On 4 November, the Sooke Region Museum will open a new temporary exhibit. We present, “Troubled Waters: Fishermen’s Reserve.” Come and learn about the little-known history of the Fishermen’s Reserve (also known as the Gumboot Navy). The Reserve was often reduced to footnotes within the larger Canadian Naval history. Inspired by the story of T’SOU-KE Nation member Frank Planes and his time in the Fisherman’s Reserve, expanding on our exhibit from November 2024, “Hearing Heroics”, we decided to dive into the deep and explore the bigger picture.
With “Hearing Heroics” we had about a three-week turnaround to have a display up – which is a lot less time than what is usually needed to create an exhibit. While researching and creating the display, the story of the Fishermen’s Reserve unfolded before me. We didn’t have time (or space) to go in-depth, so for the last eight months we have put together a much more comprehensive look at the Reserve.
“Troubled Waters” explores the complex social and military relations during WWII on the Pacific Coast from 1937-1945. Canada had to increase its presence on the west coast but did not have enough naval vessels and personnel to fulfill this duty. Navy Officials saw how experienced fishermen and mariners had intimate knowledge of the coast that was beneficial to fulfilling the Pacific coast patrol. At first Indigenous men were not recruited, but this changed once Officials saw the benefits of bringing in more experienced men.
During this period, Canada – and especially British Columbia – saw an increase in anti-Japanese sentiment due to the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. One of the main duties of the Fishermen’s Reserve was the seizure of Japanese fishing boats and people on the west coast. The anti-Japanese sentiment and laws drastically changed the population demographics of our coast. “Troubled Waters” looks at some of the key events which lead to these changes.
“Troubled Waters” sheds light on the little-known history and stories of the Fishermen’s Reserve, which is intricately bound to complex social histories of Japanese Canadians. “Troubled Waters” will run until 23 December 2025 and is open whenever the Museum is open. If you’re interested in learning more about the stories of Japanese Canadians during this time, please join us on 20 November 2025 for an evening author talk, visit our website for more details.
Image Caption: Frank Planes, pictured here in his 20s, served in the Fishermen’s Reserve from 1942-1944. Photo courtesy of Willow Dodge and Fern Albany.