Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson (left) at the official opening of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto, 1964. Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre 2001.12.15
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SJCTM - 24 - Cultural Centres
Just what is it with Japanese Canadian cultural centres, anyway? This episode, Raymond and Carolyn discuss this phenomenon, from the JCCC in Toronto to centres in Montreal, Steveston, and even the Nikkei Centre which they're recording out of. Different centres across Canada have unique and interesting origins related to varying histories of postwar Japanese Canadian settlement, and today continue to provide space for their local communities in many ways. Many were built with the help of the redress settlement, and are important venues for celebrating multiculturalism and Japanese heritage today.
Further reading:
"Art Miki: Canadian Redress Leader and Human Rights Champion". Interview with Norm Ibuki.
Check out your local centre:
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (Toronto)
Canadian Japanese Cultural Centre of Hamilton
Ottawa Japanese Community Association/ Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre
Lakehead Japanese Cultural Association (Thunder Bay)
Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba
Calgary Nikkei Cultural & Senior Centre
Japanese Canadian Association of Yukon
Vernon Japanese Cultural Centre
Kamloops Japanese Canadian Association
Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society
Seven Potatoes Society (formally the Central Vancouver Island Japanese-Canadian Cultural Society)
Did we miss yours? Let us know!