Canadian History You Never Knew: Legion Branch No.9 (Hybrid Online)

The Story

This page is for online participation. If you wish to join the in-person program, please visit the hybrid in-person registration page. In British Columbia between 1942 and 1949, over 22,000 Canadians of Japanese heritage were forcibly displaced, dispossessed and dispersed. What was not known until recent archival research is that an entire Legion Branch also disappeared. It had been established to help returned-soldiers from the First World War but also championed to restore their civil rights, notably the franchise. It took thirteen years to win the fight for the right to vote -- however, the victory only applied to the 80 surviving veterans. Three months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, then-President, Sgt Masumi Mitsui, MM, surrendered their charter in March 1942 "to prevent any embarrassment to the Legion through its continued membership." Despite their loyalty as naturalized British subjects with veteran status, fifty Legionnaires were incarcerated in squalid conditions, lost everything and several were even exiled to Japan. Legion Branch No. 9 was chartered in 1926 and is celebrating its 100 th anniversary this year. It is timely that its history and demise were unearthed by a small group of advocates in short order and this historic branch's charter has been resurrected after 81 years of abeyance. Legion Branch No. 9 is now enrolling new members across Canada. Presenter: Debbie Jiang Debbie Jiang is a community historian who enjoys researching and writing about Canadian history that wasn't taught in school. A storyteller at heart, Debbie's work has appeared in Canada’s History Magazine, Kayak Magazine, The Bulletin, Honouring Bravery, Nikkei Voice, Legion Magazine and on CTV News. With the aid of The Last Post Fund, Debbie helped Pte Sentaro Omoto's family inter his ashes at Mountain View Cemetery in August 2026 after they were abandoned 73 years ago. A 'Remembrance Educator', Debbie spear-headed the veterans street banner initiative in collaboration with the City of Richmond — the 114 banners are now on display around City Hall. Originally from Ottawa, Debbie is the former national coordinator of the Lest We Forget Cenotaph Research Project at Library and Archives Canada. In her free time she is the Chair of the 2947 Royal Canadian Army Cadets and serves on the Executive Council of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 9. Accessibility RPL is working to reduce barriers and offer programs where everyone can participate equitably. Please click here to email and let us know how we might make your library experience more comfortable and accessible. Information about the library’s accessible services can be found on our website, click here to explore more . Promotional Photo Guidelines Library representatives may take photos and videos for promotional purposes. If you prefer not to be photographed, please speak to a staff member. If you have any questions, please connect with library staff.