Thomas Hatanaka

Thomas Hatanaka

Bird Commission case file number 1124. Custodian file number 1550. (Source: lac_rg33-69_volume_57_-file_1124)
Hatanaka was born on 2 February 1917. He is also named in the file as Thomas Masayoshi Hatanaka. He was a sawmill hand employed by Robertson & Hackett Limited, Vancouver, BC. His family includes Masao Hatanaka (mother) and Shuzo Hatanaka (father). His home address is listed as 43 East Fifth Avenue, Vancouver, BC. He was forcibly uprooted to 75 McCaul Street, Toronto 2B, ON. A letter from Hatanaka indicates that he worked at the Solsqua Road Camp and did sugar beet work in Centralia. His listed seized property includes 655 East Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC which was sold to Sophie Arborak, “wife of Harry Arborak.”.

Metadata

SurnameHatanaka
ForenameThomas
AddNameMasayoshi
Regularized NameThomas Hatanaka
Custodian Identification Number1550
NationalityCanadian born
Residence (before uprooting)Vancouver

Collections

Custodian Case Files (1)
Other Archival Files (1)

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.