News
October 29, 2025
Victoria monument will honour Japanese Canadians interned during war
Monument, to be built behind St. Ann’s Academy, will feature a wall with the names of 22,000 Japanese Canadians
**Victoria to Remember Internment with New Monument Honouring Japanese Canadians**
Victoria is set to become home to a powerful and poignant memorial dedicated to the 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were unjustly interned during the Second World War. The monument, slated to be erected behind the historic St. Ann’s Academy, will serve as a lasting testament to their resilience and a reminder of a dark chapter in Canadian history.
The centrepiece of the memorial will be a wall etched with the names of all those who were forcibly displaced and incarcerated. This serves as a powerful and personal acknowledgement of each individual impacted by the government's discriminatory policies. For decades, the internment remained a source of deep pain and trauma for the Japanese Canadian community, and the monument aims to provide a place for remembrance, reflection, and healing.
During the Second World War, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Canadian government, fueled by fear and prejudice, unjustly targeted Japanese Canadians. They were stripped of their homes, businesses, and possessions, and forced into internment camps located in remote and often harsh environments. Their lives were irrevocably altered, and the internment left a lasting scar on the community.
The new monument represents a significant step towards reconciliation and public awareness. It will offer visitors an opportunity to learn about the history of the internment, understand its devastating impact, and reflect on the importance of safeguarding civil liberties and preventing such injustices from happening again.
The location behind St. Ann's Academy adds another layer of significance. The Academy, a historic landmark in Victoria, will provide a serene and respectful backdrop for the memorial. It is envisioned as a place where families, students, and all members of the public can come to pay their respects, learn about the past, and commit to building a more just and equitable future. The project has been welcomed by community leaders and organizations representing Japanese Canadians, who have long advocated for greater recognition of this painful chapter in their history. This memorial is seen as a crucial step in ensuring that the lessons of the past are never forgotten.
Victoria is set to become home to a powerful and poignant memorial dedicated to the 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were unjustly interned during the Second World War. The monument, slated to be erected behind the historic St. Ann’s Academy, will serve as a lasting testament to their resilience and a reminder of a dark chapter in Canadian history.
The centrepiece of the memorial will be a wall etched with the names of all those who were forcibly displaced and incarcerated. This serves as a powerful and personal acknowledgement of each individual impacted by the government's discriminatory policies. For decades, the internment remained a source of deep pain and trauma for the Japanese Canadian community, and the monument aims to provide a place for remembrance, reflection, and healing.
During the Second World War, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Canadian government, fueled by fear and prejudice, unjustly targeted Japanese Canadians. They were stripped of their homes, businesses, and possessions, and forced into internment camps located in remote and often harsh environments. Their lives were irrevocably altered, and the internment left a lasting scar on the community.
The new monument represents a significant step towards reconciliation and public awareness. It will offer visitors an opportunity to learn about the history of the internment, understand its devastating impact, and reflect on the importance of safeguarding civil liberties and preventing such injustices from happening again.
The location behind St. Ann's Academy adds another layer of significance. The Academy, a historic landmark in Victoria, will provide a serene and respectful backdrop for the memorial. It is envisioned as a place where families, students, and all members of the public can come to pay their respects, learn about the past, and commit to building a more just and equitable future. The project has been welcomed by community leaders and organizations representing Japanese Canadians, who have long advocated for greater recognition of this painful chapter in their history. This memorial is seen as a crucial step in ensuring that the lessons of the past are never forgotten.
Category:
Politics