Events

Please sign the online PETITION here
Debut screening of the new feature documentary film "731 - How America Exploited Japan's Biological Weapons Crimes", click here
for more details.
Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Nanking Massacre, click here for more details.
Student helpers and host teachers at the 2017 International Human Rights Day Student Symposium, read more click here for more details.
Author Talk on "Chinese Comfort Women: Testimonies from Imperial Japan's Sex Slaves", click here for more details.
100 Million Signatures Campaign for the Resolution of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery click here to sign up
Book Launch in Vancouver 2011 read more

2018

Petition to the Government of Canada to Establish Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day

Canadian federal lawmaker Jenny Kwan has re-appealed to the Canadian government to designate Dec. 13 as Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day in the country. MP Jenny Kwan pointed out that there is no question that this issue goes beyond partisan politics. This is about the formal recognition of atrocities, learning from history, and paying tribute to those impacted.

“This is not only to commemorate the victims and survivors, but in the aim of preventing such atrocities from happening again. The Nanjing Massacre is often referred to as a ‘forgotten Holocaust’. It is incumbent on us to ensure that atrocities of this magnitude are not forgotten,” she said.

“It is my hope that the government will work with me to ensure that history is not ignored, that the Nanjing Massacre is not a ‘forgotten holocaust,’ and for the Canadian government to recognize this December 13, and each Dec. 13 moving forward, as Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day,” added the lawmaker in her statement on April 19, 2018.

With over 100 community organizations, Canada ALPHA supports the signature campaign for the Petition to the Government of Canada to Establish Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day. Please sign the online Petition and/or help collect supporters with the paper Petition Form.

Click to view posters (English or Chinese)
Click to watch docudrama, “Scars of Nanking” watch
Click to read news reports:-
5 May, 2018 Campaign for Nanking Massacre Commemorative Day: 關慧貞發起10萬人連署 read
21 April, 2018 Canadian lawmaker re-appeals for establishing Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day read

Debut screening of the new feature documentary film “731 – How America Exploited Japan’s Biological Weapons Crimes”

The new documentary film “731 – How America Exploited Japan’s Biological Weapons Crimes” will have its debut theatrical screening March 15th, at 7:30pm at in Vancouver. This documentary is produced by Paul Johnson, a Canadian journalist and documentary maker. Watch the trailer here:https://vimeo.com/247239395

Click here for more details | Click here to see poster | Click here to view photos of the screening

2017

Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Nanking Massacre

Join us to appreciate the works of Tamaki Matsuoka – “The Conscience of Japan”.  The program will include screening of documentary,  1300 Lives Lost by Taiping (Peace) Gate (75 min) and Book Reading of Torn Memories of Nanking. 

Click here for more details | Click here to see poster

The 9th International Human Rights Day Student Symposium

This annual International Human Rights Day Student Symposium has been organized since 2009 to help students better understand and reflect on human rights violations during the Asia-Pacific War (1931- 1945), and to make connections to contemporary local and global issues. The 2017 Student Symposium was successfully held at the Prince of Wales Secondary School from January 12 to 13 with an attendance of 1000 students and teachers. Click here for more details; Photo

Let Peace be Their Memorial 2017

BC ALPHA joined this annual event with local peace organizations on Remembrance Day to recognize overlooked victims of war. This year, the wreath of BC ALPHA is dedicated in particular to victims of Nanking Massacre that took place 80 years ago.  Click here for media reports.

2016

Let Peace be Their Memorial

On Remembrance Day, representatives of BC ALPHA attended the wreath laying ceremony to recognize overlooked victims of war jointly hosted by Vancouver Peace Poppies and the BC Humanist Association at Seaforth Peace Park, Vancouver. The wreath of BC ALPHA is dedicated in particular to victims of Japan’s military sexual slavery and other war atrocities during WWII in Asia. Click here for more details

2014

Author Talks: Chinese Comfort Women

Join author Peipei Qiu for a talk about her book Chinese Comfort Women: Testimonies from Imperial Japan’s Sex Slaves. This book is the first English account of the unfathomable atrocities experienced by Chinese women who were forced to become ‘comfort women’ during Japan’s invasion of China. click here for more details | click to view Author Talks photos

An Evening Workshop: The “Comfort Women” and Contemporary Forms of Sexual Violence Against Women

Through presentations and small-group discussions, we will explore the “Comfort Women” issue as not merely an historical phenomenon but as a manifestation of systemic oppression that is directly connected to contemporary forms of sexual violence against women worldwide. click here for more details

100 Million Signatures Campaign for the Resolution of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery

The world demands the Japanese Government: Issue a State Apology and Provide Legal Reparations to the Victims! click here to sign up

2013

International Human Rights Day Student Symposium

This annual Student Symposium has been organized since 2009 to help students better understand and reflect on human rights violations during the Asia-Pacific War (1931- 1945). This year the symposium was held on December 5 & 6.  click here for more information

