Essondale Patient File for Aiko Chiba

Warning

The LOI Research Team has flagged this record for containing sensitive information. This record contains the following sensitivities:

  • Details or graphic images of serious illness (mental or physical) or mortality of identifiable individual(s).
  • Could cause undue or disproportionate dishonour / embarrassment to self or family.

Essondale Patient File for Aiko Chiba

Description

Title Proper 93-5683 BOX 1307 FILE 21407
Date(s) 1943
General material designation
This file contains a textual record.
Scope and content
Aiko Chiba was admitted on 8 December 1943; diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. She was tormented by another patient because she was Japanese. She also heard the voice of a boy she fell in love with at Hastings Park. She had a detailed vivid recollection of every family and where they sat on the train to Slocan. "Feels her people have been persecuted without cause." Sympathizes with Japan war effort, and allies. Lots of family and friends visit. File contains correspondence from the BCSC, the Canadian-Japanese Department, and a letter from Chiba to her doctor asking when she can return to her family. Chiba died on 6 May 1963 from pulmonary edema.
Name of creator
British Columbia. Mental Health Services created this archive which were transferred to the BC Archives from 1987 to 2000.
Immediate source of acquisition
The digital copies of the records were acquired by the Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective between 2014 and 2018.
This record was digitized selectively.

Metadata

Title

Essondale Patient File for Aiko Chiba
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Terminology

Readers of these historical materials will encounter derogatory references to Japanese Canadians and euphemisms used to obscure the intent and impacts of the internment and dispossession. While these are important realities of the history, the Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective urges users to carefully consider their own terminological choices in writing and speaking about this topic today as we confront past injustice. See our statement on terminology, and related sources here.