Richmond Jr./Sr. High 1942 - Japanese Internment I can remember the 1941-42 school year when a very disturbing incident occurred. As many of our school friends were of Japanese origin, Pearl Harbour in December 1941 was most disturbing to the whole student body. Our Japanese/Canadian friends were very concerned that their Caucasian colleagues would no longer want them as friends.By early 1942 many war rumours were circulating around the school. The most prominent of these rumours was that allJapanese families living in coastal regions, particularly Steveston, were to be moved to the Interior of the province.The rumours had no sooner started when our Steveston friends ceased their attendance at school. We quickly found out that the rumours were true. Our close friendships were shattered. Our friends and their families were literally beingrounded up. They were ordered to quickly pack, leave their homes and board trains which would initially take them for assembling at Hastings Park in east Vancouver. Later, they were to be sent to Interior locations. Our last memories of our school chums was at a train siding close to the school. Here we gathered to say our tearful goodbyes. Our friends were extending their arms out the train windows. We, in turn, tried to reach their hands to say our good-byes. We were all in tears; none of us understanding just what was happening. It was indeed a very sad time.