The Dr. Gordon Hirabayashi Human Rights Award is a newly created award to honour the work of Dr. Gordon Hirabayashi of Edmonton. The award will be presented every two years in recognition of an individual or organization who has contributed to the development or promotion of human rights and equity in Canada. The first award will be presented at the 2012 AGM.
Dr. Hirabayashi is a retired professor of sociology at the University of Alberta and was a leading human rights activist and advocate of social justice in both the United States and Canada. He currently lives in Edmonton.
The NAJC National Award of Merit is given to an individual who has ” shown leadership and done most for the strength and growth of the organization at both the local and especially the national level”. A member organization or an individual member submits the nomination form. Recipients are given a certificate and have their name engraved on a name plate, which is added to the National Award of Merit plaque retained in the NAJC office. The 2010 National Award of Merit recipient was Ann Sunahara of Ottawa.
The NAJC Merit Award is given to an individual in a local organization that has “shown leadership…” and contributed to the service of the local community. This award can be given on a yearly basis by local organizations. Recipients are awarded a certificate and a pin.
For details on the nomination process and criteria for the above awards, contact the National Association of Japanese Canadians at national@najc.ca.
The Canadian Japanese-Mennonite Scholarship is a $2000 scholarship available to a student who is Canadian or a landed immigrant enrolled in a graduate degree program in Canada, doing research that will assist the protection of minority or human rights. The scholarship is co-sponsored by Mennonite Central Committee Canada and the NAJC.
The scholarship was created as a tangible symbol of cooperation between Japanese Canadians and Canadian Mennonites subsequent to a formal apology that was offered to Japanese Canadians by Mennonite Central Committee Canada on behalf of Canadian Mennonites.
It is intended to assist the protection of minority and human rights in Canada and to reduce the potential for abuse of cultural minorities such as that suffered by Japanese Canadians during World War II.
Applications must be received by April 1, 2012 to be considered. For more information contact MCC Canada (rebekahsears@mennonitecc.ca)
The 2011 recipient was Stephanie Yamniuk of Winnipeg, Manitoba
NAJC National Award of Merit
(For leadership at local and national level)
Art Miki 1989
Roger Obata 1991
Harold Hirose 1993
Audrey Kobayashi 1995
Roy Inouye 1997
Henry Shimizu 1999
Joy Kogawa 2001
Gordon Hirabayashi 2003
Jesse Nishihata 2005
Tony Tamayose 2007
Keiko Miki 2009
Ann Sunahara 2010 (exception made)
NAJC National Merit Award recipients (Incomplete list)
(Awarded by local associations for work at local level)
Jim Hiroshi Tomimoto
Kay Keiko Kuwahara
Kimoto Mary
Anne Nakamura
Marianne Natsuhara
Roy Natsuhara
Jim Nishiyama
Kay Robson
John Shimizu
Ed Yamamoto
Chikara Koyanagi
Fumi Fujiwara
Kathryn Honda
Nobu Ellis, Winnipeg
Dan Namba, Winnipeg
Sakaye “Sockeye” Hashimoto
Gayle Swanson
Kiyoko ‘Kay’ Takahara
Tadashi ‘Tad’ Mori
Richard Oikawa
Joe Minten
