Lindsay Hoy 2019-09-25 Lindsay Hoy 2019-09-25

Gordon Kadota's Life Remembered

Gordon was a great story teller and often started by saying “It’s a long story”. On Sunday, September 22, a large number of the Nikkei community gathered at Nikkei Place to celebrate the life of our dear friend…

Gordon Kadota's Life Remembered

His life, leadership, and lasting legacy in the Japanese Canadian community will never be forgotten.

Gordon was a great story teller and often started by saying “It’s a long story”. On Sunday, September 22, a large number of the Nikkei community gathered at Nikkei Place to celebrate the life of our dear friend and longtime supporter Gordon Kadota, and remember his story.

Gordon was born on January 15, 1933 in New Westminster, B.C., the 8th child of Kantaro and Shigeno (nee Kunita) Kadota. At the age of 7 he was taken to Japan for a visit, but the outbreak of World War II prevented his return to Canada. He spent 12 years in Japan, graduating from Kwansei Gakuin University High School and later returned to Canada in 1952.

“Gordon always struck me as unusual among JCs. As a Nisei who was trapped in Japan during the war and was educated there, but who returned to Canada as a young man, he had the ability to navigate both worlds with ease. He himself carried values from both Japan and Canada, and he was able to serve as a bridge between cultures and generations. He was at once blunt and diplomatic, sometimes at the same time, and he had a strong sense of duty to community, while never seeking credit for himself. As the second editor of The Bulletin, he set a tone and a standard that hopefully carries through to this day.”
—John Endo Greenaway
Editor, The Bulletin

In 2016, Gordon received Nikkei Place Foundation’s Thomas Shoyama Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2000, his dream of creating a gathering place for the Japanese-Canadian community was realized with the building of Nikkei Place in Burnaby, B.C.

“Gordon was a very unique man — he championed causes and worked with everyone. Like so many great leaders, he was patient and he worked tirelessly to prove that Nikkei Place was a dream that we needed to pursue.”
— Robert Banno
President, NPF

He had a big heart, kind words and a sense of humour that made it possible for him to continue for so many years in public service.

“Gordon Kadota will be remembered for his important work on behalf of the Japanese Canadian community. We will also remember his kindness, good humour and generosity.”
—Lorene Oikawa
President, NAJC

Lindsay Hoy 2019-09-25 Lindsay Hoy 2019-09-25

This Year's Community Awards + Fundraising Dinner is on October 12th

Join us for the 9th Annual Community Awards + Fundraising Dinner on October 12 at Nikkei Centre — an event that recognizes our community leaders. Congratulations to this year’s awardees…

An Evening to Recognize Our Community Leaders

Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Nikkei Centre

Join us for the 9th Annual Community Awards + Fundraising Dinner — an event that brings together philanthropists, business leaders, and supporters from the Nikkei community to recognize, congratulate and thank the extraordinary effort of Nikkei Place community leaders for their selfless contributions to building a strong and vibrant community.

EVERY GIFT RAISED for the Community Awards + Fundraising Dinner provides Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre with funding to educate and connect people to community and the history, heritage, and culture of Japanese Canadians.

Visit the event website for full event details and updates.

Tickets + Sponsorship

Individual: $130 per person* | Table of 10: $1300
To purchase tickets contact Nikkei Centre at 604.777.7000.
*A portion of each ticket is tax receiptable. Amount to be determined post-event.

To become a sponsor or discuss details, please contact Roger Lemire at rlemire@nikkeiplace.org or 604.777.7000 Ext. 105.

The Vancouver Asahi Spirit of Strength + Resilience

We Remember…

100 years ago in August, the Vancouver Asahi baseball team succeeded in winning their first pennant. Started in 1914, the team took some time to hone their skills, but with their signature “brainball” developed in the 1920s, won four Terminal League Championships between 1926 – 1933, a triple championship in 1938, and five consecutive Pacific Northwest Championships including their final win in 1941. They connected communities and won fans across ethnic divides. Although disbanded, divided, and dispersed in 1942 with the events of the Second World War, wherever an Asahi player was sent, baseball thrived, helping to boost morale in the darkest of times.

