, Canada
1942 - About 22000 Canadians of Japanese descent are stripped of non- portable possessions, interned and evacuated as security risks (Feb. 26).

On February 26, 1942, the Canadian government forcibly uprooted approximately 22,000 Canadians of Japanese descent from the Pacific coast, designating them as security risks in the context of World War II. This policy involved the seizure of homes, businesses, and other non-portable possessions, followed by the relocation of internees to camps in inland British Columbia and other provinces, often under harsh and restrictive conditions. Families were uprooted with little warning, and many endured overcrowded housing, inadequate facilities, and loss of livelihood for the duration of the war.

The internment reflected a climate of wartime fear and racial prejudice, exacerbated by the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and widespread suspicion toward Japanese-Canadians. While framed as a measure of national security, the policy disproportionately targeted an entire ethnic group, regardless of citizenship or demonstrated loyalty to Canada. The trauma experienced by Japanese-Canadian communities included not only economic dispossession but also social stigmatization and the disruption of cultural and family life.

This chapter in Canadian history would later be recognized as a grave injustice. The internment exemplifies how wartime fears can override civil liberties, and it has since prompted national reflection, official apologies, and reparations, highlighting the importance of protecting minority rights even during periods of national crisis. The 1942 evacuation of Japanese-Canadians serves as a sobering reminder of the human cost of prejudice and the responsibilities of government to uphold justice and equality under the law.

fccs.ok.ubc.ca/ about/ links/ resources/ canadian-history/ 1919-to-1945.html

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