Living, laughing, and aging gracefully

Our Purpose, Vision and Values

Our Purpose: We offer quality housing, health
care, and social programs for seniors in our
community so they may experience wellness,
connection, and belonging.

Our Vision: To be a model of integrated seniors
care, where all who experience our programs
live well and fell like they belong.

Our Values: Care. Connection. Quality.

Care: We care for the well-being of individuals
by treating them with dignity, respect, and
compassion. We value person-centred care
that upholds each individual’s autonomy,
diversity, and choice.

We value connection as a core component of
well-being, vital to the mental and physical
health of our residents, staff, and community.

Quality: We value quality across all of our
services. We embrace a mindset of
accountability for excellence and continuous
improvement in all that we do.

理事

2026-2027

Our proud history

当協会は、1975年9月に日系カナダ人とさくら荘の住宅を設立するための日系カナダ人協会として始まり、2000年に介護施設建設のために設立されたBC州日系カナダ人ヘルスケア協会と合併しました。 この2つの組織の合併により、新組織は日系シニアズヘルスケア住宅協会(以下、日系シニアズ )と改名されました。

この組織は、選挙で選ばれた理事会によって運営される非営利の慈善団体です。 日系シニアズでは「健康で長生き」をビジョンに掲げ、高齢者のケアに力を注いでいます。

Key Milestones
  • 1988

    • 日系プレイス事業所管理委員会に参加しています。
  • 1998

    • 日系カナダ人コミュニティで、サポート付き住宅に住むシニアの実態調査を実施。
    • ホームズBCと提携し、34戸のシニア向け自立型アパート「新さくら荘」を建築しました。
  • 2001

    • 支援住宅建設プロジェクトに条件付きで支援を受けました。
  • 2002

    • フレーザーヘルス保健局およびホームズBCと共同で、59室の高齢者向け介護付き住宅「日系ホーム」を開設。
  • 2010

    • 日系カナダ人高齢者コミュニティでのニーズ調査。 主な調査結果-教育の充実、介護者支援プログラム、高齢者の自立支援プログラム。
  • 2013

    • 高齢者向け認知症対応型デイプログラムの開発と3拠点追加支援のためのプロジェクト資金提供。
  • 2015

    • 寄贈を受け、5部屋に介護リフト用天井レールを増設した。
  • 2016

    • 日系ホームを「ロバート新見日系ホーム」に改称。
  • 2018

    • ロバート新見日系ホームに強化型ユニット5室を開設。
    • 施設内プログラム及アウトリーチプログラムのための「健康ウェルネス・ラウンジ」を開設。
    • 新さくら荘の集会所:岩崎ルームを改修。
    • 使用用途限定寄付基金を設立。
  • 2019

    • 日系プレイス・チャリティゴルフトーナメントは、7年以上にわたり、日系シニアズを支援するために35万ドル以上の資金を集めてきました。
Cathy Makihara

キャシー・マキハラ

理事長

Cathy Makihara has served the seniors of the Japanese Canadian community for 30 years. Since attending Simon Fraser University, she has dedicated her work to serving her community. Cathy has played an instrumental role in the development of Nikkei Place, a multipurpose complex in Burnaby, BC. As the former Executive Director of the Nikkei Seniors Health Care and Housing Society, she helped to create one of the first publicly funded assisted living complex in 2002 and opened the Japanese Canadian community’s independent seniors housing; and operated programs and housing for seniors in need. In 2017, the Society was a driving force to develop Lively-Lively, a dementia-friendly day program that has expanded to several locations. Her introduction to the Japanese Canadian community began working as a field worker for the Japanese Canadian Redress Settlement where she developed a passion for working on community issues and needs.

Hiroshi Yamamoto

山本 博

Immediate Past Interim President & Co-Secretary

Hiroshi came to Canada alone in 1971 from Tokyo when he was 19 years old. He studied, worked, and raised his own family in Canada ever since, making him a “New Issei” among the Nikkei community in Canada. Hiroshi graduated from the University of British Columbia with an engineering degree and holds P.Eng., LEED AP, and Managing Broker professional designations. Hiroshi worked and retired from the commercial real estate industry in the end, including advising many companies and businesses from Japan during his tenure. He enjoys serving the Nikkei community by giving back what he had received from in the past, and he believes in passing on the history, knowledge, value, wisdom, and spirit of the Nikkei community to next generation. His passions are lifelong learning, cycling, walking, hiking and trekking through outdoor nature in Canada, US, and around the world.

