A Lasting Legacy: Nikkei Centre Events Hall Renamed The Mitsuo & Emmie Hayashi Hall
On May 6, 2023 a commemorative event was held in honour of Mitsuo and Emmie Hayashi.
A Lasting Legacy: Nikkei Centre Events Hall Renamed The Mitsuo & Emmie Hayashi Hall
Mitsuo & Emmie Hayashi
林光夫・恵美子夫妻
Nikkei Place and the Japanese Canadian community in Vancouver are grateful for the many contributions by Mitsuo and Emmie Hayashi. They leave behind a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire and enrich future generations. In their honour, Nikkei Centre’s Event Hall was renamed the Mitsuo & Emmie Hayashi Hall.
On May 6, 2023 a commemorative event was held in honour of Mitsuo and Emmie Hayashi. The couple was known for their tireless efforts to build strong relations between Canada and Japan, as well as their dedication to the Nikkei Place community since the 1990s. To honour their legacy, the Event Hall was renamed the Mitsuo and Emmie Hayashi Hall. About 50 attendees, including volunteers, Board Directors, Auxiliary, and friends, gathered to pay tribute.
L-R: Frank Kamiya, Akiko Gomyo, Kohei Maruyama, Kayoko Ihara, Herbert Ono, Ruth Roles, Karah Foster
(左より、敬称略) フランク・カミヤ、五明明子、丸山浩平、伊原香代子、ハーバート・オノ、ルース・コールズ、ケーラ後新門フォスター
Photo by Manto Artworks.
Keiko Funahashi, the Development Director of the Nikkei Place Foundation, delivered welcoming remarks, and special guest Kayoko Ihara, Mits Hayashi's niece from Japan, was in attendance.
Karah Foster, the Executive Director of NNMCC, spoke about the couple's generous contributions to the Nikkei Place community from the early days of visioning and fundraising to its opening and development as an active cultural gathering place. Upon their passing the couple left a generous legacy gift.
Consul General Maruyama paid tribute to Mitsuo and Emmie Hayashi's significant contributions to Nikkei Place and the Japanese Canadian community, including Mr. Mitsuo Hayashi’s receipt of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays by the Japanese government in 2012 for his outstanding contributions to the Japanese Canadian community and the Japanese in Canada.
Frank Kamiya, who served on the board of NNMCC with Mits and knew the couple since the beginning, spoke about their involvement with the centre and how they supported the NNMCC Auxiliary. He also highlighted Mits's role in building bridges between Nikkei Place and Japan through his business network.
Akiko Gomyo, past President of NNMCC, expressed gratitude for Mits's contributions, including his establishment of the Nikkei Community New Year's celebration, and described him as her mentor in volunteering in the community.
Ruth Coles, past President of the Nikkei Seniors Health Care and Housing Society, highlighted their support for the development of the organization through financial contributions, mentorship, and team building. She described them as dignified and respectful individuals who left an enduring legacy for the community.
The event concluded with the unveiling of the Mitsuo Emmie Hayashi Hall sign, followed by the display of exquisite Ikebana in the newly named hall. The commemorative event was a touching tribute to the Hayashi’s significant contributions and lasting legacy.
2023年5月6日、林光夫・恵美子夫妻を称える記念式典が行われました。夫妻は、カナダと日本の関係構築や、日系プレースと日系カナダ人コミュニティへの献身で知られていました。この式典では、夫妻の遺贈を称え、イベントホールが「林光夫&恵美子ホール」と改称されました。50人の参加者が集まり、日系プレース基金の船橋敬子氏が司会を務め、林夫妻の姪である伊原香代子さんが日本より特別ゲストとして出席されました。
日系文化センター・博物館の事務局長のケーラ後新門フォスター氏は、夫妻が設立初期のビジョンと資金調達から、センターの活発な文化的な集会場としての発展に至るまでの、日系プレースと日系カナダ人コミュニティへの多大な貢献について語りました。丸山浩平在バンクーバー日本国総領事は、林夫妻が日系プレースと日系カナダ人コミュニティに与えた重要な影響、特に2012年に日本政府より旭日双光章を授与したことについて言及しました。
林光夫氏とともに日系文化センター・博物館（以下、NNMCC）の理事を務め、NNMCC活動補助グループの一員であるフランク・カミヤ氏は、夫妻のグループへの貢献や、林氏がビジネスネットワークを通じて日系プレースと日本の架け橋をになったことを強調しました。
NNMCCの前理事長である五明明子氏は、林氏が日系コミュニティ・ボランティア活動のリーダーであり、林氏が設立した日系合同新年会などへの貢献に感謝の気持ちを表しました。また、日系シニアズ・ヘルスケア＆住宅協会前理事長のルース・コールズ氏は、林夫妻が財政的な貢献やメンターシップ、チームビルディングを通じて組織の発展を支援したことを強調し、夫妻を尊敬し、品格ある人物であると表現しました。
当日「林光夫&恵美子ホール」の看板の除幕式に続き、新しく名前が付けられたホールで生花ショーが開催されました。
Make-A-Will Week: Estate & Legacy Planning Tools
遺言書作成週間 - 遺産による計画寄付の手引き
This week is B.C. Make-a-Will Week!
Make a Will Week is held by the BC government and runs from October 3-9 this year. Its purpose is to encourage the public to write their will or bring an existing will up-to-date.
In British Columbia, making a will just got even easier following legislative changes in August of 2020 that allow people who are in different locations to use technology to remotely witness a will.
DLA Piper provides a comprehensive explanation of Bill 21 here.
