Vice President – Sandra Shibata
Sandra is a sansei community member with a background in financial services, training and post-secondary education administration. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (honours) Degree from the University of Manitoba and a Teaching for Learning in Applied Education Post-Graduate Certificate from Red River College Polytechnic. She retired in 2024.
Sandra has dedicated her time to various volunteer activities, inside and outside of the Japanese Canadian community. She has volunteered for JCAM through Folklorama (Pavilion Coordinator in 2013 and Admissions Co-Chair to present) and organized the Manitoba Japanese Canadian Curling Bonspiel, which has been running annually since 2013. She loves people photography, and has volunteered to take photos for many of JCAM events.
Previously, Sandra was the Editor of “The Outlook”, a member the JCAM Board in 2014-15, a member of the Community Fund Committee, Kibo, and Miraii 3.11 fundraisers. She was proud to represent the Prairies in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Leadership Program in 2015, in Japan.
Outside JCAM, Sandra volunteers as a photographer for Golf Manitoba, facilitates the Kids’ Zone for CancerCare Manitoba’s Challenge for Life since 2013, and is the convenor for Rossmere Country Club’s Ladies Golf Leagues. Previously she held roles as Vice-President of the Manitoba Camera Club and Membership Coordinator for the Transcona Badminton Club.
Outside of her volunteer work, Sandra enjoys spending time on the golf course, on the ice curling, cycling, badminton, pickleball and nurturing her perennial flower garden.
She brings her leadership skills and energy to support JCAM in its fulfilment of its vision “to continually provide a home for programs and services to foster the Japanese and Japanese Canadian culture and heritage now and for future generations”.