People uprooted from Chilliwack (3)

Chilliwack, located in the traditional territories of the Stó:lō Peoples and taking its name from the Halq'eméylem word Tcil'Qe'uk (Valley of Many Streams), was established as an agricultural hub by non-Indigenous settlers in the 1860s. Incorporated in 1873 as Chilliwhack (sic) the community was initially centred at Chilliwack Landing on the river. Because of flooding, the community relocated in 1881 to the subvision of Centreville at Five Corners. In 1908, the subdivision was incorporated and renamed Chilliwack. In 1980, the two municipalities and nearby communities (including Rosedale and Sardis) merged to form the City of Chilliwack.

The Takeuchi family lived briefly in Chilliwack around 1932 before relocating to Prince Rupert. At the time of uprooting, there was just one Japanese Canadian family in Chillwack. The Kojima family immigrated to Canada around 1913, and Kitsutaro Kojima initially worked for the Graham & McNair Lumber Company near Rosedale. The family lived in the company housing until Kitsutaro established an import-export business in Vancouver. After leaving the company compound, they eventually settled at 4 Reece Avenue East, by which time mill operations had ceased. Fumi Kojima was a respected dressmaker in Rosedale and Chilliwack. Their eldest daughter, Taka Kojima, attended Rosedale Elementary School and Chilliwack High School before moving to Japan in 1936.