WE REMEMBER that team spirit, pride in being Japanese Canadian, and the coming together of community as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of this team’s first major win, and honour this year’s Community Awards Dinner recipients.

Awardees

All awardees demonstrate tireless efforts in honouring, preserving, and sharing Japanese culture and Japanese Canadian history and heritage for a better Canada.

Japanese Canadian History and Preservation Award
75th Anniversary Nikkei Legacy Signage Project Committee

Outstanding Community Service Award
Frank Kamiya

Japanese Culture Award
Nikkei Book Sale Committee

Event Details

Date: Saturday, October 12, 2019
Venue: Nikkei Centre - 6688 Southoaks Crescent • Burnaby, BC

Tickets: $130 per person* | Table of 10: $1,300
To purchase tickets contact Nikkei Centre at 604.777.7000

*A portion of each ticket is tax receiptable. Amount to be determined post-event.

Visit the event website for full details and updates:

centre.nikkeiplace.org

Lindsay Hoy 2019-09-25 Lindsay Hoy 2019-09-25

Open Door Programs at the Kenko Wellness Lounge Starts This Month

Starting from September 2019, several Nimi Nikkei Home assisted living programs will be available to the community.

Kenko Wellness – Open Door Programs

Starting from September 2019, several Nimi Nikkei Home assisted living programs will be available to the community. Openings are limited (up to 5 seniors) and therefore registration is required. If you’re coming to visit Nikkei Place, why not spend a few hours in these fun programs?

There are program offerings on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday. We hope to add additional programs on Thursday by 2020.

Program Description & Costs

Please click on this calendar link and those labelled in green are the ‘Open Door’ programs.

Monday: $10 for “Social Lunch” and “Breathing” ($6 for Lunch Only, $5 for Breathing Only $5)
Tuesday: $10 for “Chair Workout” and “Tea & Chat”
Tuesday: $10 for “Social Lunch” and “Chat & Fun” ($6 for Lunch Only, $4 for Chat & Fun Only (price set to increase to $5 in Jan 2020)
Tuesday: $5 for “Bingo” if the only program for day, but free if you have signed for the entire day
Saturday: $10-$20 price range for Women’s Boxing. Free for Nikkei Home volunteers of 1 year or more.

If you are interested in taking part, please contact srhousing@nikkeiplace.org or call 604-777-5000.

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Celebration of Life for Gordon Kadota at Nikkei Place

Join Nikkei Place, as we celebrate the life of Gordon Ryo Kadota on September 22, 2019.

Celebration of Life for Gordon Kadota at Nikkei Place

Join Nikkei Place, as we celebrate the life of Gordon Ryo Kadota. Speeches to begin at 3:15pm. Light refreshments will be provided. No RSVP required. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please no koden or flowers as per the family’s request.

When: Sunday, September 22, 2019 at 3:00pm
Where: Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, Special Event Hall (6688 Southoaks Cres., Burnaby, BC)

Gordon Ryo Kadota passed away on July 31, 2019 at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia at the age of 86. A private funeral was held on August 6 at Celebration Hall in Vancouver. Gordon is survived by his second wife, Kyoko; daughter Ayako (Steve); grandchildren Sydney, Andrew and Dana; step-sons Takashi (Reiko), Haruyuki (Kim); and step-grandchildren K and Emi. Uncle Gordon will also be mourned by many nieces, nephews and cousins in Canada, the United States, England and Japan.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Gordon worked in forestry and in the 1960’s entered the travel industry, eventually specializing in tourism between Canada and Japan. This led to Canaway Consultants which provided translating and business consulting services. In the early 1970’s, he also co-founded OK Gift Shop with the Canadian stores opening in Vancouver, Banff, and Niagara Falls. He remained active in the company until recently.

Beginning in the mid-1950’s, he volunteered and became a leader in the Japanese Canadian community, serving both in organizations at the local and national levels. Over the years, Gordon received numerous awards for his work in the Japanese Canadian community, in business and tourism and the betterment of relations between Japan and Canada. In 2000, his dream of creating a gathering place for the Japanese-Canadian community was realized with the building of Nikkei Place in Burnaby, B.C.

