They’re too lenient, too lenient. Then you have those young offenders. They are so protected, they don’t even publish their names and even the worst of crimes they get off with such short sentences. The victims are the ones that are crucified and the perpetrators get off with very light sentences.

There’s discrimination against the native people. The law works for the white society OK - but the natives, they get the worst treatment. Up in Merritt my friend says that Indians get thrown in jail when they’re drunk, but they don’t throw any whites in jail, because the Indians don’t fight back - they’re less trouble.

The police are too brutal, too, aren’t they? In Toronto they beat a black man in the streets.

But this is all hearsay, it’s just what I read in the papers. I have never been a prisoner, so I’m in no position to judge. It’s just what I read.

When I was a little boy the three of us (my brothers and I) were inseparable. This Japanese friend took us to Stanley Park. From Marpole we ride the streetcar and we got down to Georgia where we change cars and go to Stanley Park. Well, me being crazy about fishing, I led my brothers down to the beach. This Japanese friend says, “I’ll just lay on the lawn and wait for you.”

We went down and dug clams and were in our glory. Then we went back to him to go home. He wasn’t around. I didn’t go back to the right place. I lost him.

I went back to the streetcar and told him our friend was gone. They took us in the streetcar and put us in the police station. I missed him, so they took us to the police station and up in an elevator. There was an elderly lady. She took care of us.

While going up to the room we went past these cells. I was terrified. I thought they were going to put us in jail! Later on our friend found us.

That’s the one time I saw the jail.

Carr Suzuki
Retired Businessman

Update: Carr was 85 when he died in 1994. He was a mentor to his children and grandchildren. His concern for the land, the environment and fair treatment of all continues to inspire them.