News release details
They were forced to leave with a suitcase and a promise from the Government of Canada: “We will keep your homes and possessions safe.” That broken promise is the focus a new exhibition opening today at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR). Broken Promises shares stories of loss, resilience and strength that continue to have an impact in Japanese Canadian communities today.
In 1942, amidst the chaos of war and the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, the Canadian government forcibly removed over 22,000 Japanese Canadians from their coastal communities in British Columbia. Officials initially assured families that their property would be preserved, but these promises were ultimately broken — land, possessions, businesses and more were sold or given away. In 1949, when their internment officially ended, tens of thousands of Japanese Canadian families were left with next to nothing.
This exhibition sheds light on this betrayal, highlighting the ongoing impact of these broken promises and the resilience of those who endured them. Museum visitors will learn about life for Japanese Canadians in Canada before, during and after the war, and how the legacy of their dispossession continue to this day.
Broken Promises was developed by the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre and the Royal British Columbia Museum.
All are welcome to a free public program on October 9th to explore this new temporary exhibition. Art Miki, former president of the National Association of Japanese Canadians, Sherri Shinobu Kajiwara, Director and Curator at the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, and Dr. Jordan Stanger‐Ross, professor at the University of Victoria, will be on hand to offer their perspectives and are available for media interviews. Full speaker biographies are available on the registration page. Free registration is required.
What
Broken Promises: The Dispossession of Japanese Canadians
When
Exhibition open now until April 25, 2026 with free reception on October 9, 2025 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. with registration.
Where
Level 6 Expressions gallery at the CMHR.