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'Dark Valley': Exhibit Honours B.C. Japanese Canadian Internees at Sandon

Jean McKeever, originally named Hisae Yokoyama and the final child delivered at the Sandon, B.C. camp for Japanese Canadians during World War II, returned on July 19, 2025, to witness the unveiling of a permanent display called Window to the Past.
In 1944, the government shut down the internment camp because of severe winter conditions and challenging terrain, relocating 900 detainees to different facilities within the West Kootenay region.
Although Sandon had been largely abandoned due to various disasters earlier in the century, the 900 internees who stayed for two years established a vibrant community that included organized athletics, educational facilities, regular gatherings, and healthcare services.
Susanne Tabata, who leads the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society, emphasized that the brief presence of Japanese Canadians in Sandon represents an important chapter in their shared heritage, as highlighted by the exhibit’s photographs and narratives.
Speakers emphasized the importance of remembering this difficult history for younger generations and educating about the experience, calling it vital to honor the valley’s "ghosts" and the Japanese Canadian community's resilience.

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