Conferment of the Ambassador’s Award upon Three Ikebana Organizations
2024/9/5
On September 5, 2024, Ambassador YAMANOUCHI Kanji conferred the Ambassador’s Award upon three ikebana organizations, namely the Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No.120, the Ohara School of Ikebana Ottawa Chapter, and the Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch. A ceremony was held at the official residence of the Ambassador. The award was in recognition of their contributions to promote friendship and goodwill between Japan and Canada through Ikebana.
The Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No.120 was the first chapter of Ikebana International chartered in Canada in 1969 and consists of members of the Ohara School of Ikebana Ottawa Chapter and the Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch. The Ikebana International Ottawa Chapter’s motto is "Friendship through Flowers," and it is with this sentiment that the Chapter and the Canadian Museum of Nature jointly host an Ikebana exhibition every year.
Founded in 1989, the Ottawa Chapter of Ohara School Ikebana is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. The Chapter has been actively working to popularize Ikebana, including holding workshops for its members and Ikebana demonstrations for groups interested in Ikebana and the general public. Every year, the Chapter and the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa jointly host an Ikebana exhibition at the Embassy’s Information and Cultural Centre.
The Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch was established in the 1980s as the Seibi-Kai Study Group under the guidance of the late WATANABE Mieko and was renamed the Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch in 1996. In addition to co-hosting the Sogetsu Ikebana exhibition with the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa every year at the Embassy's Information and Cultural Centre, the Branch has contributed to the development and promotion of Ikebana culture by participating in various cultural events in Ottawa.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Yamanouchi gave a congratulatory speech, praising the three organizations’ great achievements. He noted that the reason Ikebana continues to attract so many people is not just because of its visual beauty, but also because of the concepts and philosophy behind it. He praised the three organizations for their continued expression of the artistic qualities of Ikebana and the beauty of plants living in nature.
In response, respectively on behalf of the three organizations, Ms. Anne Breau, President of the Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No.120, Ms. Elizabeth Armstrong, President of the Ohara School of Ikebana Ottawa Chapter, and Ms. Elaine Sigler, Director of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch, delivered their acceptance speeches. They expressed their gratitude for receiving the award, thanking all those involved including the founders of each organization, and shared the history of their respective institution up to the present day.
This was followed by congratulatory addresses from the Honourable Andrew Cardozo, Senator and the Honourable Judy Sgro, Member of Parliament, members of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group. To conclude the ceremony, Ms. Kasia Majewski, Acting Director of Visitor Engagement at the Canadian Museum of Nature, gave a toast. Additionally, a congratulatory message to each organization from the Honourable Mona Fortier, member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group (former President of the Treasury Board) was shared with the audience.
Exquisite Ikebana arrangements by the three organizations embellished the ceremony.
The Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No.120 was the first chapter of Ikebana International chartered in Canada in 1969 and consists of members of the Ohara School of Ikebana Ottawa Chapter and the Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch. The Ikebana International Ottawa Chapter’s motto is "Friendship through Flowers," and it is with this sentiment that the Chapter and the Canadian Museum of Nature jointly host an Ikebana exhibition every year.
Founded in 1989, the Ottawa Chapter of Ohara School Ikebana is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. The Chapter has been actively working to popularize Ikebana, including holding workshops for its members and Ikebana demonstrations for groups interested in Ikebana and the general public. Every year, the Chapter and the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa jointly host an Ikebana exhibition at the Embassy’s Information and Cultural Centre.
The Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch was established in the 1980s as the Seibi-Kai Study Group under the guidance of the late WATANABE Mieko and was renamed the Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch in 1996. In addition to co-hosting the Sogetsu Ikebana exhibition with the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa every year at the Embassy's Information and Cultural Centre, the Branch has contributed to the development and promotion of Ikebana culture by participating in various cultural events in Ottawa.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Yamanouchi gave a congratulatory speech, praising the three organizations’ great achievements. He noted that the reason Ikebana continues to attract so many people is not just because of its visual beauty, but also because of the concepts and philosophy behind it. He praised the three organizations for their continued expression of the artistic qualities of Ikebana and the beauty of plants living in nature.
In response, respectively on behalf of the three organizations, Ms. Anne Breau, President of the Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No.120, Ms. Elizabeth Armstrong, President of the Ohara School of Ikebana Ottawa Chapter, and Ms. Elaine Sigler, Director of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch, delivered their acceptance speeches. They expressed their gratitude for receiving the award, thanking all those involved including the founders of each organization, and shared the history of their respective institution up to the present day.
This was followed by congratulatory addresses from the Honourable Andrew Cardozo, Senator and the Honourable Judy Sgro, Member of Parliament, members of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group. To conclude the ceremony, Ms. Kasia Majewski, Acting Director of Visitor Engagement at the Canadian Museum of Nature, gave a toast. Additionally, a congratulatory message to each organization from the Honourable Mona Fortier, member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group (former President of the Treasury Board) was shared with the audience.
Exquisite Ikebana arrangements by the three organizations embellished the ceremony.
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| Congratulatory address by Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Congratulatory address by the Honourable Andrew Cardozo, Senator, member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group |
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| Congratulatory address by the Honourable Judy Sgro, Member of Parliament, member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group |
Ms. Majewski, Acting Director of Visitor Engagement at the Canadian Museum of Nature leads a toast |
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| Ms. Breau, President of the Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No.120, and Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Acceptance speech by Ms. Breau |
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| Ms. Armstrong, President of the Ohara School of Ikebana Ottawa Chapter, and Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Acceptance speech by Ms. Armstrong |
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| Ms. Sigler, Director of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch, and Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Acceptance speech by Ms. Sigler |
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| Group photo of the Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No.120 |
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| Group photo of the Ohara School of Ikebana Ottawa Chapter |
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| Group photo of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch |
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| Group photo of recipients of the awards as well as the members of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group and the representative from the Canadian Museum of Nature |
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| An Ikebana arrangement prepared by Ms. Breau, President of the Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No.120 | An Ikebana arrangement prepared by Ms. Coupal, member of the Ohara School of Ikebana Ottawa Chapter | An Ikebana arrangement prepared by Ms. Sigler, Director of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana Ottawa Branch |
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| Conferment Ceremony | Guests enjoying conversation at the Official Residence |