Kumiko Lucy Yamashita
I am a retired educator who has been involved in the Japanese community in Winnipeg since my childhood. In my youth, I taught Sunday School at the Manitoba Buddhist Temple as well as Bon dances for the Obon festivals that the temple used to hold.
Over the years, I have held executive positions with MJCCA and have been actively involved with the Cultural Centre since its inception, serving as president of the MJCCC for 16 years before the amalgamation of the MJCCA and MJCCC. I have served on the scholarship committees of both the Buddhist Temple and JCAM as well as serving on the JCAM finance committee.
Nationally, I have held positions of treasurer, vice president and administrator for NAJC and was a director on the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation.
Over the years, I have organized and facilitated partnerships of various groups from Japan, Winnipeg organizations, such as the Manitoba Opera company, with the Japanese community in Winnipeg for many events.
Outside of the Japanese community, I have been an executive member of the Manitoba Intercultural Council and have served on several curriculum committees for the Manitoba Department of Education.
Currently, I am the instructor for the adult Japanese dance classes at the Cultural Centre as well as the Aurora Dance Group, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023.
I bring my history and knowledge of the workings of many of the activities and programs in the past and is presently involved with many of the committees and programs at the Cultural Centre and the development of new initiatives. I hopes to continue with this work.