JETAA Prairies will hold a panel + Q&A on Friday, July 26th, 7:30pm in the JCAM Room (Room 15) at the RBC Convention Centre
Do you see that dotted red circle in the above image? That is the JETAA Prairies panel + Q & A called Wild and Wonderful Stories from Japan. It will take place at Room 15 at the RBC Convention Centre, Friday, July 26th, at 7:30pm. More importantly, our alumni will be present to share their wacky stories from the Land of the Rising Sun. Also, for those who are thinking about applying for JET Programme some time in the future, this is the perfect opportunity to ask your questions.
JETAA Prairies alumni hosts a karaoke party for the new JETs. The new JETs depart for Japan in August 2019.
On Saturday, July 13th, JETAA Prairies alumni hosted the newly-selected JETS to a karaoke party. Everyone brought snacks and drinks. At the start of the evening, the new JETs asked questions about Japan and JET alumni advised the new JETs and shared more stories. The night continued by singing our favourite songs.
Next up for the JETAA Prairies: we will host a panel talking about our first-hand hilarious stories in Japan for Ai-Kon on Friday, July 26th at 7:30pm in the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg. See you there! (Please check Ai-Kon’s official website to make sure of final date and time)
JETAA Prairies alumni enjoying a chat and relaxing in Assiniboine Park. June 23rd, 2019
JETAA Prairies held its first family picnic event at Assiniboine Park this past Sunday. Alumni enjoyed food, drinks, and (Japanese) games (such as kendama and bamboo-copter) on a perfect sunny day. More importantly, alumni and their children were able to enjoy this event together. Also, a newly selected JET came and the enjoyed listening hilarious stories from alumni.
In other news, our next event is the Karaoke Send-Off on July 13th. It is open to alumni and new JETs. To RSVP, please visit our Facebook event page.
The new JETs pose in jinbei and yukatas. June 15th, 2019, at JCAM.
This year, the JET Programme selected three people from Manitoba and six from Saskatchewan for the 2019-2020 year. JETAA Prairies alumni held an orientation at the Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba for the new JETs. Alumni brought the doughnuts, coffee, and lunch for everyone involved in the full-day event. Above all, alumni brought a lot of vital information about Japan and what’s to come.
JETAA Prairies member, Roger, giving presentation about what to bring to Japan, June 15th, 2019 at JCAM.
Alumni talked about what to bring to Japan, how to get involved with the community, and an interactive time-capsule activity where the new JETs wrote their goals for Japan and current emotions (subsequently, alumni will mail these worksheets to the new JETs in December). More importantly, there were surprises for the new JETs. The new JETs tried on yukatas/jinbeis (brought by alumni). Next, alumni Michelle brought her photo albums about her experience on JET in the late 90s and talked about how JET affected her career path. Following that, everyone chowed down on Chosabi sushi burritos.
JETAA Prairies alumni, Michelle, brings her photo albums and talks about her experiences on JET in the 90s. June 15th, 2019 at JCAM.
After that, alumni talked via Appear.in with a current JET, Jenna, who departed Winnipeg last year. She talked about her JET life so far. Interestingly, one of the new JETs is friends with Jenna.
JETAA Prairies holding a teleconference with Jenna, current JET living in Saitama, and talking about her experiences so far. June 15th, 2019.
Yes, you read the right! We will hold our first ever picnic near the Lyric Theatre at Assiniboine Park, Sunday, June 23rd, 2019, 11am-3pm. Please bring some snacks to share. Certainly, if you have some Japanese clothing like a yūkata or jinbei, you are more than welcome to wear it. We will have some (Japanese) games for the kids, too. More importantly, don’t forget the sunscreen!
His Excellency, Mr. Kimihiro Ishikane, his wife Ms. Kaoru Ishikane, representatives of the Consul General of Japan in Calgary and the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa, and members of the JETAA Prairies at the Fort Garry Hotel after lunch, Tuesday, May 14th, 2019
On Tuesday, May 14th, JETAA Prairies members were invited to have lunch with the Ambassador of Japan to Canada, His Excellency Mr. Kimihiro Ishikane. Mr. Ishikane, his wife Ms. Kaoru Ishikane, representatives from the Consul General of Japan in Calgary, and JETAA Prairies members gathered at the historic Fort Garry Hotel. Mr. Ishikane is making an official visit to Winnipeg.
