JET Canada 35th Anniversary Celebration and Conferment of the Ambassador’s Award on JETAA Ottawa Chapter
2023/8/18
On August 18, 2023, Ambassador Kanji YAMANOUCHI hosted a celebration at the Ambassador's residence to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, which began in Canada in 1988. At the same time, at the celebration, JETAA (JET Alumni Association) Ottawa Chapter was honoured for its longstanding contribution to the promotion of Japan-Canada cultural and friendship relations, and Mr. Shuaib Syed, President of JETAA Ottawa Chapter, was presented with the Ambassador’s Award.
The ceremony was attended by approximately 100 former JETs from the Ottawa area, as well as representatives of JETAA Canada and its seven chapters (Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec/Atlantic, Prairies, Northern Alberta, Southern Alberta, and British Columbia/Yukon). Representatives from JETAA USA and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) also participated in the event. Guests of honour included Senator Victor Oh, Co-Vice Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, and Ms. Laurie Peters, Director General and Commissioner General of Canada at Expo 2025, Japan, Global Affairs Canada, who was a member of the first batch of JET Canada, and gave their congratulatory speeches.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Ambassador YAMANOUCHI noted that in the 35 years since Canada began sending JETs in 1988, the total number of JET participants from all over Canada has exceeded 10,000, and that the number of JETAA members has grown to the second largest in the world after the US. He also emphasized the significance of celebrating the 35th anniversary with the many former JETs from across Canada on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada, and expressed his hope for further development of the Japan-Canada relationship in the future. To mark the occasion, Ambassador YAMANOUCHI also performed as a member of J-Titans, a music band he formed with Oto-Wa Taiko drummers and Embassy staff.
Following the ceremony, JETAA Canada National Conference was held in Ottawa at the Ottawa Art Gallery on August 19 and 20.
The ceremony was attended by approximately 100 former JETs from the Ottawa area, as well as representatives of JETAA Canada and its seven chapters (Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec/Atlantic, Prairies, Northern Alberta, Southern Alberta, and British Columbia/Yukon). Representatives from JETAA USA and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) also participated in the event. Guests of honour included Senator Victor Oh, Co-Vice Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, and Ms. Laurie Peters, Director General and Commissioner General of Canada at Expo 2025, Japan, Global Affairs Canada, who was a member of the first batch of JET Canada, and gave their congratulatory speeches.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Ambassador YAMANOUCHI noted that in the 35 years since Canada began sending JETs in 1988, the total number of JET participants from all over Canada has exceeded 10,000, and that the number of JETAA members has grown to the second largest in the world after the US. He also emphasized the significance of celebrating the 35th anniversary with the many former JETs from across Canada on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada, and expressed his hope for further development of the Japan-Canada relationship in the future. To mark the occasion, Ambassador YAMANOUCHI also performed as a member of J-Titans, a music band he formed with Oto-Wa Taiko drummers and Embassy staff.
Following the ceremony, JETAA Canada National Conference was held in Ottawa at the Ottawa Art Gallery on August 19 and 20.
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| Ambassador YAMANOUCHI presents the certificate of Ambassador’s Award to Mr. Syed, President of JETAA Ottawa Chapter | Congratulatory speech by Ambassador YAMANOUCHI | Responding speech by Mr. Syed, President of JETAA Ottawa Chapter |
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| Congratulatory speech by Senator Oh |
Congratulatory speech by Mr. Wallace, President of JETAA Canada | Congratulatory speech by Ms. Peters, Director General and Commissioner General of Canada at Expo 2025, Japan, Global Affairs Canada |
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| JET Canada's first batch (Ottawa departure group, 1988) |
Ambassador YAMANOUCHI and JETAA Canada National Conference participants |
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| Performance by Ambassador YAMANOUCHI, Oto-Wa Taiko, and Embassy staff as a member of "J-Titans" | |