Our current mantra in British Columbia is, “Be kind, be calm, be safe.” These are the words of the provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry. The top health officers across Canada have become familiar to us with their reassuring voices and efforts to provide up-to-date factual information and battling false information and rumours.Continue reading
By Lorene Oikawa It’s only been a month since my last message, but it feels longer with the constant changes and news about the COVID-19 (Corona) pandemic. The NAJC National Executive Board (NEB) is urging everyone to follow the direction of our national and local public health authorities. More info at Canada.ca/coronavirus We can save...Continue reading
One of the messages I shared at Keirokai is the importance of sharing our stories. I urged everyone to document their family stories so they wouldn’t have regrets about missed opportunities. The National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC) is committed to ensuring that the stories of Japanese Canadians are known and not forgotten.Continue reading
This Year of the Rat sees the NAJC moving forward with great energy. We are continuing work on BC Redress to honour the 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were uprooted, dispossessed, and interned. We will be meeting with the BC government this month, and will have more to share.Continue reading
The NAJC National Executive Board wish all the best for you and your loved ones in this New Year, 2020. It’s the year of the rat, and according to legend, the rat’s intelligence, quick thinking and adaptability allowed it to become the first animal in the 12 year zodiac.Continue reading
During the community consultations, we heard from members of our community who experienced the discrimination, the uprooting, dispossession, and internment. At the live event, we heard from two from our community, Mary Kitagawa and Judy Hanazawa. This is deeply personal for our community. Continue reading
I remember a grainy black and white photo of my uncle Buck in uniform in front of the cenotaph in Stanley Park with another soldier. The cenotaph would have been about 28 years old in that photo. Continue reading
COPANI XX was an opportunity to connect with Nikkei from other countries, learn about each other’s histories and current work, and also hear many great speakers. We were inspired by keynote speaker Norman Y. Mineta, a Japanese American who served as the Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton and as the Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush.Continue reading
by Lorene Oikawa September always holds strong memories for me including starting a new school year, meeting old and new friends, and new learning. This September we will be making more memories when the NAJC executive, representatives of NAJC member organizations, and members of the Japanese Canadian community will be heading out to San Francisco...Continue reading