Indeed, JETAA Prairies would like to send our sincerest gratitude to Ambassador of Japan, Ms. Ishikane, Consul General of Japan in Calgary, and the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa for having us. In addition, if you would like to know more about His Excellency Mr. Kimihiro Ishikane, please read his CV.
Monthly Meeting in Osborne Village
Coincidentally, the evening of May 14th was also the time for our Monthly meeting. Members gathered at the famous Baked Expectations in Osborne Village. Particularly, we discussed plans in the upcoming months. For example, the upcoming Pre-Departure Orientation in June, Ai-kon, and Folklorama. Furthermore, if you would like to help in some sort of capacity for any of these events, please let us know via our Facebook group page or Contact Form.
Cake and coffee/latte at Baked Expectations, May 14th, 2019
Is there a better way to spend time with individuals who have lived in Japan than eating dessert in a popular Winnipeg neighbourhood? Soon, we will meet next Tuesday, May 14th, at 6:30pm at Baked Expectations, 161 Osborne Street. Furthermore, the main points on the agenda are:
We will discuss planning for the Pre-Departure Orientation (happening on June 15th)
Ai-kon (July 26th – July 8th)
Folklorama 2019: Winnipeg’s largest multicultural festival
Likewise, if you are a JET alumni, are willing/genki to help out (even for just a little bit), and are hungry for some dessert, let us know via our Contact Form or Facebook Event.
By the way, this is our first monthly meeting under the Reiwa Era! We hope to see you all soon! (Side note: we have moved our monthly meetings from the second Thursday to the second Tuesday of every month)
Do you crave for Japanese food? Why don’t you join us?
On April 14th, 2019, JETAA Prairies members, met at Izakaya Edokko in Downtown Winnipeg for the Annual General Meeting. JETAA Prairies is the local Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) alumni chapter representing Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Indeed, nine members showed up. We briefly introduced ourselves, and enjoyed the delicious food while talking about Game of Thrones and the Winnipeg Jets.
Afterward, the members reflected on past JETAA Prairies events/activities. For example, we reflected on last year’s National Conference at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, our info booth/panel at Ai-kon/Winterfest, the Japanese language classes for alumni, and the inaugural Japan Trivia Night. Truly, JETAA Prairies had an eventful year.
More importantly, we also voted for the 2019-2020 Executive. The results are:
Jeff: President
Melissa: Treasurer
Carol: Secretary
Ali: Cultural Ambassador
Roger: Senior Advisor
Alastair: Legal Attaché
Rigor: Webmaster/Communications
For the rest of the year, we have upcoming events lined up. For example, we will hold our Pre-Departure Orientation for the new JETs, we will return to Folklorama this year, and many others. Hence: stay tuned. By the way, if you are interested in helping out, even for a little bit, please let us know via our Contact Form.
We will be holding our Annual General Meeting on Sunday, April 14th, 2019, 12pm at Izakaya Edokko, 190 Smith Street. This is your opportunity to voice your opinions/suggestions for events that JETAA Prairies should get involved in. Also, we will also be creating the 2019/2020 executive! This event is open to all JETAA Prairies alumni. You don’t have to be a regular volunteer of the JETAA Prairies community to attend. If you can only attend the AGM, that is ok, too. If you are planning to go, please let us know via our website or our Facebook events page on what you want to order by April 12th. We can cover the cost of appetizers for everyone, however, each member is responsible for his/her own meal (here’s the link to Izakaya Edokko’s menu). We won’t do omakase because it requires an $80 minimum per person.
JETAA Prairies is saddened to learn that one of the passengers on board Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 was Canadian JET alumni, Darcy Belanger. Below is a written statement from the Consul-General of Japan in Calgary:
We have learned that one of our former JET Programme participants, Mr. Darcy Belanger from Edmonton Alberta, passed away on 10 March 2019, a victim of the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.
Mr. Belanger, a citizen of Canada, was an Assistant Language Teacher at Shizuoka Nishi High School in Shizuoka Prefecture from 1995 to 1997.
A construction executive by day, Mr. Belanger was a founding member and Strategic Initiative Director of Parvati.org, a non-profit organisation that focuses on eradicating global hunger and poverty. He worked on the organisation’s MAPS (Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary) initiative, a proposal to declare the Arctic Ocean north of the Arctic Circle an international peace park. He was on his way to the UN Environment Assembly to promote this initiative.
We at the Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary are enormously grateful for Mr. Belanger’s contributions, and we offer our sincerest condolences.
