Closing Out the Survivors Fund with Gratitude
“I will be 104 years old this August. My sincere appreciation for my cheque.” – JCSHWF recipient
“Thanks so much for all your time and effort to make this happen, and the follow-up as well. This is a great thing you are doing to provide some level of closure for those Canadian citizens who were unjustly treated.“ – JCSHWF recipient
The Japanese Canadian Legacies Society (JCLS) is pleased to announce the successful completion and wrap-up of the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health and Wellness Fund. Seniors Health & Wellness is one of the five key funded pillars of JC Legacies and this fund speaks to the heart of our mandate: honouring our elders for their sacrifices and their guidance. By ensuring that thousands of Survivors across Canada and around the world received the recognition, respect, and tangible support they deserve, we not only honour their resilience but create a legacy of care and dignity for the generations that follow.
We extend our deepest gratitude and kansha (感謝) to the dedicated founding board members of the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health and Wellness Fund Society (JCSHWFS) representing seniors organizations across the country, led by President Cathy Makihara, Vice-President and Treasurer David Iwaasa, and Secretary Kelvin Higo, with directors Ruth Coles, Susan Matsumoto, Marlene Mori, Ann Ashley, and Shelley-Ann Yamashita.
The team worked under incredible pressure from the community with a simple and clear mandate: to provide individual health and wellness support grants to Japanese Canadian Survivors. Operating under the umbrella of JCLS, the Society’s mission was to identify, reach, and serve living Survivors by distributing $28 million in health funding. JCLS acknowledges the staff, outreach workers, and volunteers of the JCSHWFS for their hard work and tireless dedication serving the community in this vital area.
Supporting Survivors
In total, over 5,000 seniors were served, with the grants providing essential relief for out-of-pocket health expenses, equipment, and wellness needs, honouring the resilience of a generation that persevered with grace through difficult years. This important work received critical support on a national scale.
JCSHWFS Board of Directors
JCSHWFS Team
Leadership: Joanne Miyazaki. From west to east: Holly Sakaki, Afzal Barmania, Elizabeth Miyanaga, Yumi Deyell, Chihiro Honma, Maureen Hatanaka, Tomoyo Udagawa, Momona Ishihara, Roger Teshima, Susan Huntley, Pamela Okano, Caroline Yamashita, Katherine Arima, Mark Uyeda, Elissa Kunihiro, Erica Shin, Erin Oikawa, Abagail Kataoka, Donald Watanabe.
Message from the Board and Team
Across Canada, over 40 regional Japanese Canadian organizations and groups generously provided office and event space, and communicated to their members on behalf of the Society. Some provided staff to assist at events. Over 146 in-person events were conducted. Our team met with 3,800 Survivors at scheduled events. Some Survivors meet with outreach workers in a wide range of settings: in their homes, nearby public spaces like malls, restaurants or libraries, or in virtual online meetings. Some outreach workers taught Survivors new skills in order to participate in online meetings.
The Board is grateful of the efforts of the intergenerational staff team, supported by regional volunteers. Over 87 volunteers from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Japan assisted, some on multiple occasions. Survivors were treated with compassion and respect during the validation process, which for some raised traumatic experiences of the past. Staff reported that ‘while many entered the project with a strong knowledge about the history of the displacement and the forced exile of our JC community, some of the individual stories that the Survivors relayed were heart-wrenching. The on-going trauma is real and will last a lifetime for these Survivors.’
As we prepare to shut down the Society, some modest residual funds are being disbursed to a limited number of regional Canadian JC partners to provide health and wellness support for Japanese Canadian Survivors. Organizations will be selected based on supporting the JCSHWF, catchment area of Survivors, and existing programs and services available. The funding will be used primarily to support Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness, with at least 80% going to programming for Survivors and a maximum of 20% used for administration.
As the Society prepares to close its doors, we acknowledge the patience of our Survivors and their families. Thank you for your courage, your perseverance, and your heart. It’s time to say goodbye. With respect, gratitude and deep appreciation, please take care and be well – ogenkide.
– Japanese Canadian Survivors Health and Wellness Fund Society