Hastings Park

“Mama, why does it smell so bad here?” a child’s question broke through the bustling atmosphere of Hastings Park. Hastings Park, a place etched into the very fabric of Vancouver, holds within its boundaries a tapestry woven with threads of joy, sorrow, and resilience. Established in 1889, this sprawling park was gifted to the city as a space for public recreation. Over the years, it blossomed into a hub of activity, hosting exhilarating horse races since 1892 and the vibrant Vancouver Exhibition, later known as the Pacific National Exhibition, since 1910. But behind the lively facade of festivities, a darker chapter unfolded within Hastings Park’s gates. The year was 1942. World War II cast a long shadow over the globe, and Canada, caught in the grips of fear and uncertainty, enacted the War Measures Act. This act resulted in the forced removal of Japanese Canadians from their homes, their lives uprooted in the name of national security. Hastings Park, once a symbol of celebration, transformed into a site of detention, a stark reminder of the injustices inflicted upon innocent lives. Over 8,000 Japanese Canadians, deemed “enemy aliens” despite their citizenship or birthright, were unjustly confined within the park’s buildings, their lives thrown into disarray. Families were torn apart, their possessions seized, their dignity stripped away. Imagine the despair that must have permeated the air as families huddled together in the livestock barns, the stench of animals clinging to their clothes, a constant reminder of their plight. The grandstand, once roaring with the excitement of horse races, stood silent, a hollow shell bearing witness to the anguish of a community unjustly imprisoned. Though the physical scars of this dark chapter have faded with time, the memory of what transpired within Hastings Park’s grounds serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of prejudice and fear. Today, Hastings Park stands as a testament to both the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of remembering our past. It is a place where laughter and sorrow intertwine, urging us to learn from the mistakes of history and strive for a future where such injustices are never repeated.