Board of Directors
Roles and Terms
Tonari Gumi’s Board of Directors consists of volunteers from a variety of backgrounds. The Board’s role is to oversee and manage the organization within the guidelines set out in its constitution and by-laws on issues such as organization policies, human resources and authorities given to staff to carry out day-to-day operations.
2024-2025 Board of Directors
Makoto Inuzuka
Board Vice Chair
(2020-)
Born and raised in Kyoto, Japan, Makoto graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and worked as an interpreter at the Kyoto International Conference Centre prior to immigrating to Canada in 1981. In addition to her deep Kyoto roots and education are the life lessons learned as a small business owner; raising a bright, successful daughter; and, latterly, settling visiting Japanese language students into rewarding home stay placements. Now semi-retired, Makoto hopes to share those roots and life lessons with others, volunteering with organizations such as Tonari Gumi.
Makiko Suzuki
Board Chair
(2022-)
Makiko was born in Yokohama, Japan, but raised in Toronto, where she established a floral design business. Later moving to Vancouver, she graduated from University of British Columbia, with a Major in Philosophy and later completed the SFU’s Sustainable Community Development Certificate Program. In 2000, she joined the Canadian federal service, transferring in 2004 to their newly released New Horizon’s for Senior’s Program, working with that program until her retirement.
She now volunteers with the Tonari Gumi Garden Club and writes the monthly gardening column Our Edible Roots for the Bulletin. In addition to the numerous TG test gardens, she also volunteers at the historic Cougar Annie’s Garden on Vancouver Island and several other local community gardens. Currently Makiko is still waiting for her yuzu plants to fruit.
Carol Yamamoto
Board Vice Chair
(2023-)
A Bachelor of Applied Sciences (majoring in Textile Science) from the University of Guelph led to a career as the Manager of Quality Control Labs for Levi Strauss Canada. This was followed by a move to Tokyo, working for 6 years for Yamaichi Securities while also studying the making of kakejiku and byobu and frequenting flea markets. After starting a family upon returning to Canada, Carol and a partner opened “Kikori,” a Japanese antique store in Vancouver that operated for 17 years. A love of vintage Japanese textiles continues to be a passion.
Bea Jablonska
Treasurer
(2023-)
Arrived in Canada in 1991 from Greece, where her son was born and where she spent several years after leaving the Eastern Europe. Bea is a sociologist by trade (SFU) and an avid researcher. She is a public service employee and has worked with the federal public service off and on since 1997. Bea has been involved with Tonari Gumi for the last 5 years as a volunteer tax preparer (through Community Volunteer Tax Clinic program). Bea believes in intergenerational kinship and transfer of knowledge as well as the importance of community engagement, especially during our senior years. Having a background in art/literature, Bea volunteered for several years at Firehall Art Centre during the Dancing on the Edge Festival and during the regular season. Bea enjoys organizing and planning events & strives to find the best solutions. After spending over a decade in Vancouver, she currently lives in Port Coquitlam.
Ryan Kusuhara
Director
(2023-)
Born and raised in Osaka, Japan and immigrated to Vancouver, Canada when he was 10 years old. He studied primarily molecular biology and criminology at the University of Toronto and then completed his Doctor of Law degree at the University of Windsor. Ryan is a father of two children. He loves baseball. He is an active member of the Trial Lawyers Association (TLABC) and used to work and volunteer for the Burnaby Nikkei Centre. Ryan is looking forward to giving back and contributing to the Japanese Canadian community using what he now does best – representing client in court.
Louvaine Kadonaga
Director
(2024-)
Louvaine Kadonaga was born in Natal (near Fernie) and moved to New Westminster in 1960. She earned her National Certification as a Medical Laboratory Technologist and BSc (General Biology). She has spent most of her work life at Lions Gate Hospital Laboratory except for a short stint in Edmonton. She retired in 2016 and enjoys line dancing at Century House, volunteering at bingo and scheduling volunteers for the Events Planning Committee. Louvaine also enjoys playing the piano and meeting new people and is looking forward to supporting the Japanese community.
Leslie Schroeder
Director
(2025-)
Born in Vancouver, Leslie has always lived and worked in the Lower Mainland. After graduating in Business Administration, she worked for Cadillac Fairview Corp. and then took a hiatus to raise her two young children. She returned to work on rail rapid transit projects at BCRTC (Skytrain), in contract and records management.
She recently retired and is now concentrating on travelling, furthering her passion for Japanese cooking, and a little Pilates, maybe.
As a sansei, Leslie remembers how vital the Japanese Canadian community had been for her parents and hopes to provide support for the important work of Tonari Gumi.
Former Board of Directors
Emily Nakai
Director
(2022-2024)
Augusta Lokhorst
Director
(2024)
Naomi Shikaze
Director
(2022-2025)
Larry M. Okada
Director
(2019-2025)
Alan Iwaasa Jr.
Director
(2022-2025)
Evelyn Suzuki
Secretary
(2023-2025)
