Events

Volunteers are the heart of Tonari Gumi—you bring our community to life. We’re also getting ready for International Volunteer Year 2026 to IGNITE VOLUNTEERISM! 🔥 Your energy fuels our mission and changes lives every day. Ways our volunteers keep us thriving: 🍱 Kitchen & Meal Programs 🚗 MOW Drivers 🗣️ Program Instructors 🤝 Senior Support & Visiting 🏮 Events & Festivals 💻 Office & Digital Support 🌸 Board & Committees Thank you for your passion and spirit! 🤝✨

Join us for a special visit to the historic Tashme Internment Site and the Grand Opening of the Tashme Research & Archive Centre. This trip will include lunch, guided tours, and the opening reception. Sites to Visit • Tashme Research & Archive Centre • Tashme Kindergarten Schoolhouse Date Sunday, May 3, 2026 Trip Schedule: Maximum 30 participants (first-come, first-served) 9:30 AM – Depart Tonari Gumi (42 W 8th Ave, Vancouver) 10:05 AM – Pick up at Lougheed Town Centre Statio

At the AGM, Tonari Gumi needs its members to approve the annual report! The AGM also gives members a chance to vote for policies, direction and Board members, as well as an opportunity to share opinions directly with the Board of Directors. We encourage all members to attend! Date and Time: Saturday, May 23, 2026, 10:00 AM Location: Tonari Gumi, 101-42 West 8th Ave. Vancouver, BC For more information visit: www.tonarigumi.ca/agm

The date for this year's TG Golf tournament is Saturday July 11, 2026. Registration will open on April 1 through the TG Website. $225 per golfer, discounted $850 for a foursome. We hope to see you again!

Dear Social Club Members, We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming Social Club workshop: Introduction to Japanese Spring Vegetables This workshop will introduce healthy, easy-to-grow Japanese vegetables and herbs suited for spring. We will: Discuss five key plants Share growing tips Offer simple recipe ideas Provide seeds and seedlings to help you get started The session will also cover Sansai (wild spring greens that can be foraged). A light lunch featuring dishes made

💬 Chat with fellow volunteers, share ideas, and connect! 📢 Hear about upcoming volunteer opportunities and our plans for 2026. 📅 Monday, Feb 23 | 1:00–2:00 pm 📅 Saturday, Feb 28 | 11:00 am–12:00 pm 💌 Interested? Email programs@tonarigumi.ca to register. 🔗 Zoom link will be sent after registration. 🌟 Whether you’re new or experienced, all volunteers are welcome!

Planning a trip to Japan and want to learn some basic Japanese to communicate—and love onigiri? This small-group workshop introduces simple words and phrases for greetings, shopping, and dining out (restaurant situations), followed by a fun session making popular onigiri. DATE: Saturday, March 7, 2026 TIME: 10:00 - 12:00 noon Venue: Tonari Gumi - Japanese Community Volunteers Association 101 - 42 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1M7 Tel 604-687-2172 www.tonarigumi.ca

Join us for a special outing to see Tamio Wakayama’s exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Thursday, January 22 , from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm . You may gather at Tonari Gumi at 10:30 am and travel together, or meet us directly at the Vancouver Art Gallery at 11:00 am . Gallery meeting point: Robson St × Howe St entrance. The guided tour will begin at 11:00 am , led by Mayu Takasaki , Tamio Wakayama’s partner, along with Tadafumi Tamura , a Japanese guide for this exhibit

🌸 Tonari Gumi Annual Retreat 🌸 Relax in the hot springs and enjoy a worry‑free trip together! ✔ Mini‑Bus Available : Easy • Comfortable • Stress‑Free Travel Ideal for seniors – no driving required 📅 Dates: Wednesday, February 18 – Thursday, February 19, 2026 (1 night / 2 days) 📍 Location : Harrison Hot Springs Resort 100 Esplanade Ave, Harrison Hot Springs, BC 🏨 Accommodation: 15 rooms / 30 members, Double occupancy Please register in pairs , West Tower – 2 Queen Lak

Join us for a family‑friendly Japanese New Year celebration! Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Location: Tonari Gumi (1F Hall) Participation Fee • TG Members: $10 (meal included) • Non‑Members: $15 (meal included) Event Highlights • Mochitsuki Tools Display - Traditional usu & kine　　　　　　　 - Cultural explanation panel - Photo corner • Japanese New Year Cultural Corner - Decorations - Osechi food samples (visual only) - Customs: nengajo, shimenawa, kadoma

For our October Social Club gathering, we are pleased to present a special film screening along with a Hawaiian-style lunch. We will show The Untold Story , a PBS documentary produced in 2012 by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi. This thought-provoking film sheds light on the Japanese American internment in Hawaiʻi—a history that is not widely known. A story that was once buried and forgotten has been rediscovered and retold through this important work. Unlike the Japan

🗓 Saturday, July 5 | 11AM–2PM 📍 Tonari Gumi (doors open at 10:45AM) Join us for a special event with the Powell Street Festival Society! ✨ Explore TG’s history through photos 🎥 Watch a video on PSF + the short film Spirit of Nihonmachi 🎤 Guest speakers: Emi Morita & Mayu Takasaki 🍜 Lunch: Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Noodles) 🎟 $15 | Limited seats 📅 Register by June 27 📧 programs@tonarigumi.ca | ☎️ 604-687-2172 ext.106 All are welcome!