Ahead of the release, later this year, of Canada Post’s stamp to honour the Vancouver Asahi, Historica Canada is today releasing their latest Heritage Minute, also celebrating the storied baseball team. The production, by Vancouver-based Point Blank Creative, will be the first Heritage Minute to be issued in English, French, and Japanese. The Heritage Minute...Continue reading
by Lorene Oikawa If you didn’t see last month’s launch of the Heritage Minute about the Vancouver Asahi baseball team, you can still see it on the NAJC Facebook page and also on the Historica Canada website. The Asahi story is an important piece of Canadian history. The story is about the racism faced by...Continue reading
THE FUTURE IS HERE! The Most Important Nikkei Conference in the Americas September 20-22, 2019, San Francisco, USA copani.org The Conventions of the Association of Pan American Nikkei (COPANI) returns to North America for the first time since the National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC) last hosted the event in Vancouver in 2005. The convention...Continue reading
by Lorene Oikawa By the time you read this, we will know if Wiarton Willie (Wiarton, Ontario), Shubenacadie Sam (Nova Scotia) or Fred la marmotte (Quebec) have seen their shadow on February 2, Groundhog Day. If they do then we are told we will have six more weeks of winter and if they don’t then...Continue reading
by Lorene Oikawa Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu! Happy New Year! 明けましておめでとうございます We hope you had some relaxing times, ate good food, and enjoyed the company of family, friends, and yourself for a little self-care. We wish you happiness, good health, and prosperity in 2019. As a yonsei – fourth generation Japanese Canadian – I grew up...
by Lorene Oikawa It’s been a whirlwind of activity going into December. We remembered the Japanese Canadians who served Canada on Remembrance Day at the Japanese Canadian War Memorial in Stanley Park. We were also reminded that the cenotaph was unveiled on April 2, 1920 so 2020 will be the 100th anniversary. Discussions are happening...
by Lorene Oikawa Last month, I had the opportunity to meet with members of the Kamloops community at the Kamloops Japanese Canadian Association (KJCA) 30thAnniversary of the Redress Agreement. Thank you to the KJCA, George Uyeda, and all the volunteers, for organizing the event which included a delicious dinner, entertainment, and a wonderful display on...Continue reading
NAJC Statement on the Violent Attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh October 30, 2018 – The National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC) offers our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the 11 people who were killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue, and our thoughts are also with those injured, and...
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation Condemns the Attack on the Jewish community of Pittsburgh October 29, 2018 – In response to the hate-motivated attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) issues the following statement: “We condemn without hesitation or reservation the murderous attack on the Jewish community of...