1895
1902
1904
1905
1906
1908
1914
1916
1919
1920
1921
1924 & 1928
1927
1929
1931
1938
1938-40
1939
| Secondary Students' Timeline | ||
| The Pre-World War II Years | ||
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Manzo Nagano, first Japanese individual known to land and settle in Canada. Abandoned ship in New Westminster and subsequently ran a gift shop, Japanese food store and hotel in Victoria, BC. | |
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Kuno Gihei visits Canada and returns to Wakayama-ken to recruit fellow villagers to settle in the village of Steveston. Steveston becomes the second largest Japanese-Canadian settlement before WWII. | |
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Issei, Japanese immigrants, establish stores, boarding houses and other businesses along the streets adjacent to Hastings Mill, especially along Powell Street. This neighbourhood becomes the major settlement of Japanese Canadians until WWII. | |
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1895
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Government of British Columbia denies franchise to citizens of Asian descent. | |
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1902
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Tomekichi Homma, a naturalized Canadian citizen, applies to be included on the voters' list. After refusal by the Collector of Voters, a BC judge declares ultra vires a clause barring Asians from voting but this decision is overturned by the Privy Council of Britain. Loses the fight for the franchise and cannot vote, hold public office or become lawyers, pharmacists, architects, chartered accountants or teachers. | |
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1904
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Japanese Canadian farmers begin to settle in the Fraser Valley and establish themselves as successful berry farmers. | |
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1905
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The first Buddhist temple in Canada opens at the Ishikawa Hotel on Powell Street, Vancouver. | |
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1906
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The first Japanese language school is established in Vancouver by the Japanese Consulate. | |
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Anti-Asian riot in Vancouver. | |
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1908
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The Hayashi-Lemieux "Gentlemen's Agreement" further restrict Japanese immigration to 400 male immigrants and domestic servants per year, plus returning immigrants and their immediate family. "Picture bride" system of marriage becomes widespread. In 1928, the limit is reduced further to150 per year. | |
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1914
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Outbreak of World War I. | |
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1916
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After being rejected in BC, approximately 200 issei volunteers travel to Alberta to join battalions of the Canadian expeditionary force and are shipped to Europe. In 1917, surviving veterans are promised the right to vote. | |
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1919
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BC reduces the number of fishing licenses to "other than white residents". Over the next five years, licenses to Japanese continue to be reduced. | |
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1920
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Japanese-Canadian mill-workers form the first Japanese-Canadian union. | |
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1921
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Asiatic Exclusion League is formed. | |
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1924 & 1928
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Amendment to the "Gentlemen's Agreement". Japanese immigrants not to exceed 150 per year. | |
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1927
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Gains affiliation with the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada. First agricultural producers' cooperative, the Maple Ridge Berry Growers Co-operative Exchange is organized by YasutaroYamaga. | |
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1929
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Jun Kisawa, an Issei fisher, wins a court battle to overturn restrictions against Japanese Canadians using motorized fishing boats. | |
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1931
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Remaining WWI veterans finally receive the right to vote and become the only Japanese Canadians to be enfranchised. | |
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Japanese Canadian Citizens League is formed and sends a delegation to Ottawa to petition for the franchise. The petition is unsuccessful. | |
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1938
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The New Canadian is established as the first English-language Japanese Canadian newspaper. It becomes the only Japanese Canadian newspaper allowed to publish during the years of uprooting. | |
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1938-40
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RCMP kept surveillance on the Japanese community. However, they recorded no subversive activity. | |
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1939
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Canada declares war with Germany. | |
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