Toronto ALPHA Youth speak at the UN HRC Parallel Event

Toronto Association for Learning and Preserving the History of World War II in Asia (Toronto ALPHA) held a press conference to recognize the Youth Ambassadors who recently spoke at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) parallel event “Justice for the survivors of Japan’s wartime system of military sexual slavery.”  The event, which was held on September 11, 2013, in Geneva, Switzerland, was led and organized by Amnesty International and the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (Korean Council). Click to read more

Social Justice Conference 2013: From the Personal to the Universal

BC ALPHA is one of the partners and sponsoring organizations of this bi-annual conference for students of the Maple Ridge School District. It is a two day conference to be held on April 11th and 12th at the ACT Theatre and Riverside Centre in Maple Ridge. click here for more information

2012

Chinese, Japanese Canadians mark 75th anniversary of Nanjing Massacre

Representatives of Japanese and Chinese Canadian communities along with other concerned Canadians call for truth, reconciliation, and understanding in an effort to collaborate and move forward in a grassroots peace action.Sunday, December 9, more than 60 people crowded into the tiny living room at Historic Joy Kogawa House to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre and to start a historic roundtable discussion. Click to read more | Click to view video

International Human Rights Day Student Symposium

This annual Student Symposium has been organized since 2009 to help students better understand and reflect on human rights violations during the Asia-Pacific War (1931- 1945). This year the symposium was held on December 6 & 7.  click here for more information

Peace and Reconciliation Study Tour for Canadian Teachers

Canada ALPHA has been organizing this study tour for educators since 2004. The tour touches teachers’ hearts and inspires them to change our world through their work with students in the classroom. click here for more information

2011

Premier Book Launch in Vancouver – Meeting Prof. Ying-Ying Chang

“The Woman Who Could Not Forget – Iris Chang Before And Beyond the Rape of Nanking” authored by Iris Chang’s mother, Dr. Ying Ying Chang was launched in North America starting from mid-May, 2011. BC ALPHA organized book reading sessions in public libraries of Greater Vancouver. click here for more information

2010

Pacific War in Stamps Exhibition in Commemoration of the 65th Anniversary of WWII in Asia

An Exhibition of stamps issued by Japan and Japanese occupied territories during the war years, as well as stamps in commemoration of major events of the Pacific War. click here for more information

Forgotten Voices, Living History – International Conference for Educators on the WWII in Asia

BC ALPHA invited BC educator to participate in the conference held in Toronto. click here for more information

2009

First International Human Rights Day Student Symposium

2008

Peace and Reconciliation Study Tour for Canadian Teachers (5th year)

2007

Peace and Reconciliation Study Tour for Canadian Teachers (4th year)

Vancouver premiere & screenings of the movie “Iris Chang The Rape of Nanking“

click here for more information

2006

World Peace Forum Asia Regional Conference

Canada ALPHA is one of the sponsoring organizations of the Asia Regional Conference at the World Peace Forum.
The Asia Regional Conference aims to examine key issues in the Asia region (including northeast, southeast and South Asia as well as the Pacific Islands). Among the topics to be explored are regional security issues including US bases, Korean reunification, a nuclear-free Asia, the “war on terror”, ballistic missile defence, redress and reconciliation issues, revision of Article 9 (peace clause in Japan’s constitution), and others.
For program, speakers, speeches and other information of the Asia Regional Conference, click here.

2005

Premiere Screening of the Documentary Witness to History: Canadian Survivors of WWII in Asia

With the support of the Peace and Justice Committee of the City of Vancouver, BC ALPHA presented the documentary on October 29 at the City Hall. click here for more information

Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the End of WWII in Asia

The City of Vancouver proclaims August 15, 2005 as Day of Peace in the Pacific. click here for more information

Multi-Ethnic Position Paper for Redress, Reconciliation and Peace in the Asia-Pacific

Canada ALPHA joined a multi-ethnic coalition of organizations to voice our support to victims of Japanese war crimes in Asia. click here for more information

Petition to oppose Japan’s bid for a permanent seat on UN Security Council

A Canadian civil group vehemently opposed Japan’s attempt to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council until Japan addresses the historical issues related to war crimes that Imperial Japan committed. click here for more information

2004

Commemoration of Iris Chang

Best-selling author of The Rape of Nanking left us on the morning of November 9, 2004. click here for more information

2003

Canadian Delegation to Support Biological Warfare Survivors in their Appeal to Tokyo Courts

Conference on Preventing Crimes Against Humanity: Lessons from the Asia Pacific War (1931-1945)

Canada ALPHA joined with JCAA, CAPRN, and other organizations in hosting the conference at UBC in March, 2003. click here for more information

2002 and Before

For events before 2003, click here.