Interview with George Nakamura

George Nakamura grew up on Salt Spring Island in BC. He talks about the Japanese Canadian community there. George describes his family home that had a Japanese bath and their laundry and woodcutting business. His father was a merchant marine in the US and emigrated to Canada in the late 19th century. He went from Hammond, BC, relocated to Haney and then to Strawberry Hill. He talks about his mother's family in Japan and that they fell on hard times. His mother was in Korea at the time and was told she had marry. After his parents married, his parents moved to Salt Spring Island. He talks about his father getting cancer and leaving Canada to Japan where he passed away. After that, they moved to Victoria, BC. While in Salt Spring Island, George talks about not facing discrimination but when he lived in Victoria, George talks about his experience there. He talks about learning about the bombing of Pearl Harbour through a radio. He remembers being forced to leave school. His family were first removed to Hastings Park in Vancouver. After that, they were removed to Slocan, BC. He talks about what life was like there. After that, George moved to Chatham, ON to work on a farm. His sisters moved to Toronto to work as domestic help. George would also move to Toronto after the end of WWII. He talks about his employments and starting a business. He talks about his involvement with the beginning of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC).