Construction has begun in Victoria on a monument park honouring Japanese Canadians in B.C. who were forcibly displaced, dispossessed and interned during the Second World War.

“The forced displacement and internment of Japanese Canadians was a grave injustice when government failed in its duty to protect people’s rights and dignity,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General.

“This monument park will stand as a lasting place of remembrance, honouring the families and communities who endured so much and ensuring their stories are never forgotten. It is also a commitment to keep learning from the past toward a more just future.”

The monument park will be located within walking distance of the legislature and Beacon Hill Park.

The park’s centerpiece will be a wall of names honouring 22,000 people of Japanese descent, mostly born in Canada, who were displaced from their homes in B.C. during the 1940s. It will also include the names of 3,000 children born after uprooting.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.