Japanese Canadian Memorial

Japanese Canadian Memorial The Japanese Canadian Memorial is a war memorial located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, that commemorates the Japanese Canadian internment during World War II. The memorial acknowledges the unjust treatment of Japanese Canadians and honors their contributions to Canadian society. The memorial is a symbol of reconciliation between the Government of Canada and the Japanese Canadian community.

History

The Japanese Canadian Memorial was conceived in 2005 by the Japanese Canadian National Association and was officially opened on August 15, 2015, by Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, in the presence of Japanese Canadian community leaders and descendants of Japanese immigrants. The memorial was designed to acknowledge the Canadian government's wartime decision to forcibly relocate and intern Japanese Canadians during World War II, a period marked by racial profiling and discrimination.

Design and features

The memorial, designed by Sasa Landscape Architecture, features a serene Japanese garden with a meandering path, water feature, and native plant species. The garden is surrounded by a stone wall engraved with quotes and stories from Japanese Canadians who were interned during the war. The memorial also includes a bronze statue of a Japanese Canadian family and a peace bell donated by the Japanese government. The statue was created by Canadian artist, Jack Harman, and the peace bell was a gift from the Government of Japan.

Significance and legacy

The Japanese Canadian Memorial serves as a reminder of the wartime injustices faced by Japanese Canadians and the importance of reconciliation and restorative justice. The memorial has become an important symbol of Canadian history and a testament to the resilience and contributions of Japanese Canadians to Canadian society. The memorial has also sparked educational programs and community events that promote cross-cultural understanding and tolerance, and has been recognized by Canadian and international organizations, including the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the Japanese Embassy in Canada.

Location and access

The Japanese Canadian Memorial is located in Ottawa's Greenbelt, near the Ottawa River and the Canadian War Museum. The memorial is wheelchair accessible and open to the public year-round, with guided tours available by appointment. Visitors can access the memorial via public transportation or by car, with parking available nearby. The memorial is managed by the Japanese Canadian National Association and is a significant tourist attraction in Ottawa, attracting visitors from across Canada and around the world, including Japanese tourists and history enthusiasts. Category:War memorials in Canada