Shige Edward Yoshida

In bringing Scouting to Tashme, Shige Yoshida created a highly successful recreational program for the young people in the Tashme internment camp. He used his interest in young people, his initiative and his extensive experience in Scouting to organize a Scouting program for the young boys and later a Guides program for the young girls of Tashme. He recognized the opportunity when he saw that many young people "had nothing to do".

Shige was born in Victoria in May 1908 and raised in Chemainus on Vancouver Island. There he developed an interest in Scouting and became a Lone Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. The Lone program was a new in the United States and not yet established in Canada at the time. As a Lone Scout for five years, he attained Scouting's highest level (the seventh degree) and in 1925, he started the 2nd Chemainus - an all Japanese troop - the first in the Dominion of Canada and, according to Lord Baden-Powell, Scouting's founder, who sent them a congratulatory telegram on their third anniversary: 'unique throughout the Empire.' It was a highly active, highly trained troop that boasted the first Japanese Canadian Scout to be awarded a Certificate of Merit (he rescued a friend from drowning), the first Japanese Canadian King Scout, and several wins in Scouting competitions.

In Tashme, Shige was employed by the BC Security Commission as a clerk in the Welfare Department. In February 1943, Mr. Yoshida organized the 1st Tashme Troop. It was sponsored by the Tashme Youth Organization and authorized by Boy Scouts Dominion Headquarters in Ottawa. (See Boy Scouts under Everyday Life)

Two months after its formation, the troop showed its mettle and training when a fire broke out in the single men's quarters. Fifty men were successfully evacuated and a news clipping of the day reads '...the young Boy Scouts formed a guard to keep the crowd back and later prepared emergency accommodations for those driven from the damaged building.'

The 1st Tashme built its skills and camaraderie in the outdoors with camping, tracking and woodsman training. "We studied nature a lot," one of the Scouts recalled. "It was pretty foreign to us because we'd all lived in the city."

In a photo taken on Nov 28, 1943, the troop was 125 boys strong. The photo appeared in the Jan 1944 issue of The Scout Leader with simple captions: 'Canadian born Japanese Scouts of various troops carry on in one the wartime communities.' Possibly the editor found it difficult to believe that the troop could be so large.

Shige brought Wolf Cubs into the troop and provided guidelines and help to a fledgling Tashme Girl Guide group as well. During Scout Week Feb 1944 the 1st Tashme proudly celebrated its first anniversary with a torchlight parade. "It was something," Shige remembered, describing how the glow of 110 Scout-borne torches bounced from the snow to light up the whole town.

"At its peak, (the troop) was about 200 boys, all in uniform," Shige said proudly. They raised uniform money by putting on shows and with the willing help of parents.

Shortly after the 1st Tashme celebrated its second anniversary, the end of the war seemed near and the government began dispersing people in preparation for closing down the camp.

Following the closing of the Tashme internment camp in 1946, Shige and his family moved east.

Shige's book of memories includes several letters, cards and photos from Scouting's founder Lord Baden-Powell whom he met two or three times.

Source: Scouting in a Japanese War Camp: The Spirit Lived On by Linda Florence, The Leader, February 1986