The Japanese Canadian War Memorial in Vancouver’s Stanley Park will be 100 on April 9. The amazing limestone, granite, marble and terracotta masterpiece has seen many visitors and represented so much over the years. From the First World War, Second World War, Korean War and Afghan War, the cenotaph has represented the sacrifices, battles fought, the fight for the franchise and the pilgrimages every Remembrance Day to salute these highlights of Japanese Canadian history.
Built to commemorate the incredible contribution of Japanese Canadians at Vimy and Hill 70, the cenotaph lantern was extinguished during the Second World War, and relit decades later in 1985 by Sgt. Masumi Mitsui, MM. Sgt Mitsui lobbied for the franchise in 1931, but this did not prevent veterans from the internment in 1942.  Â
The iconic cenotaph has been restored and taken care of by the Japanese Canadian War Memorial Committee in partnership with the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Parks Board with funding from Veterans Affairs Canada. And the cenotaph is a National Historic Monument and on Heritage BC’s Register of Japanese Canadian Historic Places. Â
There will be a ceremony to mark this occasion at the cenotaph on Thursday, April 9 at 1 p.m.  Â
