Redress Anniversary Gala Reception
November 25, 2018
Redress Anniversary Gala Reception
30 Years Later – The Celebration Continues
It was a joy to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Apology and Redress for Japanese Canadians with so many friends, The Toronto NAJC Redress Gala Reception on Thursday, November 8th was the finale in a series of events that took place across the country to remember September 22, 1988, the day the Redress agreement was signed and the day Prime Minister Brian Mulroney apologized for the unjust treatment of Japanese Canadians.
On September 20th, 2018 the Ottawa Japanese Community Association & Cultural Centre held a conference, Revisiting Japanese Canadian Redress hosted by Library and Archives Canada. On September 22nd, at the Human Rights Museum there was a Gala dinner in Winnipeg, attended by over 300 as part of the NAJC National AGM and Conference. On October 6th, the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre in Vancouver held a fundraising dinner and honoured members of the NAJC Redress Strategy Committee. Included in that group were Justice Maryka Omatsu and Art Miki, who spoke at the Toronto NAJC gala reception. The Kamloops Japanese Cultural Centre held a Redress Anniversary event on October 22nd
Closing this season of celebration was the sold-out Toronto NAJC event which was attended by members of most every JC organization in Toronto. Our heartfelt thanks for your generous support. Over 250 persons of all ages gathered to renew old friendships and to make new friends. We were delighted to have many attendees from Hamilton thanks to the efforts of Hamilton NAJC President Patti Simpson.
Present were Pamela Waintraub, Chair of the Momiji Board of Directors and Michael Doi, Vice-President. It was announced that the Toronto NAJC has pledged $60,000 to the Momiji Capital campaign over the next three years. Michael is the soon-to-be former President of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers and we congratulate him on his appointment to the judiciary.
The format of the evening, a departure from the traditional banquet was a great success as friends, past and present mingled freely and new friendships were formed. In the words of Toronto NAJC Board member Kim Uyede-Kai, “Our community is remarkable and last night showed how we yearn to come together and show up for one another.” Our leadership guests included Shin Imai, Bryce Kanbara, Bill Kobayashi, Joy Kogawa, Art Miki, Frank Moritsugu and Justice, Maryka Omatsu.
Featured speakers were Art Miki, NAJC President 1984-92 and Justice Maryka Omatsu, Sodan Kai Co-Founder and Legal Counsel and Strategist for the NAJC through those critical years. Justice Omatsu introduced and presented her powerful video, Swimming Upstream, Injustice Revealed which holds to account the key public officials who engineered the total displacement and dispossession of Japanese Canadians in British Columbia and the racist motives of the politicians who acted in complete opposition to the advice of their officials that Japanese Canadians did not pose a security risk and were loyal Canadians. She encouraged attendees to be aware of the current efforts in BC to obtain a meaningful provincial apology. Art Miki reminded us of the complexities and conflicts of the campaign and details, both dramatic and humorous from those years.
The final segment of the evening, Beyond Three Generations included Board member Kim Uyede-Kai, Derek Sakauye and Mark Sakamoto. All three of whom reaffirmed that the story we have to tell comes attached with a responsibility to continue to strengthen the fabric of our country by speaking out against racism and civil-rights violations in Canada. Robert-Falcon Ouellette MP for Winnipeg Centre ended the evening on an extraordinary musical note with a traditional First Nations song of peace and love.
Our newest Board member and Gala Chair, Lynn Deutscher Kobayashi led a multi-generational, twelve-member committee of highly capable individuals that spanned six decades. Board members Janet Sakauye and Ron Shimizu were joined on the committee by Susan Aihoshi, Steven Deutscher-Kobayashi, Mika Fukuma, Joanne Kataoka, Caitlin Morishita-Miki, Lynne Nagata, Derek Sakauye, Thuy Truong and Michelle Walters.
The support of our many sponsors enabled us to extend our event to the Founder’s Lounge and invite the Momiji Japonica volunteer team led by Mayumi Maemura to set-up a Silent Auction and Sale. The team rolled in with flourish and finesse to add some fundraising fun to the evening.
A very special thanks is due Derek Sakauye who laboured long and hard to format the 36-page gala booklet which some are calling a “collector’s item”. Art Miki advised us all to read the booklet for its good information and Bryce Kanbara commented “Very thorough and rich with information. Terrific!” We will be posting the booklet online in December.
Said Frank Moritsugu Redress deserves “a splendid gala” and in the words of lead sponsor Raymond Moriyama “this should be celebrated every five years”.
SPONSORS & DONORS
The Board is grateful to; lead sponsors Raymond and Sachi Moriyama and Bruce Kuwabara, Pre-reception sponsors MNP and Patron Sponsors CBRE, Kobayashi + Zedda Architects, Mark Matsumoto, Michael Doi and Julia Shin-Doi, the Family of Bill & Addie Kobayashi and Toshi and Nobu Oikawa.