Nikkei Place: A legacy to be proud of
This holiday season, what are you thankful for? Because we are thankful for you.
When you visit Nikkei Place, you know that you will find…
A place where seniors call home,
and friends & families make memories
A place to honour & remember
the legacies of Japanese Canadians
A place to share & celebrate Japanese culture
It’s a special place that represents a legacy to be proud of. Moreover, it was made possible with the support of our community members.
We carry forward with resilience, pride, memory & respect for our elders
As this year comes to a close, we share with you some highlights from 2022 across the Nikkei Place campus, as well as our plans for the new year. We were able to serve our community is a number of ways thanks to donor support. Some of the exciting news, programs, exhibits, services, and events from this year include...
Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre
Japanese Canadian survivors reconnected at Nikkei Centre for the 80th Anniversary of Internment / Relocation Reunion Luncheon on September 22. Supported by the NNMCC Auxiliary and funding from the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund.
Development of a National Japanese Canadian Digitization Strategy for museum collection preservation and access, in partnership with the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (Toronto).
The newly refreshed Taiken: Generations of Resilience exhibit is now on display on the 2nd floor of Nikkei Centre, starting on the Kadota Landing. Free and accessible to public, the exhibit is the foundation for our popular Taiken School Field Trip education programs.
Japanese cultural festivities returned this summer with the 10th Nikkei Matsuri family festival in full swing, including performances and a new Food Truck Plaza. Plus locals and new visitors enjoyed the 2nd season of Nikkei Garden Farmers Market.
Return of in-person activity and weekly programming was complimented by online programs to reach beyond our walls; Washi Talk - The Timeless Allure of Washi with Nancy Jacobi drew over 300 registrants, drawing online guests from all around the world.
Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society
Outreach programs for seniors ran through 2022 with COVID protocols in place. Our team delivered dementia-friendly programs in a hybrid model to 50 participants weekly, connecting residents and seniors in the larger community. As we continue to improve our programs, we began offering participants the option to receive a delivered bento meal.
Volunteers returned in April to better support our seniors and the community. This has been an integral part of delivering higher quality, more supportive programming.
Renovations of our spa tub and bathing facility is now complete, giving residents that need assistance a more comfortable and relaxing experience.
We began our own food service operations, following the closing of Hi Genki Restaurant after 20 years of service to our residents, families, and the larger community. Stay tuned for future updates on catering and public sales openings.
In the spring, we hosted a smaller “Beat the Odds of Dementia” Charity Golf Day, in support of our dementia-friendly programs. Join us for a full scale tournament next year on May 26, 2023!
Robert Nimi Nikkei Home celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a luncheon on September 17. Over 175 guests came together to reflect, reminisce, and recognize the long-standing service of staff/volunteers. Watch the livestream: http://bit.ly/3tW6unV
Nikkei Place Foundation
We worked closely with the NSHCHS to fundraise for their Nikkei Place Charity Golf Day, successfully raising funding to run their dementia-friendly programs in 2023.
NPF and the NNMCC honoured Japanese Canadian leaders and celebrated nikkei youth bursary recipients at the “Legacy Gala” on October 22. We honoured the late Robert T. Banno, Raymond Moriyama, Suki Takagi, Susanne Tabata, Paul Kariya and Yoshi Hashimoto.
Change is in the air. After 5 years, Naomi Kawamura stepped down as our Executive Director. Our Recruitment Committee continues a search for leadership at NPF, while Karah Foster acts as Interim ED.
Building a strong & vibrant community in 2023
Nikkei Place serves a powerful purpose that we continue to uphold: to Build a Strong and Vibrant Community. While Nikkei Place began as a collective dream decades ago, it came to be what it is today thanks to dedication, hard work, and the generosity and commitment of many individuals and organizations.
We look forward to sharing more events, programs, and initatives with you in 2023. As this year comes to a close, please consider making a year-end donation to Nikkei Place this holiday season and help continue the legacy. If you have already made a gift recently, we thank you for your generosity.
Thank you for being part of our growing community, and for your support time and again. From all of us at Nikkei Place, we wish you and yours a happy and safe holiday season!
