The New Canadian newspaper was a Japanese Canadian paper that ran from 1938 to 2001. It began as “The Voice of the Second Generation”, serving as a forum for young Japanese Canadians to share ideas and formulate their Canadian identities at a time when those in power saw them as un-Canadian. Because it began as an English-language paper, it was the only Japanese Canadian paper allowed to publish in BC during the Second World War.

As of Fall 2024, The New Canadian, along with 28 other papers largely by and for minoritized groups, will no longer be available online. The Multicultural History Society of Ontario owns paper copies of The New Canadian as well as the digital files* that are currently hosted online by Simon Fraser University. Going forward, anyone wishing to access the paper will need to arrange an in-person visit with the Multicultural History Society of Ontario or the Nikkei National Museum. This renders the paper much less accessible; most Canadians will no longer be able to read it.

The New Canadian was an essential medium for community-building, connection, and advocacy in the Japanese Canadian community. Losing free and easy access to the archives will be a huge blow to the Japanese Canadian community and all who wish to study or preserve Canadian history.

Simon Fraser University and the Multicultural History Society of Ontario, we call on you to support the preservation of an important historical and cultural resource by ensuring continued online access to The New Canadian archives.

*SFU currently hosts the digital files for The New Canadian issues that were published from 1939 - 1985.