The Lost Fleet at the Vancouver Maritime Museum

Comments 27 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Vancouver Maritime Museum proudly unveils its pivotal new exhibition The Lost Fleet, on display March 24, 2017 – March 25, 2018.

The Lost Fleet at the Vancouver Maritime Museum

The Lost Fleet investigates the unjust 1941 seizure of 1,200 Japanese-Canadian fishing vessels following the bombing of Pearl Harbour through a collection of historic photographs, models of Japanese-Canadian-built fishing boats, fishermen’s tools, and replica documents.


Fishermen’s Reserve rounding up Japanese-Canadian fishing vessels. 10 Dec. 1941. Library and Archives Canada.

Visitors will also see an original shell fragment from Estevan Point lighthouse, which was attacked by a Japanese imperial submarine in June 1942, revealing the little known fact that enemy fire landed on Canadian soil during WWII. The Lost Fleet will shed important light on the pre-eminence of xenophobia in the province’s history, how this led to the appropriation of Japanese-Canadian property, and ultimately the incarceration of an entire people.

“The history of Japanese-Canadian fishermen is inextricably linked to the history of Vancouver. The city was a gateway in the Pacific for all immigrants looking to forge a brighter future for themselves,” says Duncan MacLeod, Maritime Museum Curator. “The seizure of Japanese-Canadian fishing boats in BC had been on a list of important topics we were considering for an exhibition. The process of deciding on an exhibition took place during the rising crisis in Syria, and the contemporary discussions of an influx of non-white immigrants bore a strong resemblance to the rhetoric used when speaking about the Japanese and other Asian immigrants in the 20th century prior to WWII.”

The legacy of this tragic event will also be explored: what lessons have been learned and how Canadian society has changed because of this experience? Visitors will be encouraged to consider whether the present political and economic climate is very different today; current legislation, policies and public sentiment about immigration invites the question of whether this type of injustice could be carried out against other groups.

Win Passes

I have a 4-pack of tickets to give away to opening weekend of this exhibition, March 24-26, 2017. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Click below to post an entry on Twitter

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win @VanMaritime passes for opening weekend of #TheLostFleet http://owl.li/2pPq309U5vB” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, March 20, 2017. The Vancouver Maritime Museum is located at 1905 Ogden Avenue in Vanier Park. Follow on Facebook and Twitter for more information about this exhibit and more.

Update The winner is Wes!

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27 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. Mousemouse604Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 — 5:40pm PDT

    This sounds fascinating

  2. DanaTuesday, March 14th, 2017 — 8:04pm PDT

    Love the maritime museum!

  3. AliTuesday, March 14th, 2017 — 8:19pm PDT

    My kids love this museum

  4. Faye JangTuesday, March 14th, 2017 — 9:13pm PDT

    A sad part of Vancouver’s history that our kids should know about.

  5. SheilaTuesday, March 14th, 2017 — 9:44pm PDT

    Sad part of our history – but xenophobia is still very much with us. Haters always find a way to hate. Much to learn from this exhibit, I would like to see it.

  6. SamanthaTuesday, March 14th, 2017 — 9:50pm PDT

    I had no idea that enemy fire landed on Canadian soil during WWII. Even if I don’t win, I learned something new today.

  7. Marisa. PWednesday, March 15th, 2017 — 12:39am PDT

    I’m always shocked to find so much history was never taught to us. So happy to share this with my kids.

  8. MilynneWednesday, March 15th, 2017 — 1:28am PDT

    Looks really cool!

  9. Jason BWednesday, March 15th, 2017 — 2:41am PDT

    Interesting contest

  10. Ariel CWednesday, March 15th, 2017 — 8:49am PDT

    love the museum!

  11. adamWednesday, March 15th, 2017 — 8:51am PDT

    great thanks!

  12. TammyWednesday, March 15th, 2017 — 9:11am PDT

    I’ve never been

  13. Cindy chovinWednesday, March 15th, 2017 — 12:57pm PDT

    Would love my grandson to see this he loves army navy all things like that…..than you cindy

  14. DaleWednesday, March 15th, 2017 — 4:06pm PDT

    What shall we do with a drunken sailor

  15. Tammy HWednesday, March 15th, 2017 — 6:18pm PDT

    Museums are fun!

  16. LindaThursday, March 16th, 2017 — 9:39am PDT

    I’ve yet to go to the Vancouver Maritime Museum. This would be great.

  17. StephanieThursday, March 16th, 2017 — 11:11pm PDT

    So cool!

  18. Teresa KFriday, March 17th, 2017 — 2:08am PDT

    I’d love to win.

  19. Tammy HFriday, March 17th, 2017 — 3:47am PDT

    Thank you great idea!

  20. ShirleyFriday, March 17th, 2017 — 9:05am PDT

    I didn’t know that and I would love to learn more.

  21. WesFriday, March 17th, 2017 — 12:19pm PDT

    We’ve never been to the Maritime Museum – would love to check it out! 🙂

  22. Karen MFriday, March 17th, 2017 — 5:53pm PDT

    A sad part of Canadian history that is unknown to too many. I’m glad that this exhibit is being shown. Canadians need to know the mistakes of the past.

  23. KristySaturday, March 18th, 2017 — 4:41pm PDT

    This museum is worth a visit.

  24. DaneSaturday, March 18th, 2017 — 7:48pm PDT

    Fun

  25. Mary Jane TwissSunday, March 19th, 2017 — 9:11pm PDT

    I would love to win!

  26. StotesTuesday, March 21st, 2017 — 5:14am PDT

    This would be great!

  27. victorTuesday, March 21st, 2017 — 7:55am PDT

    cool!

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