During the late 1890s to early 1900s, a small community hospital was built in Steveston, British Columbia. At the time, the hospital began as a Methodist mission turn make-shift hospital, but soon a partnership between Methodist missionaries, the Japanese Fishermen’s Benevolent Society and the Japanese Consulate created a demand for the modern medical facility. Outbreaks of typhoid amongst Japanese fishermen spurred this development, but the hospital came to symbolize much more. It was argued that the hospital would not only provide care for the sick, but would also demonstrate the success of the Japanese in Canada and provide defense again the growing movement to restrict Japanese immigration in Canada.

Speaker: Helen Vandenberg is a PhD Candidate at the University of British Columbia, School of Nursing. The focus of her dissertation research is nursing and health care history, with a specific focus on the development of health care services for Asian populations at the turn of the twentieth century. Her research interests focus on the relationship between culture, race and health in nursing. She also works as a registered nurse in Travel Medicine in the lower mainland.

Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre Address: 6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby, BC V5E 4M7

Thursday, May 9, 7:00pm
Admission: members & seniors $3 / regular $5