East Lillooet, Bridge River, Minto, and McGillivray Falls, located in the mountainous regions of British Columbia (BC), were designated as “self-supporting camps” for the internment of Japanese Canadians. These camps did not receive any government funding.
In these internment camps, leaving the premises was strictly prohibited. Due to the harsh living conditions in the mountainous geography, the internees were forced to live self-sufficiently, facing challenges like resource shortages and extreme cold.
East Lillooet
East Lillooet was the largest self-supporting camp in the Lillooet area, located approximately 250 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. Situated upstream along the Fraser River, the camp housed over 300 individuals.
The living conditions were extremely harsh. Residents had to build their own shelters, lived without electricity, and endured severe winter cold. Initially, water had to be hauled from the Fraser River, stored in tanks, and filtered before use, creating significant inconvenience. Despite these challenges, Japanese Canadians relied on limited resources and led lives centred around agricultural activities.
Bridge River
The Bridge River camp was a self-supporting settlement established in the remnants of an abandoned gold mining and hydroelectric project site. Japanese Canadians were forced to live in shacks previously used by labourers and left vacant for years. They sustained themselves primarily through agricultural efforts.
Minto
Minto was an isolated area that had once thrived as a mining town but had been abandoned by wartime due to the closure of many mines. Its remote location made it an especially challenging place to live compared to other camps.
McGillivray Falls
McGillivray Falls was located just outside the 100-mile “protected area” (approximately 160 kilometres). Japanese Canadians there were employed at a sawmill near D’Arcy, a town within the protected area.
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