Douglas Arai BORN 1922 DIED 2008 OCCUPATION Chemist
DOUGLAS KIMIMICHI ARAI, eldest son of eight children of Yukie and Sadakichi Arai, was born in Ocean Falls, BC in 1922, where he lived his first ten years. When the Great Depression crippled the one-company town, his father’s job at the paper mill was reduced and they moved to Vancouver, then to Kennedy (now part of Surrey), to start a chicken and strawberry farm. Doug and his brothers and sisters worked with their father on the farm. Being the oldest brother, Doug took on many family responsibilities from the time he was very young, looking out for his brothers and sisters. In orderly fashion, he made
sure things were taken care of down to the last minute detail. He was a perfectionist and they looked up to him. Doug began his schooling in Ocean Falls, went on to Strathcona Public in Vancouver, to Kennedy Public and Cloverdale High School. He was a brilliant student, skipping two grades. He entered UBC at the age of 16 and graduated in 1942 with double honours in physics and chemistry. This was a year he would never forget. During World War II, all people of Japanese descent were evacuated, shipped 100 miles or more inland and interned by the Canadian government. Doug was separated from the rest of his family and was sent to Empress Camp near
Jackfish. There he worked as a cook and bottle washer. He went to King City to work on the Umehara farm, then moved to Toronto where he pushed a broom at Fine Chemicals. The rest of his family was interned in Kaslo, BC. It was a difficult time for the whole family, but especially for his mother and for Doug. Living conditions took a toll on her and she succumbed after a very short illness. Doug always regretted that he was unable to be at her side during her illness and unable to attend her funeral in 1943 as he waited for a permit to travel. After years at Fine Chemicals, Doug became a respected chemist, working there until the company
was bought out. He worked for Micro Chemicals and then worked for the Ontario government until his retirement in 1987. In 1953, Doug married Tomiko Suzuki and they had three daughters. Doug enjoyed his many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, whom he saw at family picnics and Christmas get-togethers. Doug was active in the United Church, in the Toronto Japanese Language School, enjoyed fishing with his brother, camping, and was a great fan of Toronto’s sports teams. He passed away at home in 2008.
RETURN a commemorative yearbook in honour of the Japanese Canadian students of 1942
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