In 2016, Gordon received Nikkei Place Foundation’s Thomas Shoyama Lifetime Achievement Award.

Gordon was a great story teller and often started by saying “It’s a long story”. He had a big heart, kind words and a sense of humour that made it possible for him to continue for so many years in public service. He enjoyed travel, sports particularly golf and hockey, and was always helping others in need. Those who wish to make a donation in Gordon’s memory might do so to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation or in keeping with Gordon’s philanthropic spirit, any charity of your choice.

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Monthly Donations Update (July 26 — August 21, 2019)

The Foundation acknowledges gifts we receive for Nikkei Place. Thank you to our recent donors from July 26, 2019 — August 21, 2019 inclusive!

Thank you to our recent donors!

Gifts listed from July 26, 2019 — August 21, 2019 inclusive

We apologize for any errors or omissions on this list. If your name has not been included, and you think it has been missed, please contact us and we will look into this right away.

NEW LEAF!

Red

Bill & Noemi Gruenthal

Orange

Dean & Ayumi Dalke
Jpcanada
Tom & Ayako Sakaino

Green

Howard Shikaze

ADDED TO LEAF

Ambassador

Sam I. Yamamoto

Platinum

Ken & Junko Shinozaki

Burgundy

Anonymous
Leigh Shoji-Lee

Red

Anonymous
Edward Kaminishi
Albert & Linda Perkins
Charles Tasaka
Dan & Sho Uyesugi

Orange

Anonymous
Ian & Debbie Burgess
George Koyanagi
Ronald Okada & Carol Nishi

Green

Kiyokazu Godo
Toshie Hosonuma

GENERAL

Anonymous (2)
Miwako Aoki
Delphine Lowe
Shirley Lun
Teruo Nakanishi

STEVESTON NIKKEI MEMORIAL PROJECT

Lois M. Atagi
Umeno Sakamoto
In Honour of the Teraguchi Family – Marie M. Teraguchi, Wanda J. Teraguchi

HONOURS & TRIBUTES

In Celebration of Kiyo Goto’s 90th Birthday
Bob & Katsi Abe
Roberta H. Nasu
Mary Okabe
Barbara Shishido

In Memory of Jane Ayukawa
James & Yoko Nishimura

In Memory of Chiyo Goto
Bob & Katsi Abe
Betty L. Arai
Barbara Shishido

In Memory of Toshiaki Hamaguchi
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Sayo Hattori
Archie & Marjory Kamiya
Yvonne & Henry Wakabayashi

In Memory of Emmie Hayashi
Sam Yamamoto

In Memory of Joan Imai
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Rosie Kamitakahara
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Junko Janet Kadonaga
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Gordon Kadota
Dr. & Mrs. Henry Shimizu
Wataru Shishido
Sam Yamamoto

In Memory of Roy Kunimoto
Isamu Hori
Akiko Minato
Sam Yamamoto

In Memory of Aster Nimi
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Richard Tadashi Nomura
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Miyoko Nose
Lucy Yamashita
Susan Thompson & Thomas Yamashita

In Memory of Shin Omatsu
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Dick Seiji
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Sam Shinde
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Edward Kichiro Shoji
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Miyoshi Tanaka
Grace Tanaka

In Memory of Susan Thompson
Thomas Yamashita

In Memory of Hiro Uchida
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Chizuko Uchide
Marie Teraguchi

In Memory of Akiko Wakabayshi
Shig Kobayashi
Suzanne Tabata
April Yamaoka

In Memory of Steve Yamamoto’s First Year After Passing
Donald & Connie Mayede

MONTHLY GIVING CLUB

Carina Abe
Ian & Debbie Burgess
Manami Calvo
Brian & Marcia Carr
Patricia H. Chan
Michael & Ruth Coles
Grant Dustin
Junichi & Atsumi Hashimoto
Tad & Mitsuko Hosoi
Kenneth & Bernadine Isomura
Tomoko Ito
Mary F. Kawamoto
Satoko Kobayashi
Katsuko (Kitty) Kodama
Greciana Langamon
Tommy Li
Stewart Kawaguchi
Ted Kawamoto
Catherine Makihara
Masako & Ken Moriyama
Anne Motozono
Daigo Naito

