As online access to the Multicultural History Society of Ontario’s (MHSO) microfilm copies through Simon Fraser University’s Digital Collections will end this fall, please read on for how to access issues in-person at the NNMCC in Burnaby or the MHSO in Toronto.
Founded in Vancouver in 1938, The New Canadian was initially intended as a voice for second-generation Japanese Canadians, speaking to issues of enfranchisement and inclusion as citizens of Canada.
Following the outbreak of the Second World War and the forcible relocation of Japanese Canadians, The New Canadian became the medium for official announcements from the British Columbia Security Commission and added a Japanese-language section for Japanese speakers, broadening its audience to include all Canadians of Japanese origin. It also created a “Public forum” section as a place for those now scattered across the country to keep in touch with family and friends.
The newspaper continued to share news that impacted Japanese Canadians across the country through moves to Kaslo, Winnipeg, and finally Toronto. The last issue of The New Canadian was published in 2001.
The NNMCC, MHSO, and Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre all have issues of The New Canadian in our holdings. While online access to The New Canadian through SFU’s Digital Collections will end this fall, you can continue to access original issues in-person at the NNMCC in Burnaby or microfilm copies at the MHSO.
Did you know? The New Canadian printed their first two issues in 1938 and unfortunately our three institutions do not have a copy. Please get in touch if you have a copy or if you know where we can find the first two issues.
Contact the NNMCC team at [email protected] to book a research appointment and dive into this rich history. For research in Toronto, please contact MHSO Archivist, Dennis Moore at [email protected] or the JCCC Archives and Collections Manager, Theressa Takasaki at [email protected].
