EXPLORE FURTHER
Curfews and other restrictions
A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on all persons of Japanese origin in a designated “protected area” of British Columbia in February 1942 under the authority of the War Measures Act. The curfew applied to all individuals of Japanese racial origin, regardless of whether they were Canadian-born or naturalized citizens. In addition to the curfew, other severe restrictions were imposed at the same time: The RCMP was given the power to search homes without a warrant and detain people without trial. All persons of Japanese ancestry over 16 had to be fingerprinted, photographed, and carry identity cards. Possession of motor vehicles, cameras, radios, firearms, ammunition, and explosives was forbidden and these items were confiscated by the RCMP.
Disruption of Post-Secondary Education
As the government increased restrictions on Japanese Canadians, those who were attending or planning to attend post-secondary institutions in BC had to put their lives on hold. At the University of British Columbia, for example, seventy-six Japanese Canadian students were forced to leave without completing their programs. Japanese Canadians were not allowed to return to the coast until 1949, a disruption of seven years during a crucial period in their lives. Besides the loss of academic progress, they often faced financial difficulties. Those accepted to universities outside the province were able to continue their studies. Those who had been studying in Japan at the outbreak of war became unable to return to their families in Canada.
Education at Hastings Park
All the Japanese Canadian children forced to relocate to Hastings Park were missing school. Hide Hyodo, the only Japanese Canadian with a public school teaching position before the war, organized a team of Japanese Canadian volunteers to teach makeshift classes at Hastings Park. At first, she still had her position teaching Steveston and would take transit down to Hastings Park to oversee the teaching there. In the spring of 1942, she quit her job in Steveston to focus her efforts on the hundreds of students in Hastings Park.
