Yoshio (Yon) Shimizu fonds

This fonds has an indeterminable GMD—digital object is not available at this time.

The fonds reflects Shimizu's historical research and outreach activities following his retirement, and also contains records relating to his youth and family life. The fonds consists of five series of records. The first series consists of photographs and documents relating to Shimizus childhood, his experience in work camps during the Second World War, and his family and friends. The second series consists of textual records that are the products of Shimizus research into such topics as the Victoria Oriental Home, and the experience of Japanese Canadians experiences working in the sugar beet industry in Ontario during the Second World War. The records in the third series relate to Shimizus research into the experience of Japanese Canadian men sent to road camps in British Columbia and southern Ontario during the Second World War, and his publication of a book on this topic, entitled The Exiles. The records in the fourth series reflect Shimizus involvement in organizing reunions of internment survivors. The records consist of photographs, photocopies of archival records, correspondence, research notes, speaking notes, reproduction request forms, a videocassette, a reunion program, and a kindergarten completion certificate. The fifth series consists of materials relating to plaque projects such as the bronze statue that was installed in Centennial Square in Victoria to commemorate the return of 45 interned Japanese survivors to Victoria on the 50th anniversary of being exiled from Victoria. The second is a bronze plaque placed in Schreiber, Ontario, to commemorate the 400 Japanese Canadians that were interned there during World War 2.

Yoshio (Yon) Shimizu was born in Victoria, BC, on February 21, 1924, in between the years of prosperity for the Shimizu Rice Mill on 1625 Store Street in Victoria, B.C.. The store sold a variety of items that include but are not limited to imported Japanese items, utensils and consumables. Between 1915 and 1927, business was booming; however, this prosperous time wouldn't last. Due to a lack foresight in the importance of ships coming into Vancouver, the years between 1927 and 1940 were full of hardship. Despite the hardship, the Shimizu Rice Mill did not officially cease operatoins till the evacuation of Japanese Canadians in 1942.

He lived in Victoria until late 1942, when he was relocated to Hastings Park as part of the internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War. Shimizu remained in Hastings Park until May 11, 1942, at which time he went to a work camp in Schreiber, Ont. He worked in Glencoe, Ont., in the Ontario Farm Service Force from May-November 1942; did bush work in Kapuskasing, Ont., from November 1942 to April 1943; lived in Toronto from May 1943 until July 1948; and moved to Wallaceburg, Ont., in August 1948. Shimizu attended high school to Grade 12 at Victoria High School, and completed Grade 13 at Jarvis Collegiate once he moved to Toronto. He worked briefly at Deluxe Platers from 1943-1944, but then enrolled at the University of Toronto and studied Chemical Engineering from 1944-1948. In the early 1960s he completed an MBA at the University of Windsor. Upon graduation from the University of Toronto, Shimizu moved to Wallaceburg, Ont., where he worked for several different companies over the next decade. In 1960 he began work at the Wallaceburg Brass Company (now Delta Faucets of Canada), remaining until his retirement in 1985, at which point he was Vice-President and General Manager of the Waltec Industries Division. He married Norma Bishop, of Wallaceburg, on May 1, 1953, and they have a daughter and two grandchildren. Shimizu has received several awards for his volunteer work and his involvement in municipal and regional government. Detailed biographical information about Shimizu can be found in his book, The Exiles, ôChapter 7: Epilogue,ö and also in an autobiographical supplement written by Shimizu in 1997.

No digital copies of the records were acquired by the Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective between 2014 and 2018.