese Canadian labour camps and to plant commemorative Sakura trees. Chatham-Kent’s history includes the account of Japanese Canadians being relocated there from Western Canada during the Second World War, and being forced to live in labour camps while working at local farms.
With more than 70 years having passed since the war, the facilities that once housed the Japanese Canadian labourers had fallen into disrepair. Although restoring the buildings were deemed too difficult, the former President of the National Association of Japanese Canadians, Mr. Ken Noma (one of the 2018 recipients of the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation), consulted with local officials and stakeholders to organize the installation of heritage markers explaining the local history of Japanese Canadians, along with plantings of commemorative Sakura trees. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of The Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement.
Remarks by Consul-General Ito.
Mr. Noma gives greetings.
Chatham-Kent Municipal Councillor Leon Leclair emceed the occasion.
Mayor Hope gives remarks.
Minister McNaughton gives remarks.
Mr. Nicholls, in addition to being Deputy Speaker of the Ontario Legislature, is the local
Member of Provincial Parliament (Chatham-Kent – Leamington).
Mr. Jim Moore, former President of the Rotary Club of Toronto Bay-Bloor, is
Mr. Jim Moore, former President of the Rotary Club of Toronto Bay-Bloor, is
originally from Chatham-Kent.
Mr. Peter Wakayama, former Vice-President of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, spent
Mr. Peter Wakayama, former Vice-President of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, spent
his childhood and high school years in Chatham-Kent.
Ms. Patricia Hirasawa Simpson, President of the NAJC’s Hamilton Chapter.
Ms. Patricia Hirasawa Simpson, President of the NAJC’s Hamilton Chapter.
Installed heritage markers.
A performance by Toronto’s traditional Japanese music group Ten Ten.
Attendants at the ceremony included representatives from such media outlets as the CBC.