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Honouring the Japanese Canadian Pioneers of Lake Country

The lives of the Japanese Canadian pioneers, who were some of the first settlers in the District of Lake Country, present a story of courage and perseverance. To honour these community members the Lake Country Museum created an extensive virtual exhibition published online in the Canadian Heritage and Information Network‘s (CHIN) Community Memories online gallery: The Japanese Canadian Pioneers of Lake Country, BC. 1899 – 1939.

The Japanese Canadian Pioneers of Lake Country portrays the stories of the first Japanese Canadian pioneers of the community and their experiences during the period from 1899 to pre-World War II. The core theme of the exhibition is courage, perseverance, and resilience, featuring archival photographs, personal memories, and interviews of the children and grandchildren of the pioneers. The Museum has worked in partnership with the Japanese-Canadian community for more than a year to develop this historic exhibition, with contributions from descendants across Canada and the western United States as well as those who still live in Lake Country or the Okanagan region.

Dr. Duane Thomson, Lake Country Museum president, states: “This is a significant project for the Museum and for the community as a whole. The Japanese Canadians were some of the earliest settlers of Lake Country and the opportunity to present their history has been incredibly rewarding.”

The Virtual Museum of Canada presents online exhibitions from museums across Canada, exploring the country’s rich history and culture through exhibits and interactive learning resources. Local history exhibitions capture exciting Canadian community memories, drawn from the collections of small museums and local memories and treasures.

For more information about the exhibition, please contact the Lake Country Museum at 250-766-0111 or by email to lcmuseum@shaw.ca

On Friday we are showing our appreciation to the Japanese Canadians who contributed to the creation of this virtual exhibition by honouring them at an afternoon reception at the Lake Country Museum. 

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