A heritage marker and tree planting in Mitchell’s Bay is meant to commemorate Japanese farm workers forcibly brought to our area during the Second World War to work as farm labourers.
In 1942, five Farm Labour camps were set up in Chatham-Kent for Japanese Canadians brought to the region from B.C. The number of Japanese workers in Chatham-Kent eventually ballooned to over 4000.
The past president of the National Association of Japanese Canadians was among those in attendance for the Friday.\
Ken Noma says the next phase in the reconciliation process is to step up a permanent display at the Chatham Museum to tell the broader story.
