Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals to be awarded

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On behalf of His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, The Japanese Community Volunteers Association (Tonari Gumi), Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society, Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre and Nikkei Place Foundation are pleased announce that 50 Nikkei community members have been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II  Diamond Jubilee Medal.

The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a visible and tangible way to recognize 60,000 outstanding Canadians of all ages and from all walks of life, who have built and continue to build this caring society and country through their service, contributions and achievements.

“These 50 individuals have individually served the Nikkei community in health, education, seniors care, leadership, preservation of history, cultural interaction, or generally strengthening the Japanese Canadian community,” said Ruth Coles, president of Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society.  “They helped create a strong, compassionate and caring community and because of their service our community and our country is that much stronger,” added Joji Kumagi, president of the Japanese Community Volunteers Association (Tonari Gumi).

The recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal are:

Mark T. Ando
Shigeko (Shag) Ando
Chikako Arinobu
Robert T. Banno
Marcia A. Carr
Masako Fukawa
Stanley T. Fukawa
John Endo Greenaway
Judy Hanazawa
Mitsuo Hayashi
Linda Uyehara Hoffman
Shinobu Homma
Tokuko Inouye
Charles Hiroshi Kadota
Gordon Kadota
Jean Kamimura
Frank H. Kamiya
Hideaki Roy Kawamoto
Harry Shoichi Kishi
Mary Kitagawa
Tosh Kitagawa
Tomoko Li
Nancy Kuniko Morishita
Shizuko Mikurube
Toshio Murao
Pamela Nagasaka
Chuichi Chris Nakahori
Jane F. Nimi
Robert K. Nimi
Ronald M. Nishimura
Yuji Ohara
Naoko Ohkohchi
Motoko Reed
Ken Shikaze
Naomi Shikaze
Yoshiko Shimizu
Eric A.Sokugawa
Nick S. Sueyoshi
Kenneth M. Takeuchi
Tom I Tagami
Miyoshi (Mickey) Tanaka
Lurana Kikuko Tasaka
Mayumi Takasaki
Tom Teranishi
Grace Eiko Thomson
Tamio Wakayama
Fred Yada
Keiko Yagi
Isamu S. Yamamoto
Takeo Yamashiro

On Sunday, February 3, 2013, a presentation ceremony will be held to recognize the 50 recipients. This special ceremony takes place from 2:00pm to 4:30pm at Nikkei Centre (6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby). Members of the public are welcome to attend and be a part of this historic occasion. Space is limited, so please call early to reserve your seat: Nikkei Centre 604.777.7000; Tonari Gumi 604.687.2172; or Nikkei Home 604.777.5000.