Roberta H. Nasu
Takeshi & Mizuho Ogasawara
Hanako Oye
Linda Kawamoto Reid
Jim & Norma Sawada
Audrey Shimozawa
Eva Shiho
Barbara Shishido
Charlotte Takasaki
Sharlene A. Tabata
Joyce C. Takeshita
Trevor Jones & Darlene Tanaka
Grace Tanaka
Ginzo & Harue Udagawa
Hisako Wada
Fred & Linda Yada
Mary Yamada
Chris, Jan Yamamoto & Family
Norine K. Yamamoto
Sam Yamamoto
Tatsuo & Mariko Yamamoto

HERITAGE ESTATE GIVING CIRCLE

Carrie Okano
Linda Kawamoto Reid
Richard & Gail Shinde
Norman Shuto
Haruko Takamori
Sian Tasaka
Fred & Linda Yada
Sam Yamamoto

Tamiko Corbett
Yoshiharu Hashimoto
Mitsuo & Emmie Hayashi
George & Elaine Homma
Betty Issenman
Sato Kobayashi
Gordon Kadota
Cathy Makihara
Robert & Jane Nimi

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Monthly Giving: Small Gifts Grow Into Big Benefits

Monthly donations play an essential part in helping Nikkei Place continue to enrich our community. Your small contributions can grow into big benefits for both you and our community. Here's how!

What’s ‘Monthly Giving’ and why should I consider it?

Monthly Giving is exactly what it sounds like — giving monthly donations to the charity you’re most passionate about.

Monthly donations play an essential part in helping Nikkei Place continue to enrich our community. When you give monthly, you provide us with a reliable and constant source of funding. This enables us to better forecast and budget the ways we can support the community, keep costs down, and strengthen donor relationships. When we know there are resources we can count on, big things can become a reality for our community.

It’s a great option for individuals who want to give back in small ways, and still make a lasting difference. Your small contributions can grow into big benefits for both you and our community. Here’s how!

The Benefits are Mutual

What’s in it for you?

It’s easy! Save time and postage by setting up recurring donations online, or by filling out our donor form with a voided cheque or credit card number and submitting it by email to gifts@nikkeiplacefoundation.org. If you prefer, you can also give us a call at 604.777.2122 and provide your information over the phone.
It’s affordable. For as little as $10/month, you can support Nikkei Place and all the good that happens here.
Giving options include: Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) from your bank account; credit card transactions, or post-dated cheques.
It’s flexible. There’s no pressure, and you can increase, decrease, or stop at anytime.
At the end of the year, you will receive a charitable tax receipt for your cumulative donations.
Monthly Giving Club members receive special benefits, such as invitations to donor events, and monthly recognition on our website and in The Bulletin magazine.
You can feel good knowing that you are making a difference every month.

What’s in it for us?

Recurring monthly donations help provide a reliable and constant source of funding.
It allows us to better forecast and budget the ways we can support our community.
Helps us develop strong relationships with our donors.
Keeps postage and administrative costs down, so that we can put more funds into where it’s needed most.

Join Our Monthly Giving Club

It’s easy! Set up monthly donations online or fill in and submit a Donation Form (click to download) and include a voided cheque or credit card number. If you prefer, you can also give us a call at 604.777.2122 and provide your information over the phone.

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Donor Spotlight: Frank H. Hori Charitable Foundation

Read about Frank Hori's life and the philanthropic endeavours of the Foundation he established.

Thank you to the Frank H. Hori Charitable Foundation

Nikkei Place Foundation graciously thanks the Frank H. Hori Charitable Foundation for their generous donation to our community this year! We are happy to share with you a letter from the Trustees of the Frank H. Hori Charitable Foundation, and the biography of Frank Hori. Learn about their philanthropic endeavours, and about the person who started it all.

