Reflecting on This Year & Renewing Aspirations for the Next
As 2021 comes to an end, we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to all Nikkei Place supporters for their dedication throughout this pivotal year. Nikkei Place is a unique cultural gathering place and home — not only for Japanese Canadians, but a welcoming place for all. We continue to focus on collaboration among the three Nikkei Place charities to rebuild opportunities with the return of more in-person and online programming and services. We are grateful to our founders, who had the vision to build a place to preserve and share Japanese Canadian history, heritage, and culture, care for seniors, and connect generations through exhibits, events and programming — we remain committed to this lasting legacy.
Highlights in 2021
Nikkei Place Foundation
Collaborates to honour and support our community, and ensure its enduring legacy.
• NEW planned giving resource available: the Japanese language edition of our Will Toolkit.
• The $1,000 Nikkei Youth Athletics Bursary’s 2020-21 recipient will be awarded in the new year.
• Worked closely with Nikkei Senior’s Health Care & Housing Society’s “Inspire Action” spring fundraiser, and the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre’s current “Inspiration” fundraiser to support their ongoing needs and goals.
Throughout the year, we helped to highlight some of our amazing volunteers, staff, nurses and donors that contribute to our vibrant community.
Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre
Continues to connect, learn, and inspire, while providing a place for our culture and history to be discovered, re-discovered, and shared.
• “Taiken” digital Field Trips launched to reach students across Canada and the US.
• Nikkei Matsuri festival returned with “Mini Matsuri”, offering a smaller but lively 2-day showcase of Japanese arts and culture to 3,500 people.
• Upgrades to our museum’s Collections Vault — the installation of compact mobile shelving units maximize storage for valuable historical and cultural artefacts, effectively doubling our capacity.
After 21 years, our cultural centre is now in need of enhanced care and repair. From now until the end of February 2022, our Inspiration Fundraiser is on to support our Friends of Nikkei Centre Maintenance Fund!
Pictured Item: Registration card of Ed Kitagawa, center fielder for the Vancouver Asahi baseball team. You can also visit the SAFE | HOME exhibit in our Karasawa Gallery until April 2022, where contemporary artist Kellen Hatanaka re-imagines the influence and importance of the Vancouver Asahi through yonsei (4th generation) eyes.
Watch “Treasures from the Vault” on the NNMCC YouTube channel to discover items in our museum’s collection and the fascinating stories behind them.
NNMCC YouTubeチャンネルより「Treasures from the Vault」を、ぜひご覧ください。当館のコレクション及び、その背景にある魅力的なストーリーを発見していただけます。
Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society
Remains focused on the health and wellness of seniors in our community, and fighting the effects of the pandemic.
20th Anniversary
Join Nimi Nikkei Home in 2022 as it celebrates its 20th Anniversary!
2022年、Nimi Nikkei Homeは創立20周年を迎えます。
• Launched the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund through funding from the BC government and NAJC BC Redress initiatives, to help administer health and wellness grants to Japanese Canadians who lived through the internment.
(Learn more: www.jcwellness.org)
• A limited run of hybrid outreach programs began in the fall, including “Kenko Talks” educational series, “Be Fit” and “Outfight Parkinson’s” exercise, and “Iki Iki Light” and “Eat, Move & Relax” social connection programs.
• In 2022, we will see the revitalization of our bathing facility, the installation of a new spa tub, and the return of more hybrid outreach programming — made possible through the success of our INSPIRE ACTION spring fundraiser! We are also partnering with Powell Street Festival Society on a Radio Taiso pilot project.
Together We Can Make a Difference
Successes this year were made possible through the support of individuals like you. Thank you for encouraging us to remain resilient and resourceful. Each one of us can make a difference in the world today. We all have something to give — unique talents, gifts, perspectives and experiences that inspire and strengthen our community.
As this year comes to a close, we ask you to consider making a year-end gift to Nikkei Place this holiday season. If you have already made your year-end gift, we thank you for your generosity! Gifts can be made online here, by mail, or by phone (604.777.2122).
Wishing you and your families health and happiness throughout the holiday season, and into the New Year! We look forward to all that 2022 will bring.
