December 7, 1941 was the beginning of a nightmare for those of Japanese heritage along Canada’s Pacific Coast. One of the first acts of the federal government after Pearl Harbor was to impound the Japanese Canadian fishing fleet numbering a thousand boats. Many of the seaworthy vessels were the pride and envy of the coastal fishing fleet. Shortly after the boats were tied up, the disposal of the vessels by auction began, without notification to the owners.

Credit: Public Archives of Canada / Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Archives