Tomomi Okutake. Canadian Army. World War I. Postcards and Records.

Physical Description: 3 textual records. 4 black and white photograph postcards.

Scope and Content: Three records related to the World War I service of Tomomi Okutake: Transport Duty letter, Certificate of Naturalization, and Discharge Certificate. 4 photograph postcards from the World War I period. Biographical sketch: Tomomi Okutake immigrated to Canada in 1907 and was employed with the Cana…

Physical Description: 3 textual records. 4 black and white photograph postcards.

Scope and Content: Three records related to the World War I service of Tomomi Okutake: Transport Duty letter, Certificate of Naturalization, and Discharge Certificate. 4 photograph postcards from the World War I period. Biographical sketch: Tomomi Okutake immigrated to Canada in 1907 and was employed with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). He arrived in Hardieville in 1911 and worked as a collier until he enlisted with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Calgary, May 1917. He served in Britain and France in the 13th Overseas Mounted Rifle Infantry and was demobilized in May of 1919 back to Hardieville to work in the #6 coalmine. He married in 1930, then worked in #8 coalmine. Okutake retired after 36 years of service in the coalmines of Alberta. He was active in the community becoming a founder of the Lethbridge Buddhist Temple in 1961, and the Lethbridge Honpa Buddhist Temple. He was instrumental in the development of the social hall of Okinawan descendants in Coaldale. Okutake was called on to be interpreter or spokesperson for groups in Southern Alberta.