Building Community in Exile
Just six kilometres north of New Denver, Rosebery became home to approximately 365 Japanese Canadians during the wartime incarceration, the majority of whom were Japanese nationals. Unlike some of the larger camps in the Slocan Valley, Rosebery had one of the smallest school populations, with only around 100 children. Despite its size, the camp formed a close-knit community that persevered through incredibly difficult conditions.
Rosebery was divided into two separate sections: one located along the main road, and another several kilometres away near the railway bridge. The camp was represented by Jisaburo Wakabayashi, who acted as liaison between the residents, the Spanish Consulate, the British Columbia Security Commission, and the RCMP. As the protecting power for Japanese nationals under the Geneva Convention, the Spanish Consulate worked alongside the International Red Cross to deliver essential Japanese foods and supplies, including shoyu, miso, and other staples.
Education remained a priority despite the challenges. The United Church Women’s Missionary Society in New Denver helped ensure children from Rosebery could attend school, while educator Gwen Suttie played a key role in establishing the high school that served students from both New Denver and Rosebery.
Life in Rosebery was marked by hardship. Families arrived to rows of hastily constructed tar-paper shacks, many without electricity or adequate insulation. Mary Keiko Kitagawa, who was moved to Rosebery as a child in 1943, recalled that her family relied on only six candles throughout the winter. On cold mornings, their bedding would freeze to the ice that formed on the uninsulated walls, while summer heat made the small buildings nearly unbearable. Residents did what they could to improve their living conditions, with many men making repairs and modifications using whatever materials they could find.
Although the war ended in 1945, incarceration did not. Like thousands of other Japanese Canadians, Rosebery residents remained displaced for years as the federal government forced families to either move east of the Rockies or face deportation to Japan. Many eventually left the camp for Alberta or other parts of Canada, carrying with them memories of resilience, community, and the determination to rebuild their lives.
Today, Rosebery stands as an important reminder of the communities that existed beyond New Denver and of the families who endured incarceration while preserving their culture, supporting one another, and advocating for future generations.
