H.U.G.S. Program

Health Urgent Guide Services for Japanese Canadian Survivors living in the Lower Mainland of B.C.

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What is H.U.G.S.?

H.U.G.S. is a 3-year program funded by the BC Government for Japanese Canadian Internment Survivors in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia impacted by the displacement and internment from March 7, 1941 – April 1, 1949.

It is a short term service that can help Japanese Canadian Internment Survivors navigate their health and wellness needs through government and community programs and private services.

What does H.U.G.S. do?

H.U.G.S. provides a health care and community resource navigation service to eligible Survivors to meet their urgent health and wellness needs.  We guide clients to resources in their area and help them make a plan of action.  We can assist with:

  • Navigating both BC funded and non-funded community resources
  • Planning for health and housing needs
  • Supporting estate planning
  • Guiding clients to groups and services

Who is eligible?

Japanese Canadians living in the Lower Mainland of BC who were born before April 1, 1949, and were impacted by the displacement between March 7, 1941 and April 1, 1949, with an urgent need for short-term guidance or financial support.

How does it work?

You, a family member, or a close friend can submit an application to H.U.G.S.  If accepted, we meet with you alone or with others of your choice, at home, in our office or via zoom.

Important Update Regarding Financial Assistance for Survivors

H.U.G.S. began in 2023 as a three-year program supporting Japanese Canadian Internment Survivors in the Lower Mainland. H.U.G.S. was developed by the Nikkei Seniors Healthcare and Housing Society with funding from the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society (JCLS).

H.U.G.S. was created with two goals:

  1. to provide Survivors with help to navigate and access health care and community resources that support Survivors’ wellness and health journeys.
  2. to provide limited urgently needed financial assistance to help Survivors with unexpected expenses that affect their health needs.

Please note that unlike the JC Wellness Survivors’ grants, these funds were never an entitlement. Instead, the funds were targeted at helping Survivors with expenses that they are unable to meet without some assistance.

Due to the success and high demand for the program, the available funds have been depleted, affecting H.U.G.S. ability to continue providing financial assistance to Survivors. As a result, beginning June 1, new applications will only be considered for our navigation services, and not for financial assistance.

We will continue to assist all clients with navigation and guidance for their health care needs, helping Survivors to become informed about the many existing, provincially funded health programs, private services and community-run groups and programs available to them in their area.
Our guidance and information services remain unchanged. We will continue to be here to answer any questions or concerns that arise as you age. The only change involves our second goal – providing urgent limited financial assistance.

Thank you for your support as we adjust to these changes. We will continue to serve the Japanese Canadian Survivor community in the best and fairest way we can.

If you have any questions, please contact the H.U.G.S. office at 604.777.5000 ext. 2109.

Do you need H.U.G.S.?

Contact H.U.G.S. at

604-777-5000  Ext. 2109   |   [email protected]

Office Hours:

Monday to Friday 9 am ~ 5 pm
(Closed on Statutory holidays)

Meet the H.U.G.S. Team

H.U.G.S. team:
(L-R): Laura Wong, Yvonne Nakano, Shihori Scott-Moncrieff, Kayo Sugiyama
Steering committee with H.U.G.S. team:
(L-R): Laura Wong, Ruth Coles, Yvonne Nakano, Marcia Carr, Shihori Scott- Moncieff

H.U.G.S. is established by the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society (JCLS) and operated under Nikkei Seniors Health Care and Housing Society.

Seniors Health & Wellness Pillar:
Japanese Canadian Legacies Society (jclegacies.com)
Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund Society (jcwellness.org)