Our Story
カナダにいても日本の文化に触れてほしい、子どもと日本語で会話がしたい、そんな想いを抱いた母親や父親たち４家族が中心となり、日本語幼稚園を設立する目的のもと2022年11月にNPO法人Westside Japanese Language Societyを立ち上げました。日本語幼稚園の数が限られる中、また一つの園がその２０数年の歴史に幕を下ろすと知り、我が子を含む在園児、そして未来の子どもたちのためにNPOを設立するに至りました。
保育事業に加え、文化促進や子育て支援を柱に子供たちが生き生きと輝ける場所づくりに取り組んでいきます。
In November 2022, four families founded the Westside Japanese Language Society in Vancouver, Canada, with the objective of operating a non-profit Japanese immersion childcare facility. While hoping to send our children to a preschool with Japanese language curriculum, the options were limited in this city. When we found out that we were about to lose one of a few that this city had after twenty years of its operation, we felt compelled to preserve the space and opportunity for children in the present and future.
In addition to operating a preschool, our society aims to provide children with more opportunities to learn about Japanese art, culture and language. We will host a variety of cultural and educational programs, in order to facilitate conversations about children’s connections to Japan regardless of their heritage or non-heritage background.
Our Journey
２０年間、多くの園児たちが元気に巣立っていったJKIDS幼稚園。小さくも温かな空間でしたが、新しい規定によりリフォームが義務付けられました。
Over the past twenty years, many children played and learned in this small classroom. While parents and graduates have fond memories of this space, we are required to meet the new safety standards.
2023年8月、教室のリフォーム開始。作業は土日や夜間に集中したため子どもを遊ばせながら。
In August 2023, classroom renovations began. We often had to manage the work and parental duty at the same time.
親目線でたくさんのアイデアを出しあいました。
We brainstormed ideas and our experiences as parents came handy.
たった４人での張り替え作業は深夜に及びました。この時は中学生の子どもも戦力に。
The work on the floors by three parents and a 15 yr-old son extended far into the night.
許可を得るため図面を何度も書き直した日々。
One mother spent many nights on her computer trying to get the right specifications.
1年に及ぶ中、他の保護者の協力や新しい砂場に目を輝かせる子どもの姿が大きな力になりました。
The licensing application has been a major endeavor and one that came with many hurdles and challenges. But a moment like this–when other parents spontaneously stepped up to help, or when children’s faces lit up seeing their new sandbox–gave us strength.
子どもたちが笑顔で「どんぐりえん」に登園してきてくれますように。
Donguri preschool classroom waiting to be filled with children and their laughter.
中央が「どんぐりえん」新マネージャーとなるけいこ先生。
The one in the middle will be the new manager at Donguri Preschool: Keiko sensei.
Westside Japanese Language Society 