By the start of WWI, labour contracts were no longer required as
Japanese settlers had established themselves in businesses, farming
and mill and mine work. Denied full citizenship in Canada, many
Japanese viewed the outbreak of war as an opportunity to prove their
loyalty to their new homeland. In one instance, Japanese from
British Columbia enlisted and trained for the war effort. Provincial
politicians dictated that these men could only serve in a segregated
regiment, knowing that their numbers would be too small to form a
regiment. Many came to Alberta to enlist. Several of these men were
veterans of the Russo-Japanese War and were welcomed by recruiting
officers. Nearly 200 Japanese Canadian soldiers fought during the
war, with over a quarter killed in action. Upon their return, their
hope of full citizenship rights was not realized.
World War I brought another development: the arrival of women from
Japanese. Some were joining their husbands, others entering into
arranged marriages and still others as 'picture brides.' Parents
sent photographs of prospective brides to prospective grooms. Upon
his selection, the match would be subject to mutual agreement by the
couple. A marriage ceremony would be conducted in Japan in the man's
absence and the bride would depart for Alberta.
Arriving in a strange and unfamiliar world, they worked to set up
homes for their families, cooking, mending, and working in the
fields with their husbands. Isolated by language, culture and rural
distance, the arrival presence of children was a distraction from
the otherwise lonely existence.
Interwar Years
Prejudices and differences that existed within the Japanese
community began to change in this early period. Social and class
differences within the Japanese community became less important as
the children of these first immigrants entered public schooling
and grew up with non-Japanese friends. However, the loss of
Japanese culture was of concern for parents. With the founding of
a Buddhist church in Raymond, Japanese language classes and a
martial arts society were started. The church building had
previously been used as the place of Mormon worship.
The interwar years were not without difficulty for Japanese
Albertans. With the invasion of China by Japan in 1931, many
Chinese in Alberta boycotted products made in Japan and any
Japanese businesses. As well, they refused to serve any Japanese
in a Chinese-owned business. The Japanese Albertan response was
mixed: although Japan's invasion was internationally condemned,
many Japanese would not criticize their homeland.
A strike by the Alberta Beet Workers Union in 1936 led to beet
growers hiring miners laid off from the coalfields around
Lethbridge. Some of these replacements were Japanese and the
strikers concentrated their anger on these workers. The mood of
the strike reinforced latent prejudices that would rise more
forcefully during World War II.
Heritage Community Foundation Presents
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