About this site

This site was created and is maintained by the Humanities Computing and Media Centre at the University of Victoria, and adheres to the Endings Principles for Digital Longevity.

Frequently-asked questions

Why do you use points rather than outlines on the map?

Even the most well-established settlements in BC have changed their boundaries substantially since the 1940s, and it is almost impossible to accurately represent the shape of a community or settlement as it was over 80 years ago.

Why is my family [member] in a different location from where we believe they lived?

By the time formal uprooting began, some Japanese Canadians had already been obliged to relocate from their original homes because the political and social climate following the outbreak of war had made their previous lives impractical. People were fired from their jobs without warning, restrictions on activities made it impossible to conduct business, and social pressure often made daily life intolerable. So it is not unlikely that someone’s address, as it was recorded on official documents such as RCMP reports or records of the Custodian of Enemy Property, was not the place they had lived prior to the outbreak of war.

Why are members of the same family uprooted from different locations?

It was not uncommon for (for example) a husband to work in a remote location, fishing, logging, or canning, while his wife and children remained in the family’s permanent home, perhaps in Vancouver or Victoria. Adult children would also often move away to take advantage of work opportunities.

Why are some places apparently located in rivers or lakes?

Place names such as “Skeena River,” recorded in the original documents, often acknowledge the fact that many people working in the fishing and canning industry lived in temporary settlements or on boats during the fishing season.