Little Temple on the Prairie
A History of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple
by Megan Kiyoko Wray

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During World War II, displaced Japanese Canadians arrived in Manitoba, having lost everything to government-ordered internment and forced exile. Scattered across rural farms, they faced harsh conditions, deep isolation, and the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. Yet, despite these struggles, they created something extraordinary: a Buddhist temple that became a pillar of faith, culture, and resilience. Little Temple on the Prairie traces the remarkable history of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple from its humble beginnings as a refuge for a scattered community to its enduring presence today. Through archival research and intimate oral histories, Megan Kiyoko Wray illuminates the perseverance of the Issei and Nisei who defied loss and discrimination to build a space of belonging—not just for themselves, but for generations to come. This is more than a story about a temple. It is a testament to survival and solidarity, a reminder that honouring the past is not just about looking back, but about shaping the future. It calls on us to ask: how will you remember?

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About the Author Megan Kiyoko Wray (she/her) is a queer, mixed-race Yonsei writer whose work explores the lasting impacts of dispossession and displacement on the Japanese Canadian community. Raised and based on Treaty 1 Territory, she descends from the Koga and Kojima families—strawberry farmers from Haney, BC, and sawmill labourers from Royston, BC—who were uprooted to Sanford, MB, and Tashme internment camp, respectively. Megan organizes Mata Ashita: An Intergenerational Writing Circle for Japanese Canadians, co-created Rini’s Hopeful Harvest: A Story of Japanese Canadians in Manitoba, and is working on a poetry collection inspired by her family’s forced movements across Canada. Through her research, she discovered her great-grandfather’s role in building the Maple Ridge Buddhist Temple, the original home of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple’s shrine. About the Illustrator Brynne Takeuchi Monterrosa is a Japanese-Ukrainian Canadian, born and raised in Manitoba. Her watercolour and acrylic paintings are inspired by nature, colour, and childhood creativity. A teacher by day, Brynne encourages her young students to use art for self-expression and as a way to communicate ideas. The hope is that her artwork sparks kindness and connections as it is shared with others. Learn more about the Manitoba Buddhist Temple at www.manitobabuddhistchurch.org.

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Contributors

Author

Megan Kiyoko Wray

Illustrator

Brynne Takeuchi Monterrosa