Conferment of the Ambassador’s Award upon Three Japanese Language Educational Institutions
2024/6/28
On June 28, 2024, Ambassador YAMANOUCHI Kanji conferred the Ambassador’s Award upon three Japanese language educational institutions in Ottawa, namely the Ottawa Japanese Language School (OJLS), the Japanese Program at Carleton University’s School of Linguistics and Language Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences’, and the Japanese Course at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Arts’ Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. For many years, these institutions have contributed to promoting friendship and mutual understanding between Japan and Canada through Japanese language education in Ottawa.
Japanese language education in Ottawa first started at the Ottawa Japanese Language School (OJLS), which was founded in 1976 by Japanese parents. Currently, it is run as a non-profit organization by volunteers, and accepts Japanese language learners of all ages, from kindergarteners to adults.
The Japanese program at Carleton University’s School of Linguistics and Language Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences opened in 1979 and has been officially offered as a credit course since 1989. Currently, a minor in Japanese is available.
The Japanese course at the University of Ottawa’s Department of Modern Languages and Literatures in the Faculty of Arts was established in 1995; from 1989 to 1994, it was offered as a course in the continuing education program. Although the Japanese course was temporarily unavailable from 2002 to 2006, it resumed in 2006. In 2009, the Japanese course was formally established in the Department of Modern Languages and Literature, Faculty of Arts, where it remains to this day.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Yamanouchi gave a congratulatory speech, praising the three institutions’ great achievements. He further noted that language education is not just about studying a foreign language but is also a gateway to understand people, history, and the meaning of friendship. He further stated that language education contributes to developing human talent who can serve as bridges between countries.
In response, on behalf of the three organizations, Ms. Kazuko Kobayashi, Principal of the Ottawa Japanese Language School, Ms. Yoko Azuma Prikryl, Japanese instructor at Carleton University, and Ms. Akemi Matsushita, Japanese instructor at the University of Ottawa, delivered their acceptance speeches. They expressed their gratitude for receiving the award, thanking all those involved, and shared the history of Japanese language education at their respective institutions up to the present day.
This was followed by congratulatory addresses from the Honourable Mona Fortier, member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group (former President of the Treasury Board), Ms. Joya Donnelly, Director General for North-East Asia at Global Affairs Canada (GAC). To conclude the ceremony, Ms. Noriko Yamamoto, Executive Director of the Japan Foundation Toronto, gave a toast.
Japanese language education in Ottawa first started at the Ottawa Japanese Language School (OJLS), which was founded in 1976 by Japanese parents. Currently, it is run as a non-profit organization by volunteers, and accepts Japanese language learners of all ages, from kindergarteners to adults.
The Japanese program at Carleton University’s School of Linguistics and Language Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences opened in 1979 and has been officially offered as a credit course since 1989. Currently, a minor in Japanese is available.
The Japanese course at the University of Ottawa’s Department of Modern Languages and Literatures in the Faculty of Arts was established in 1995; from 1989 to 1994, it was offered as a course in the continuing education program. Although the Japanese course was temporarily unavailable from 2002 to 2006, it resumed in 2006. In 2009, the Japanese course was formally established in the Department of Modern Languages and Literature, Faculty of Arts, where it remains to this day.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Yamanouchi gave a congratulatory speech, praising the three institutions’ great achievements. He further noted that language education is not just about studying a foreign language but is also a gateway to understand people, history, and the meaning of friendship. He further stated that language education contributes to developing human talent who can serve as bridges between countries.
In response, on behalf of the three organizations, Ms. Kazuko Kobayashi, Principal of the Ottawa Japanese Language School, Ms. Yoko Azuma Prikryl, Japanese instructor at Carleton University, and Ms. Akemi Matsushita, Japanese instructor at the University of Ottawa, delivered their acceptance speeches. They expressed their gratitude for receiving the award, thanking all those involved, and shared the history of Japanese language education at their respective institutions up to the present day.
This was followed by congratulatory addresses from the Honourable Mona Fortier, member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group (former President of the Treasury Board), Ms. Joya Donnelly, Director General for North-East Asia at Global Affairs Canada (GAC). To conclude the ceremony, Ms. Noriko Yamamoto, Executive Director of the Japan Foundation Toronto, gave a toast.
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| Congratulatory address by Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Congratulatory address by the Honourable Mona Fortier, member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group |
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| Congratulatory address by Ms. Donnelly, Director General for North-East Asia at GAC |
Ms. Yamamoto, Executive Director of the Japan Foundation Toronto leads a toast |
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| Ms. Kobayashi, Principal of the Ottawa Japanese Language School and Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Acceptance speech by Ms. Kobayashi |
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| Ms. Azuma Prikryl, Japanese instructor at Carleton University and Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Acceptance speech by Ms. Azuma Prikryl |
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| Ms. Matsushita, Japanese instructor at the University of Ottawa and Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Acceptance speech by Ms. Matsushita |
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| The group photo of the Ottawa Japanese Language School |
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| The group photo of Carleton University |
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| The group photo of the University of Ottawa |
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| Conferment Ceremony | Guests enjoying conversation at the Official Residence |