Question 1

1. How were the Healing Fund projects chosen?

Accepted Answer

The Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians was established following consultation with the Japanese Canadian community. In 2017-2018 two members of the Japanese Canadian Working Group travelled across the country meeting with survivors, survivor families, and members of the Japanese Canadian community to ask them directly what their priorities were for a Healing Fund. Out of these meetings a report was drafted summarizing community requests of the Anglican Church of Canada, which included requests for counselling funding and educational resources. A summary of the most common of these requests became the Healing Fund projects and were included in the joint press release by the ACC and NAJC outlining the $610,000.

Question 2

2. Who can apply for these resources?

Accepted Answer

The Healing Fund supports the survivors of Mr. Nakayama’s clergy sexual abuse, their families, and others who have been affected by these crimes.  Survivors are individuals who were sexually abused by Mr. Nakayama. Survivor family members are the families of survivors including, but not limited to, siblings of survivors and their descendants.

Question 3

3. How was the Healing Fund figure of $610,000 decided on? Does this figure reflect the intergenerational trauma and mental health effects that the abuse has caused?"

Accepted Answer

Consultations on the Healing Fund have been ongoing between the Japanese Canadians and the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) as a meaningful follow-up to the 2015 apology presented by the ACC at the Vancouver Japanese Language School. Healing initiatives were collected from Japanese Canadians across Canada in 2017-2018 and these suggestions were submitted to the ACC as part of our consultations. In March 2021 the ACC authorized $610,000 to be used toward a meaningful follow-up to the 2015 apology and the Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians was established. Additional sums may be contributed in the future.

Question 4

4. Will there be more funding in the future?

Accepted Answer

$610,000 was authorized by the Anglican Church of Canada, the Diocese of Calgary, and the Diocese of New Westminster to be used to establish the Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians in March, 2021. Additional sums may be contributed in the future.

Question 5

5. Is the Anglican Church publicly taking responsibility for failing to protect its most vulnerable constituents? If so, what are they doing to educate and monitor their clergy in order to prevent such a tragedy from occurring in the future?"

Accepted Answer

An apology was issued to the survivors, survivor families and the greater community affected by the crimes of Mr. Nakayama. A link to the apology as reported on The Bulletin magazine can be found here.

Question 6

6. How much support can I receive?

Accepted Answer

The Healing Fund projects are here to support survivors, survivor families and community members affected by Mr. Nakayama’s crimes in their healing journey. Contact us if your circumstances have not been addressed.

Question 7

7. Is there a section for direct financial compensation?

Accepted Answer

No, the Healing Fund does not cover direct financial compensation.

Question 8

8. Does the Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians offer legal advice?

Accepted Answer

No, please consult an accredited lawyer with legal questions.

Question 9

9. I knew a survivor of Mr. Nakayama’s abuse who has now passed. Is the Anglican Church taking responsibility for their trauma?

Accepted Answer

We understand that many Japanese Canadians who were abused by Mr. Nakayama are no longer with us. Reflecting on the time it took for the Japanese Canadian community and the Anglican Church of Canada to reach this stage in the healing process is a sobering thought for us all. We (members of Healing Fund project office) have family members and friends who did not live to see the Healing Fund. The Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians offers support for counselling funding, education grants, and community healing initiatives.

Question 10

10. Can we use the Healing Funds for other programs that are not listed?

Accepted Answer

The Healing Fund projects are here to support survivors, survivor families and community members affected by Mr. Nakayama’s crimes. Contact us if your circumstances have not been addressed.

Question 11

11. Will the Anglican Church be releasing their records on Mr. Nakayama?

Accepted Answer

The Anglican Diocese Archives of Calgary and New Westminster have promised to open their records regarding Mr. Nakayama and have been receptive of requests for documents for the Healing Fund.

Question 12

1. Who can apply for therapy funding?

Accepted Answer

The Healing Fund supports the survivors of Mr. Nakayama’s clergy sexual abuse, their families, and others who have been affected by these crimes.

Question 13

2. Who will my therapist be?

Accepted Answer

Community members are encouraged to find an accredited therapist of their choosing as finding someone you are comfortable with is a very personal choice. We will help in any way we can to find the right therapist in your healing journey.

Question 14

3. Is my information shared with the Anglican Church?

Accepted Answer

Your personal information will not be shared with the Anglican Church.

Question 15

1. Will we have in-person Healing Gatherings in the future?

Accepted Answer

Yes! As COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are lifted we plan to host in-person meetings again. If you are interested in hosting your own small healing gathering you may apply for funding here.

Question 16

2. I am unable to travel. Will I be able to participate virtually at an in-person meeting?

Accepted Answer

Zoom connections will be available for future in-person meetings in order to accommodate as many participants as possible.

Question 17

3. I attended a Zoom meeting on June 26, 2021 with guest speaker Dr. Satsuki Ina. Will there be another opportunity to listen to Dr. Ina?"

Accepted Answer

Dr. Ina has been invited to speak again on intergenerational trauma and clergy child sexual abuse. We will send out an emails with any news to our mailing list. Fill in our contact form to be added to the mailing list and complete the community feedback form before September 2023 to indicate your interest.

Question 18

1. I want to host a community healing event. What support can I receive?

Accepted Answer

We look forward to helping you with this community healing event! We can provide financial support to offset the costs of travel, venue rental, supplies, speaker fees, snacks, etc. We can also help get you healing and educational resources for your event. Submit an application or get in contact with us today.

Question 19

2. What kinds of healing initiatives can be covered?

Accepted Answer

The Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians offers grants for community healing and education efforts to teach, discuss and promote a shared healing process for survivor families of Mr. Nakayama’s clergy sexual abuse. We acknowledge the depth of harm that went on within the community and know that community harm requires community healing. A wide variety of initiatives can be covered, such as local healing gatherings, education workshops, various related projects and information sessions on Mr. Nakayama's abuse. If you are unsure if your healing initiative can be covered please contact us.

Question 20

3. Will there me a memorial created for the survivors of Mr. Nakayama's clergy sexual abuse?

Accepted Answer

Community members can apply for project-based funding to go towards healing efforts. Memorials can have a profound impact on community healing and offer a physical acknowledgement of what happened.

Question 21

1. Who can apply for education grants?

Accepted Answer

Members of survivors families currently enrolled in education programs are encouraged to apply.

Question 22

2. Can I apply if I am in a vocational/trades program?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Healing Fund Education Grants were established to support the survivors of G.G. Nakayama’s clergy sexual abuse and their families. If you are enrolled in, or have been accepted this year into a post-secondary education or training program you are invited to apply for an Education Grant.

Question 23

3. I am out of school now and this funding comes too late.

Accepted Answer

The Healing Fund will be accepting applications for Education Grant funding retroactively to June 15, 2015, the day the Bishops of Calgary and New Westminster presented their apology and commitment to a healing process to the Japanese Canadian survivors of G.G. Nakayama's abuse. If you were enrolled in an accredited program on or after June 15, 2015 please submit your transcripts with an application for an education grant.

Question 24

4. I am a parent of young children. Can I apply for an RESP contribution on their behalf?

Accepted Answer

The Healing Fund will continue to seek better ways to accommodate the community. At the current time the Healing Fund will prioritize students who are enrolled in a post-secondary education program at the time of application.  If you know of someone who will become eligible for funding you must fill in a community feedback form to declare their healing support needs. Please contact the Healing Fund for a community feedback form. These forms are due in September 2023.

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