President’s Message

Hi everyone!
On Saturday March 17th, the Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association held its Annual General Meeting at Nikkei Place. This year’s turnout was small in numbers, but it was a good group.

Forming the coming year’s GVJCCA Board of Directors for 2012/13 will be:
Ron Nishimura
Gary Matson
April Shimizu
Mieko Amano
Jack Matsushita
Paul Esslinger
Sayaka Suemine
Morgan Elander
Gabe Nutley
Takako Higuchi
Brian Tomlinson
Harry Aoki (Honorary Board Member)

This coming year we will be without the talents and services of two long-time Board members, Shag Ando and May Hamanishi. Shag will be missed for her many years of organizing the JCCA Golf Tournament, Keiro-kai, and helping with the Salmon BBQ at the Powell Street Festival. Shag has provided the JCCA with many years of help at these and other events and her invaluable support and years of experience will be greatly missed.

May has been on the JCCA Board since Copani XIII and her support and help with Keiro-kai, Salmon BBQ and other JCCA events throughout the years will also be greatly missed. Both Shag and May were both instrumental in making the 2009 National Association of Japanese Canadians Annual General Meeting a great success. We will miss you both!

On a positive note, this year’s Board welcomes some new, younger members who will bring fresh perspectives, insights, creativity, and possibly a new direction. As the GVJCCA struggles with its finances, there is a true need to improve membership strength and donations.

The Human Rights Committee still remains very active, especially in their work producing DVD’s and a book based on the Honouring Our People Conference held in 2009, the Hastings Park Commemoration Project, UBC Grads 1942, plus many more issues concerning the Japanese Canadian community.

The Nihongo Committee, although needing additional members, works actively with their Translation and Interpreting Workshops, plus Intermarriage Workshops.

The Bulletin/Geppo with John Endo Greenaway as primary Editor and writer continues to provide an invaluable resource of arts, culture, and history to Nikkei in Canada through the print edition and website. Future growth and maintenance will be dependent upon acquiring additional sources of funds.

The Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association will soon begin taking applications for the following summer student positions, dependent on funding from Human Resources Development of Canada: Administrative Assistant; and Historical Research Technical Archivist Specialist.  Please submit your resumes this month to gvjcca@shaw.ca or fax 604.777.5223.

Have a great month!
Ron Nishimura
President GVJCCA