The Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre situated in New Denver, the heart of the Kootenays, was officially opened on July 23, 1994. Sakaye “Sockeye” Hashimoto, born in New Denver and president of the Kyowakai Society and Mrs. Chie Kamegaya, a Kaslo internee, were the driving forces behind the project that is a lasting monument to the Japanese Canadians who were interned in the Slocan Valley. The old meeting hall of the Buddhist Church, the new meeting hall and three tar paper internment shacks that served as residences were refurbished and serve as an interpretive centre. It provides visitors with information on how Japanese Canadians lived in the interior B.C. internment camps of the 1940’s. This premier showcase of internment history is a popular tourist destination.
Picture with ribbon cutting:
(photo: Dick Nakamura)
A relocated internment shack.
(photo: Dick Nakamura)
Official Opening
(photo: Art Miki)
Chie Kamegaya (left) died just 27
days after the opening event.
(photo: Dick Nakamura)
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