1910s
Japanese Canadian population continued to steadily increase during the 1910s.
With the start of WWI, 200 Japanese Canadians volunteered to enlist in British Columbia. They were denied, however, 196 travelled to Alberta where they were able to enlist. They were sent to Europe where 54 were killed and 92 were wounded.[1] Of the 54 killed, Tomoki Gyotoku[2] and Iudo Ishihara[3] are listed on New Westminster's WWI honour roll.
In 1919 close to half of the fishing licences were owned by Japanese fishermen. The Department of Fisheries put a limit on the number licenses given out to people "other than white residents, British subjects and Canadian Indians".[4]
Though there was hostility against Japanese people for increasing their presence in the job market (such as the fishing industry) some degree of Japanese culture may have been welcomed in New Westminster as seen in a 1919 photo of Japanese float participating in the Elk's Day Parade. The photograph shows what appears to be a cherry blossom tree with people dressed in kimonos sitting around it on the float.[5]