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Our Story
Healing deep wounds. Together.
The Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians began as a local Vancouver community movement in 2006, focusing on the public disclosure of Nakayama's decades of clergy sexual abuse from the Anglican Church of Canada. We have made great strides at each step leading to the creation of the Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians, a project that will promote and support healing efforts among survivors and their families, and for the community.
We challenge the decades-long history of secrecy surrounding these crimes and will work with you in your healing journey.
Members of the Healing Fund Project Office
Connie Kadota, Emiko Lashin, Wendy Matsubuchi-Bremner, Kevin Okabe, and Naomi Shikaze
Wendy Matsubuchi-Bremner - North Vancouver
I am Wendy Matsubuchi-Bremner, yonsei/4th gen from North Vancouver. My mother is Esther Yorimi Sunohara [Marpole, Slocan, Toronto] and my father was Edward Takeshi Matsubuchi [Cumberland, Hastings Park, Greenwood, Montreal]. After decades of pursuing justice for at least four of her brothers, Mom handed over the torch to me and told me it was my turn to advocate for all survivors and justice.
Emiko Lashin - Vancouver
My name is Emiko (Emi) Lashin. Part of the kanji for Emiko carries with it the meaning of "giver" and sure enough I have ended up pursuing giving professions such as nursing, teaching and counselling. I am presently retired but very active in the community. I have worked with many "movers and shakers" in the community, Judy Hanazawa being one of them. We learned about GG Nakayama about 16 years ago and have been working on obtaining retribution for the survivors of his abuse ever since.
Kevin Okabe, CPA, CA - Karnanaskis (Alberta)
Kevin is the Executive Director for the NAJC and has been providing management and administrative support to the project on behalf of the NAJC. He is a Yonsei (father’s side) and Nisei (mother’s side) and has been involved as a volunteer in the Japanese Canadian community for over thirty years, leveraging from his experience as a consultant, small business owner and business executive. He served for five terms on the NAJC National Executive Board as a Director, Secretary and Treasurer for the NAJC.