Confirmed by the BC government website, “starting December 1, 2021 changes will also give electronic wills the same recognition as physical wills. Wills soon will be able to be signed and stored electronically. While all formats of electronic will are acceptable, people are strongly encouraged to save their freshly made wills in PDF format, to make the probate process as easy as possible for their executor.”
This is a great time to start thinking about the future and the legacy you want to leave for the next generation. If you're unsure how to begin planning, or want to explore planned giving, we have created a number of resources to help. These resources are now available in both English and Japanese!
Making a will is an important part of life. It gives you the opportunity to leave instructions on how your estate will provide for your loved ones. It also gives you the opportunity to support the causes that are important to you and in so doing, have a lasting impact on the type of world you would like to pass on to future generations. It ensures your compassion for others can live on.
Writing your will is not the daunting task you think it may be. Making a will is a responsible step that everyone should take. It provides you with a sense of security knowing that your affairs are in order and the people and things you value have been taken care of.
遺言書作成週間 - 遺産による計画寄付の手引き
今週は、将来のことや、次の世代に残したい遺産について、考え始める絶好のチャンスです。どのように計画を始めればよいかわからない場合や、計画的な寄付を検討されたい場合に役立つ資料をご用意いたしましたので、ぜひご活用ください。資料は、英語と日本語の両方でご利用いただけます。
Feel free to contact us at gifts@nikkeiplacefoundation.org if you have any questions.
Nikkei Legacy Project
We are happy to share with you a little more detail about this upcoming initiative.
Gathering Oral Histories
Nikkei Place Foundation recently received a generous New Horizons for Seniors grant for the Nikkei Legacy Project. We are happy to share with you a little more detail about this upcoming initiative.
The goal of this project is to gather oral histories from founding leaders of Nikkei Place, in order to create a record of understanding surrounding the challenges and successes of creating a culturally specific campus like Nikkei Place.
We will be interviewing founding leaders, and compiling personal historical accounts of the community efforts made by our Japanese Canadian elders. Individuals will be asked to recount the challenges and successes in the early days of establishing Nikkei Place, as well as its commitment to senior care.
From these interviews, we will draw out the distinctive strengths of the programming and senior care found at Nikkei Place. We will document these best practices so that other ethnically or culturally specific societies and communities can learn and adapt from our experiences, and establish their own unique programming and senior care that addresses the needs of their communities.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Minister Tassi Visits with Seniors at Robert Nimi Nikkei Home
Nikkei Place Foundation recently received grant funding through the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, got to see first-hand the positive impact that this grant will have in the lives of seniors at Nikkei Place
Nikkei Place Foundation recently received $24,000 in grant funding through the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). Through the Nikkei Legacy Project, we will purchase recording equipment to conduct interviews with Japanese Canadian seniors, in order to document their knowledge and experiences about their history and origins.
On Monday, July 8, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, was welcomed on a visit to Robert Nimi Nikkei Home by Nikkei Legacy Project leader Naomi Kawamura, Executive Director at Nikkei Place Foundation, as well as partners at Nikkei Seniors Health Care and Housing Society, Cathy Makihara, Executive Director, and Ruth Coles, President of the Board. Her visit included meeting seniors, and sitting in on programs — seeing first-hand the positive impact that this grant will have in the lives of seniors at Nikkei Place.
"We continue to build on measures that will improve the lives of Canadian seniors. In Budget 2019 our government made key investments that will help seniors enjoy a smooth transition into a financially secure, healthy and socially inclusive retirement. Through the New Horizons for Seniors Program, we are taking more steps to empower seniors by supporting opportunities where they can benefit from and contribute to the quality of life in their communities."
– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors
Stay tuned for more information about the Nikkei Legacy Project.
What's 'Planned Giving' anyway?
Get the facts about what “planned giving” means and why you should consider it.
Planned Giving in a Nutshell
Simply put, “Planned Giving” means creating a charitable gift now that will go to a charity you care about in the future — usually once you pass away.
It’s “planned” because it is the type of gift that is designated in your Will, and involves both consideration of your financial situation, and preparation, usually with a lawyer and financial advisor.
Why should I consider Planned Giving?
Planned Giving can get you thinking about the future, and the legacy you will leave once you’re gone. You may start to ask yourself “What type of world do you want to pass on to future generations?” and “How do I want to be remembered?” .
Increased Impact
Making a planned gift in your Will gives you the opportunity to give the gift of a lifetime to a causes you believe in. It allows you to leave a larger gift that may not be possible during your lifetime, while still remaining in control of your assets. In doing so, you can make a lasting impact on the type of world you would like to pass on to future generations.
Tax Benefits
Because of Canada’s tax regulations, a planned gift may provide substantial tax relief for you now or for your estate later.
Some people believe that giving to a charity will diminish the amount they are able to leave to their kids and loved ones. However, because of Canada’s tax regulations, you can give money to a charity that would otherwise be given to Canada Revenue Agency in taxes.
Continued Goodwill
After providing for your loved ones, your Will enables you to continue to help others. When a charity receives a planned gift, it can allow them to use it for something special — something that would not be possible otherwise. It can ensure your compassion for others will live on.
A Legacy of Your Own
You will be remembered as someone who helps the Nikkei community preserve and share history, heritage, and culture for future generations, and a better Canada.
Get the Facts
Learn more about the benefits of making a planned gift by downloading our Planned Giving Factsheet to help you get started, or visit our Planned Giving page.
If you have questions, or would like more detailed information, please contact us at 604.777.2122 or gifts@nikkeiplacefoundation.org