2022 Annual General Meeting – Sunday, Feb 27

The VNCS AGM will be held on Sunday, Feb 27, 2022, 10 AM to 12 PM. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, this will be a virtual gathering using Zoom. To attend the AGM you must register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Click here to REGISTER!

To vote at the AGM you must be a paid up member of the VNCS. You can take out or renew a membership through our Web site, https://www.vncs.ca/about-the-vncs/annual-memberships/ and pay via PayPal, e-transfer or good old physical cheque in the mail.

This year we will have Guest Speaker, Dennis Minaker, Gorge historian and author of the book, The Gorge of Summers Gone – A History of Victoria’s Inland Waterway. Join Dennis as he recalls the waterway of a century ago – a time of regattas, swimming galas, high-diving towers, an amusement park, mansions, a Japanese Tea Garden and more.

Minutes from the 2021 AGM can be viewed here: https://vncs.ca/AGM/2021-02-21-VNCS-AGM-Minutes.pdf
 

AGM Agenda

9:45 am

  • AGM Assembly (Logging on to Zoom)

10:00 am

  • Call to order
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Minutes of Annual General Meeting held Feb 21, 2021

10:05 am

Reports

  • President’s Report: Tsugio Kurushima
  • Treasurer’s Report: Ken Watai
  • Newsletter/Communications Report: Yukari Peerless
  • Website Report: Craig Mercer
  • Uminari Taiko Report: Susan Kurushima
  • Furusato Dancers Report: Tsugio Kurushima
  • Sakura Fujinkai Report: Susan Kurushima
  • Cultural Fall Fair Report: Craig Mercer
  • NAJC Report: Tsugio Kurushima
  • Community Outreach Program: Mieko Fedrau
  • Membership Report: Tony Ibaraki

Other Business

11:30 am

  • Election of Officers and Directors: Debbie Ibaraki

11:40 pm

  • Guest Speaker – Dennis Minaker

12:00 pm

  • Adjournment of AGM

Board Nominations are now open for the 2022 Board of Directors

The Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society was formed in 1993 specifically to establish a sense of community for those of Japanese heritage and/or those interested in Japanese culture. Since its inception it has become a vibrant cultural organization that not only promotes Japanese and Japanese-Canadian cultural but undertakes advocacy work for the Japanese-Canadian community. We have become the go-to
organization for things Japanese in Victoria.

  • Do you have a passion for Japanese culture?
  • Do you feel strongly about standing up for Japanese-Canadian rights?
  • Are you concerned about the rise in anti-Asian racism?
  • Do you care about the future of the VNCS?

If so please consider joining the VNCS Board.

As a Board member you will help make decisions on what activities and actions the VNCS should undertake, help to shape the future of the VNCS and help build a strong Japanese-Canadian community. The time commitment is not onerous. We only meet 10 times a year. You don’t need to be of Japanese heritage to sit on our Board, just an individual who shares our vision and passion.

If you are interested please contact info@vncs.ca.

As the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) approaches, nominations for board members are now open and will be voted on at the AGM. You can download the form below, nominate yourself or someone else (be sure you talk to them first!), and then either email, or snail mail the nomination before the AGM.

VNCS Board Nomination Form:
https://www.vncs.ca/resources/VNCS-Board-Nomination-Form.pdf

Anti-Asian Racism – The Model Minority Myth

In response to the alarming rise in anti-Asian racism, the Act2EndRacism Network has produced five short videos, seeking to counter disinformation and misinformation that has fuelled anti-Asian sentiment. The goal of these videos is to have you reflect on your experiences, engage in conversations, and together find ways to address anti-Asian racism, hate and intolerance. Last month we posted the first video on Microaggression. Here is the second video in the series, The Model Minority Myth.



VNCS Manju Fundraiser – COMING SOON!

As you may know, we have decided not to hold the annual Japanese Cultural Fair this fall due to ongoing uncertainties with the Covid-19 Pandemic (Delta variant), but fear not! We are planning a Mochi Manju and Yaki Manju sale and fundraiser soon. Pre-order and pick up information will be coming soon to your inbox. You may not be able to experience the sights and sounds of the fair but you will be able to experience the taste and will be back in 2022 better than ever!

2021 Obon Grave Washing a huge success!

Volunteers at the 2021 Grave Washing.

Thank you so much to all of the wonderful volunteers who were able to come and make this year’s grave washing an amazing success. Although the forecast was for quite warm weather, as is typical at Ross Bay Cemetery, it was quite windy and cool. We had a great group of around 25 volunteers clean all of the graves of early the Japanese pioneers and Japanese-Canadians buried there. In addition so many flowers were donated that we even had some left over. Arigatou gozaimashita!

Membership Renewal Reminder

HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR MEMBERSHIP YET?

Have you renewed your VNCS membership yet? ($10 for individual, $15 for family)
There are 3 ways to renew your membership:

  • e-transfer to vncstreasurer@shaw.ca  (Please make sure you write your name clearly) and please send your name/details to in a separate email so we can keep the database up to date.
  • Online with PayPal  at here or
  • Mail a cheque payable to Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society to 4401 Tremblay Drive, Victoria BC, V8N 4W6

会員の更新はお済みですか？

VNCSの会費は個人会員$10、家族会員$15です。更新の方法は3つ：

Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society宛ての小切手を4401 Tremblay Drive, Victoria BC, V8N 4W6 まで郵送してください。