On April 28 from 6:30-9 PM, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre will hold a Japan Earthquake Relief Fund (JERF) Supporter Appreciation Event in gratitude of all those who contributed!

Immediately following the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, the JCCC established the JERF, to collect donations from Canadians to assist victims in the Tohoku Region who were severely affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Over the 14 years that the fund was active, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Foundation (JCCCF) disbursed 162 scholarships to 63 students studying at three universities: Tohoku University, Iwate Prefectural University, and Fukushima Medical University. As the generation of students that were affected by the events of 3/11 have, for the most part, completed their post-secondary education, the remaining funds were donated to support broader scholarships at the three universities in 2025.

To commemorate the many years of support provided by the JERF, the JCCC invites donors to join this special event! During the evening, former scholarship recipients and representatives from the three universities will visit from Japan to give speeches about how they overcame challenges in the face of such a devastating natural disaster, and how the financial assistance from JERF helped them succeed. For some of those who are visiting, it will be their first time on a plane, let alone their first time visiting Canada!

If you contributed to JERF, please RSVP for the event here.

- Event Details -
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm (Doors will open at 5:30 pm)
Location: Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 6 Sakura Way, Toronto, ON M3C 1Z5

Additionally, please feel free to share this with any friends or family who have also supported the fund!