Frank Hiroshi Hori

(February 2, 1927 – April 15, 2011)

Frank was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Haruye and Zenya Hori, originally from Shiga-ken, Japan. They were merchants of Japanese goods on Powell Street, at the centre of the city’s Nikkei (Japanese) community. Frank and his seven siblings grew up in a home filled with love, warmth, and the camaraderie of family and many Japanese friends.

During the war, the Hori family was sent to the Slocan Internment Camp (Bay Farm) for
a two-year period, where Frank attended a makeshift school. Eventually the family relocated to Regina, where he attended Regina College before moving to Montreal. He attended McGill University from 1951 to 1954, studying business and accounting.

Frank always remembered the funding support provided by his siblings towards his post-secondary studies.

Frank launched his 30-year career with Premium Forest Products, a Toronto-based door manufacturer, which was renamed Premdor Inc. when Frank and partners purchased the company. In 1986, Frank was instrumental in leading the company to public ownership with eventual international opportunities. He retired as Executive Vice-President and CFO of Premdor Inc. and as Vice-Chairman and Director of its subsidiary, Masonite International.

Frank was a highly proficient individual with a stellar acumen for business.

During his retirement, Frank acquired various real estate properties and became
a world traveller and a philanthropist with a deep passion for his cultural roots and heritage.

In 1999, Frank established The Frank H. Hori Charitable Foundation to promote charitable endeavours in general but mainly those aligned with his philanthropic ideals for Japanese culture: a caring society; post-secondary learning; and the honouring of meritorious Canadians of Japanese ancestry for their contributions to Canada.

The Frank H. Hori Charitable Foundation: Letter from the Trustees

In 1999, The Frank H. Hori Charitable Foundation was established to promote charitable endeavours in general but mainly those aligned with his philanthropic ideals for Japanese culture: a caring society; post-secondary learning; and the honouring of meritorious Canadians of Japanese ancestry for their contributions to Canada.

We the trustees of The Frank H. Hori Charitable Foundation are honoured to have been chosen by Mr. Hori for our various skills, acumen and personal philosophies towards his many passions and interests.

Our commitment and assurances to Frank that his philanthropic endeavours will continue to be supported along with the development of new programs are paramount.

The efforts to abide by our foundation charter and the diligence in preforming our research into all venues before we commit and support all programs are essential to ensure suitable sponsorship and funding can occur.

The responsibility of trustee to The Frank H. Hori Charitable Foundation is not only an honour but a serious position which we value and protect, and look forward to serving this foundation for many years.

Paul Uchikata Donna J. Hori Stella Chomiak
Trustees of The Frank H. Hori Charitable Foundation

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Nikkei Legacy Project

We are happy to share with you a little more detail about this upcoming initiative.

Gathering Oral Histories

Nikkei Place Foundation recently received a generous New Horizons for Seniors grant for the Nikkei Legacy Project. We are happy to share with you a little more detail about this upcoming initiative.

The goal of this project is to gather oral histories from founding leaders of Nikkei Place, in order to create a record of understanding surrounding the challenges and successes of creating a culturally specific campus like Nikkei Place.

We will be interviewing founding leaders, and compiling personal historical accounts of the community efforts made by our Japanese Canadian elders. Individuals will be asked to recount the challenges and successes in the early days of establishing Nikkei Place, as well as its commitment to senior care.

From these interviews, we will draw out the distinctive strengths of the programming and senior care found at Nikkei Place. We will document these best practices so that other ethnically or culturally specific societies and communities can learn and adapt from our experiences, and establish their own unique programming and senior care that addresses the needs of their communities.

Stay tuned for more updates!

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Monthly Donations Update (June 26 — July 25, 2019)

The Foundation acknowledges gifts we receive for Nikkei Place. Thank you to our recent donors from June 26, 2019 — July 25, 2019 inclusive!

Thank you to our recent donors!

Gifts listed from June 26, 2019 — July 25, 2019 inclusive

We apologize for any errors or omissions on this list. If your name has not been included, and you think it has been missed, please contact us and we will look into this right away.