We owe our long and rich history to the many generations of volunteers who have stepped up to help build and support a community for Japanese Canadians. Thanks to their contributions, we are able to offer programs and activities like Shichigosan, Mochitsuki, Bazaars, and our famous lunches as well as a volunteer-run library with over 40,000 books! These events and opportunities to connect have made VJLS-JH like a second home for many of our members where they can feel connected to their community and culture and to raise their families.
Volunteering is a great way to get involved and connected to our warm, welcoming community and we encourage everyone – of all backgrounds and ability – to volunteer and help continue the important legacy and sense of inclusion that makes VJLS-JH special.
As an organization that supports the next generation of Japanese Canadians, we prioritize opportunities for youth who are looking to gain volunteer and work experience and who are hoping to become future community leaders.
There is a long history of giving within the Japanese Canadian community and we are grateful to have benefitted from the generosity of multiple generations of donors. Whether it is a gift of money, with which we can repair our facility, or a bag of rice for a meal program, or books for our library, all gifts are welcomed and celebrated. These gifts support our language, culture, and history and allow us to preserve this important space for community and connections for our children and future generations.
In addition to opportunities to support your favourite programs – including our Language School and Child care programs – we also offer other ways to give back and support our community.
Our members play an important role in connecting our organization to the community that we serve. They select our Board, approve our bylaws, and help ensure that we are meeting the needs of our members, families, students, and community at large. Throughout our history our members have ensured that we remain connected to what matters most to us, and that we preserve this organization and space for future generations.
We encourage all individuals of voting age (19 years old) to become a member, to exercise their power to vote, to become more familiar with the organization, and to help guide it into the future.