Chris Oikawa

Chris Oikawa

副理事長

Chris is a sansei from Vancouver. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Oceanography and Marine Biology and a Master’s degree in Animal Nutrition from the University of British Columbia. His career includes roles as a Distance Education Instructor at UBC, Research Technician with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Nutrition Manager for Skretting North America. He is currently the Production Manager at Coastwise Processors, a manufacturer of canned pet food. Chris has long supported the Nikkei community—helping organize the 1993 Pan American Nikkei Association meeting in Vancouver, co-founding the Japanese Canadian Youth Group (1993), chairing the Nikkei Centre Programs Planning Committee (1993–2001), and now volunteering with the Powell Street Festival Salmon BBQ and the Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society as Vice President.

Brian Tsuji

ブライアン 辻

Co-Secretary

30年以上の経験を持つ移民弁護士。Davis LLPバンクーバーオフィス勤務。日本語と英語を話し、東京、トロント、バンクーバーでの勤務経験がある。これまで50カ国以上のクライアントの代理人をしてきました。カナダ弁護士協会(CBA)移民部門の元ナショナルエグゼクティブメンバーであり、CBAブリティッシュ・コロンビア移民部門の元会長でもあります。また、日系プレース財団の理事も務めています。

Patty Ruegamer

Patty Ruegamer

Member At Large

After retiring from a marketing role at Yokohama Tire to raise her three sons, Patty stayed active in her community through school PACs, youth sports, and has managed her family’s construction company office since 1994. As the eldest daughter of Robert and Jane Nimi, she has long understood the challenges faced by Nikkei seniors in accessing quality care. Now supporting her mother’s care, Patty is proud to contribute to the Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society and work alongside directors she has known since its early days.

Marcia Carr

Marcia Carr

Member At Large

RN, BN, MS, GNC(C), NCA

マーシャは40年以上にわたって正看護師として活躍し、この20年間は老年医学と老年精神医学に専念しています。彼女はこの職業に就いているすべての瞬間を愛しており、NSHCHSの理事として、日系シニアズに最高のケアを提供することに全力を注いでいます。マーシャは、UBC、ビクトリア大学、SFU、マクマスター大学の非常勤講師でもあります。

Asae Tanaka

Member At Large

MD, CCFP

日本で生まれ、8歳の時にバンクーバーへ来ました。競泳のコーチをしていたこともあり、教えることが好きで、医学の分野に進みました。BC州の田舎でロカムや救急医として働いた後、バンクーバーに戻り、現在は家庭医として日本語を話す患者を診ています。また、日加ヘルスケア協会では、教育や予防に力を入れており、患者さん以外の方々のお手伝いもしています。

Tomoko Asami

Member At Large

Tomoko was born in Aomori, Japan, and came to Vancouver with two children 26 years ago. After a long career as an office accountant at a Japanese meat export company, she retired and now volunteers at the food bank, file tax returns at Northshore Neighborhood House, and help at the Morton Creek salmon hatchery to contribute to the local community, including the Japanese community.  Learning Spanish and exercising are part of her daily routine, and she travels to many countries worldwide.

Senior Leadership

Georgia Hutchison, Executive Director

Georgia Hutchison is proud to serve as Executive Director of Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society. With more than 20 years of experience as a CFO and Director of Finance, nearly ten years in the not-for-profit sector, and five years in senior living and care, she brings both business expertise and a deep commitment to community service.

What attracted Georgia to Nikkei SHC was its philosophy of Kenkō de Nagaiki Living Well, Laughing Often, and Aging Gracefully. She believes this simple but powerful idea reflects what people value most as they age: connection, purpose, respect, and joy.

As Executive Director, Georgia is passionate about supporting the people who make Nikkei Place special, from residents and families to staff, volunteers, and community members. As a Metis woman, whose grandmother was in a residential school, she recognized the importance of culture and family. She is committed to honouring the organization’s rich Japanese Canadian heritage while helping ensure its services and programs continue to grow and thrive for future generations.

When she is not at Nikkei Place, Georgia enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons. As a proud hockey mom, much of her free time is spent at the rink cheering on her boys and supporting their pursuits. Family is at the heart of everything she does, and she is grateful to be part of a community that shares the same belief in caring for one another across generations.