１）Introducing our new Strategic Plan In the spring of 2020, JSS began to undertake our strategic planning to set our future directions. We are happy to announce our Strategic Directions 2021-2025, which sets three priority areas going forward: 1) enhance financial sustainability, 2) increase recognition in our community, and ultimately, 3) be the organisation that the community can count […]
It is hard to believe that it has been almost a year since the Japanese Social Services (JSS) had to close down our in-person programs. We moved to online services for the very first time, and kept searching for what we could do while providing at least something and somewhere for the community members to gather tosee each other’s faces and live reactions so everyone could feel connected.
By Takanori Kuge JSS has been providing counselling services to clients for almost three decades. Being the only available counselling and social work agency where services are offered in both English and Japanese in GTA or in Ontario, the issues that are brought forward for consultation, understandably, extend to all areas of human endeavour. In other words, […]
By Yuka Sato-Atiyota It has already been a year since we started using the word “pandemic”. I am strongly hoping everyone is staying safe despite the extraordinary challenges and hardships imposed by this situation. First, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your support to the 2020 Holiday Drive. I am very happy to inform you that it was a huge success this year again! Please see “Big Thanks from Holiday Drive […]
Michelle ChibbaThe JSS Board of Directors had another busy year working with staff to ensure our organization continues to serve our community’s needs.Financial Stability We continue to keep the financial viability of JSS a priority. The board’s approach is to strictly manage expenditures and continue to keep on top of fundraising and meeting with existing and […]
Japanese Social Services is starting its annual Holiday Drive Program. It is our hope that members of the community will continue to express their goodwill and caring by participating and contributing to this year’s Holiday Drive. In the past, the Holiday Drive has centered around the community gathering and donating various toys, gifts, and non-perishable […]
David Ikeda Dear members, volunteers, staff and board, it has been great honor and pleasure to serve as president of Japanese Social Services for these past five years. Together we have faced many challenges to deliver professional social services and counseling to our community. When Mr. Maekawa asked me to take on the job for […]
The Annual General Meeting of Japanese Social Services was held on August 25, 2020. This annual meeting is usually held in June, but due to the pandemic, it was postponed once and was held in a virtual format for the first time. Despite the circumstances, we are happy to report that the meeting proceeded smoothly, with more […]
By Takanori Kuge While I missed seeing everyone in person at this year’s AGM, it was nice to connect with new faces and familiar faces of the people attended the meeting. In this issue I’d like to describe a summary of the counsellors’ report that I presented in the AGM. [ Current trend ] While the total number of counselling service users […]
Chie Takano Reeves (Community Outreach Worker / Volunteer Coordinator) As a result of the pandemic, we have been offering our programs via online formats while in-person programs have been paused since mid-March. Online service is to completely new to us, and it was very much challenging to learn and used to it to the point that we can provide sessions and teach our […]
Tomoko Fukushima, Registered Nurse Every year around the end of October, the flu-shot becomes available in Ontario. There are a few types of flu vaccines, but most clinics use two types – Quadrivalent flu vaccine for people from 6 months to 64 years of age, and Trivalent high dose flu vaccine for 65 years and older. According to […]
By David Ikeda I know these continue to be extremely challenging times for everyone. Personally speaking my sense of time has become somewhat off. Indeed, I actually begin each day by having to ask what day it is. It doesn’t help that as I write this message in May, it is actually snowing outside my […]
JSS continues to offer counselling and information services via the phone/internet. Further, during the State of Emergency, all JSS services will be offered free of charge for the people experiencing hardship related to COVID-19. All our programs are temporarily suspended; however, planning is underway to deliver some of the programs in an online format. 【Current […]
Junko Mifune The increase of domestic violence (DV), child abuse, and elder abuse during the current COVID-19 pandemic has been reported across the world, including Canada. Under the current measures taken to combat the spread of COVID-19, victims and abusers are inevitably spending more time together at home. The additional likelihood of abusers experiencing more […]
Since the pandemic began, we have been as busy, if not more so, responding to the community needs. In April, we have delivered food and other items generously donated by Oomomo, a Japanese variety store, to our client families. Oomomo again contacted us in May, this time with an offer of mask donations. The masks are in the process of being […]
Welcome New Board Members! JSS welcomed two new members on our Board of Directors. Their profiles are below. Welcome Aaron and Yoko! Aaron Benjamin Mollin Aaron Benjamin Mollin is a Tokyo-based lawyer and executive search consultant, who is also engaged in myriad creative endeavors—from DJing, to fashion design. Aaron grew up in Toronto, but has […]
Nozomi (Zoe) Smith Lawyer, Pallett Valo LLP In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we realize more than ever the importance of having our proper documents in place to prepare for your “what-ifs”. Those documents are (i) Will, (ii) Continuing Power of Attorney for Property, and (iii) Power of Attorney for Personal Care. At the […]
As JSS continues to work for those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic, your generous support is needed more than ever. With our key fundraising opportunities such as the Toronto Challenge Charity Marathon being cancelled, we are experiencing a difficult financial situation. Please consider donating to help us support our community via cheques, online transfers, […]
With generous supports from the community and funders, JSS has been able to provide high-quality counselling service by qualified, bilingual (Japanese – English) counsellors at extremely low user fees for many years. Based on a user survey outcome and recent consultation with internal and external experts, we have come to a conclusion that it is […]