By Jean Peasah, Former JSS Counsellor Being born in the 1930s, I find that what most people would regard as history, remain very current and active in my mind. When the media, for example, comments that it is now 70 years since the end of the Second World War, my initial reaction is to be […]
By Junko Mifune, JSS Counsellor To follow up on my previous article, I would like to write about the impact of DV on children. As noted in my previous article, in homes where DV occurs, the victim is a mother, the abuse she experiences impacts her physical and mental health, and she is often traumatized by her adverse experience. Children living with DV are also greatly affected by their exposure to violence in their homes, because their needs for safety, stability, and consistency that children require are threatened.
By Satomi Hiraga, Coordinator On March 29th 2015, Japanese Social Services (JSS) hosted ‘Dementia Caravan’, a dementia seminar, in conjunction with the Toronto New Japanese Canadian Association (NJCA). The seminar was held in the Hiroko-Barall Room at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre and was attended by 16 participants. This was the second time that JSS […]
Japanese Social Services (JSS) is asked to consult on a wide range of problems, including Domestic Violence (referred as DV), some of which involve life and death situations. JSS’s two counsellors have been involved in such issues for many years, and each issue needs a lot of time, effort and resources to try to resolve.
It has been almost four years since the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11th, 2011. I was born and raised in the small town of Ishinomaki in Tohoku. My father ran his own business there and had lots of interaction with most of the people in the community. Therefore, as I grew up, I felt part of one big family and I was being treated just like other people’s own children.
People often ask me what my secret is for living an active, spirited life. They want to know the secret of my fountain of youth. I am 91 years and a half at present, but I cannot think of anything special I have been doing for my health and longevity. If I look back on my life, I might be able to come up with some of the sources of my energy.
If you are a JSS member I am sure you’ve heard of or been to our Craft Club. In 2009 I was given the opportunity to teach Etegami (picture letters) for the first time at this club. I had just retired from full-time work after immigrating to Toronto. I enjoyed staying home as a wife without a job for the first time ever in my life and I felt like volunteering. This was always my desire. While looking into volunteer opportunities in Toronto I visited JSS.
It has been eight years since I started teaching French home cooking. I never enjoyed cooking very much because I had never learned to do it properly. Then I read a large number of cookbooks and cooking magazines, which my mother and mother-in-law who lives in France sent to me.
