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 […]
Takanori Kuge The population of Japanese Canadians, even “Newer” Japanese Canadians, is aging. This fact is reflected in the cases that I have been dealing with in our counselling services. We have seen an increase in the number of cases involving senior’s issues. For clinical issues such as dementia and various mental disorders, JSS provides […]
Big Thanks from Holiday Drive 2019 Thank you for your generous support of our 2019 Holiday Drive. The Holiday Drive program was able to receive a variety of gifts and donations as the heartfelt expressions of goodwill from community members. These donations were successfully delivered to 25 families, consisting of 60 individuals including many children […]
We have finished a busy summer here at JSS. Since the July issue of the newsletter, we have welcomed another new board member, Tomoko Fukushima, hosted our Volunteer Appreciation Lunch, and begun one of our most important annual fundraising campaigns, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. I do not say “important” lightly. JSS relies on financial […]
On October 20, JSS will participate in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. For the 6th straight year, JSS staff, board members, and their family members will be running and walking with the goal of raising $5,000 for JSS services and programs. Unfortunately, JSS counsellor and runner extraordinaire, Takanori Kuge will not be able to participate […]
Information compiled by Yuka Sato-Atiyota, MSW, RSW, and JSS Board Member September is Suicide Awareness Month, and World Suicide Prevention day was September 10th. The main message of the World Suicide Prevention Day campaign is: Take a Minute. Take a minute to notice what is going on with you, your family, your friends and your colleagues. […]
Michelle Chibba, VP Board of Directors Usually, I will see a movie and then share my thoughts on what I thought of it. This time, I would like to let you know about a movie I am looking forward to seeing. The movie, “I Go Gaga my Dear.” will be shown at the JCCC on […]
As a new addition to JSS board, I am excited and humbled to be a part of the family. I have been a nurse in Canada and in the U.S. for 12 years at both acute care and the community setting. As much as I want to contribute my humble experience to JSS, I would […]