Minorities in WWII Canada Women and the War

Minorities in WWII Canada Women and the War Effort War Brides Japanese Internment Enemy Aliens

Women in the War Effort • Women went back to Work! - Worked in war industry roles that were traditionally masculine - Welders, drillers, machine operators Women in high demand! - Some companies built dormitories close to factories

Employment Programs for Women • National Selective Service Program - registered women for work in factories and established daycare centers - Ontario and Quebec • Canadian Women’s Army Corps - served as clerks, drivers, and nurses By 1945 almost 1/3 of women employed in the War Effort

Rosie the Riveter/ Ronnie the Bren Gun Girl

Enemy Aliens • Nationals living in a country that is at war with their homeland • The government considered them a security risk

Japanese Canadians • 1941 Pearl Harbour attacks and the Invasion of Hong Kong increased anti. Japanese sentiment in Canada - 22 000 Japanese Canadians living in BC

Japanese Internment Camps • 1942 the War Measures Act invoked • All Japanese Canadians “invited” to move to the Okanogan Valley - Settled in “temporary” relocation centers - Soon forced to leave the coast - Separated families - Forced to stay until the end of the war

David Suzuki Interned with his mother when he was 6 Father forced to work in labour camp

It gets Worse! • 1943 federal officials called Custodians of Enemy Property, were given the power to confiscate and sell Japanese Canadian’s property - People lost everything • 1945 the federal government gave a choice - Move to war torn Japan or Move to the Rocky Mountains - Supreme Court upheld the government - Over 2000 Japanese Canadians deported

Scar of the Great White North • 1947 the government cancels the policy • 1988 Apology to Japanese Canadians - $21 000 each in compensation - Restore Canadian citizenship for deported