Social Club upcoming gatherings
JC Survivors' Social Club Seniors Health & Wellness Seminar
Advance Care Planning by Andrew Saunderson, Advance Care Planning Social Worker of Fraser Health Friday, January 27th 10:00-11:30am at Nikkei Centre
Bento lunch will be served after the seminar.
Please register by Friday, January 20th.
Registration & inquiries
email Yuko at socialclub@tonarigumi.ca
or call 604-687-2172 ext. 105
There are many other events and gatherings being offered through the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health and Wellness Fund. Check out this list on their website:
BC Redress Announcement Viewing Event, May 21, 2022
On May 21st, a viewing event was held at Tonari Gumi to hear a live announcement by the provincial government on BC Redress. About 35 people, including MLAs Hon. George Heyman, Brenda Bailey, and Niki Sharma, gathered at Tonari Gumi to view the announcement by Premier Horgan in Steveston.
The recording of the announcement can be viewed from here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RzA5y73Gjk
Article on the event in the Richmond News:
Opening Event, April 30, 2022
By: Martin Kobayakawa
The Japanese-Canadian Survivors Social Club held their opening event at Tonari Gumi on April 30, 2022 at Tonari Gumi. The Social Club brings together survivors of the Japanese-Canadian wartime experience in a supportive and welcoming setting. It is a community-wide collaboration between Tonari Gumi, the Greater Vancouver Japanese-Canadian Citizens Association and the Steveston Community Centre.
Twenty JC Survivors attended the opening event. For many, it was a reunion that brought together old friends and acquaintances, some of whom had not seen each other since the internment camp days. Participants were seated at “hanashi” tables at which they were able to converse with one another while enjoying a delicious bento and dessert. The gathering also featured an open mike session in which participants shared their memories with the group. Survivors Kikko Tasaka, Don Mukai and Frank Kamiya recounted their experiences and feelings before and after the war.
The event was MC’d by David Iwaasa of Tonari Gumi. Up-and-coming musician, Tamika Roberts, provided the musical entertainment, with songs that brought back memories to the survivors. Special thanks to the Social Club Advisory Committee, our dedicated volunteers and Tonari Gumi staff who helped organize and run the event.
The Social Club is planning more activities in the spring and summer months. On June 19th, a picnic for JC Survivors and their families is planned for Spanish Banks. On July 6th, a walking tour of historical Steveston will take place. Finally, a number of bus trips to the Tashme internment camp site are being planned throughout this period. To register for any of these events or for more information, please contact Yuko Liew, Coordinator, for the Japanese-Canadian Survivors Social Club at: socialclub@tonarigumi.ca