The date was June 30, 1939 – the Golden Jubilee of the Victoria Lumber and Manufacturing Company, the lifeblood of the modern town of Chemainus. The summer breeze rustled leaves and pulled at the lengths of the swaying silk kimonos worn by members of the Japanese-Canadian community. Theirs was the winning float in a record-breaking parade which stretched over three-quarters of a mile (1 km) and began two days of festivities.