Japanese Canadian Soldiers of the First World War and the Fight to Win the Vote National Historic Event
Vancouver, British Columbia
Japanese Canadian War Memorial
(© Vancouver City Archives \ Archives de la Ville de Vancouver, CVA 99-2420)
Address :
Vancouver, British Columbia
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
2011-07-19
Dates:
-
1916 to 1918
(Significant)
Other Name(s):
-
Japanese Canadian Soldiers of the First World War and the Fight to Win the Vote
(Designation Name)
Research Report Number:
2009-019
Importance:
222 Japanese Canadian soldiers overcame barriers to enlistment and prejudice and fought for Canada on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: Vancouver, British Columbia
During the Great War, more than 200 Japanese Canadian soldiers served our country. Although not recognized as equal citizens, they overcame obstacles to enlistment and fought on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918. A quarter of them died in battle. Building on their contribution to the war effort, the returning veterans fought to participate fully in Canadian society, and in 1931 they became the first group of Asian Canadians to attain the right to vote from the Province of British Columbia. Through their courage and resolve, these veterans expanded the concept of patriotism and advanced the development of citizenship rights in Canada.