Goro Suzuki
See Legal History column.
A Goro Suzuki is listed as one of the Japanese-Canadian fishing boat owners whose boats were seized by the Custodian in 1942. According to the fishing boat record in question, Suzuki owned a gill-netter worth $450.00, which was sold on July 2, 1942 for $300.00 to Canfisco. Suzuki's boat's port of registry was New Westminster. His home address is listed as Kennedy, BC. "A litigant of Japanese descent involved in the court case Suzuki et al v 'Ionian Leader,' [1950] 3 DLR 790. Two people were listed with the family name ""Suzuki"" in Vancouver during this year:
- Entry 1: Goro (or Gero) Suzuki, a longshoreman listed as a ""resident"" at Apartment 5, 430 East Cordova Street. This person is more likely to be the same Suzuki from the case, as the case involved fishing in the Fraser River.
- Entry 2: James E (Katherine S), a manager at Modinte (difficult to read - best transcription possible given quality of directory) and listed as a home owner/main provider at 665 (barely legible) West Avenue 30."
Bird Commission case number 1390. Custodian file number 5607. (Source: lac_rg33-69_volume_74_file_1390.)
He was born on 7 September 1920. He was a fisherman employed by B.C. Packers, Steveston, BC. His family includes Kizoko Suzuki (mother; nee Kizoko Abe), and Shigo Suzuki (father). His home address is listed as River Road, Rural Route No. 1, New Westminster, BC. He was forcibly uprooted to Marquette, MB and Winnipeg, MB.
Metadata
Surname | Suzuki |
Forename | Goro |
Regularized Name | Goro Suzuki |
Custodian Identification Number | 5607 |
Nationality | Canadian born |
Residence (after uprooting) | Marquette, MB |
Residence (after uprooting) | Winnipeg, MB |
Residence (before uprooting) | New Westminster |
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.