One Busy Summer: JETAA Prairies Gives You the Low Down

It’s been one busy summer for JETAA Prairies. From Aikon to a Pre-Departure dinner to a national conference to having lunch with the Consult General of Japan, members at JETAA Prairies have been busy and we are more than happy to give you the details.

Aikon 2025

JETAA Prairies spent one weekend in July at Aikon, Winnipeg’s largest anime/manga convention. Over a hundred people stopped by at our table to discuss about Japan. We printed out a huge map of Japan and asked visitors to place stickers to parts of Japan where they have been.

On behalf of JETAA Prairies, we thank Aikon for allowing us at their convention again.

JETAA Prairies members at their outreach table at Aikon 2025.
JETAA Prairies members at their outreach table at Aikon 2025.

Farewell Dinner For Our Departing JETs.

JETAA Prairies President and Secretary meet one of the new JETs for dinner before departing for Japan later in the week.
JETAA Prairies President, Rigor (centre), and Secretary, Hyewon (left), meet one of the new departing JETs (right) for dinner.

This year, we have two new shortlisted JETs departing from Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The President of JETAA Prairies, Rigor, and Secretary, Hyewon, met up with newly selected JET days before departure. As for the JET in Saskatchewan, our President made time to talk with the Sakatchewan JET via a conference call.

JETAA Prairies President, Rigor, meet one of the new JETs via conference call. This new JET is currently living in Saskatchewan.
JETAA Prairies President, Rigor, meet one of the new JETs via conference call. This new JET is currently living in Saskatchewan.

On behalf of everyone at JETAA Prairies, we wish all new JETs best of luck.

2025 JETAA Canadian Conference in Halifax

JETAA chapter representatives getting ready to start the National Conference in Halifax.
JETAA chapter representatives getting ready to start the National Conference in Halifax.

In mid-August, JETAA Prairies President, Rigor, and Secretary, Hyewon, flew to Halifax for this year’s National Conference. Chapter representatives from all Canadian chapters, a country representative from USA, and representatives from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and CLAIR converged onto Halifax’s Dalhousie University to present their respective chapter reports, brainstorm, and partake in Japanese ikebana.

JET alumni do ikebana in Halifax for the National Conference 2025.
JET alumni do ikebana in Halifax for the National Conference 2025.
JETAA Prairies chapter representatives - President Rigor Maglaya (left and giving the Vulcan salute) and Secretary Hyewon Park (right) - present their chapter report at the JETAA Canada Conference at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Photo taken by Danielle Markewicz of JETAA BC.
JETAA Prairies chapter representatives – President Rigor Maglaya (left and giving the Vulcan salute) and Secretary Hyewon Park – present their chapter report at the JETAA Canada Conference at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Photo taken by Danielle Markewicz of JETAA BC.

Once the conference wrapped up, Rigor managed to get one epic selfie with most the delegates in one huge selfie that can rival Ellen Denegeres’ Oscar selfie. What do you think?

A group selfie full of JET alumni in Halifax. This was taken once they eneded the conference.
A group selfie full of JET alumni in Halifax. This was taken once they ended the conference.

On behalf of JETAA Prairies, we thank JETAA Halifax, CLAIR, and JETAA Canada Representative, Shuaib, and all of the chapter representatives for helping to organize this year’s conference.

Meeting with the Consul General of Japan at the Forks

JETAA Prairies welcomed Calgary’s Consul General of Japan, Takehiko Wajima, Vice-Consul Yoshiko Okada, and Vice-Consul Haruna Aizawa to Winnipeg. The Consulate of Japan in Calgary were in town for Winnipeg’s Folklorama. Before embarking for the Japanese Pavillion, the Consul General and fellow staff had lunch with members of JETAA Prairies alumni at the Forks.

JETAA Prairies alumni meet Consul General of Japan in Calgary, Takehiro Wajima, Vice Consul Yoshiko Okada, and Vice Consul Haruna Aizwa at the Forks for lunch.
JETAA Prairies alumni meet Consul General of Japan in Calgary, Takehiko Wajima, Vice-Consul Yoshiko Okada, and Vice-Consul Haruna Aizwa at the Forks for lunch.

On behalf of JETAA Prairies, we thank Consul General Wajima, Vice-Consul Okada, and Vice-Consul Aizawa for visiting Winnipeg. We hope to see you again!

3 Days In Vancouver/Burnaby: 2024 JETAA Canada National Conference

On the weekend of August 9th-11th, representatives from JETAA Prairies and representatives from all Canadian JETAA chapters, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago as well as country reps from JETAA USA and JETAA International converged to Vancouver to attend the 2024 JETAA Canada National Conference at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC.

JETAA Prairies President, Rigor Maglaya, and JETAA Prairies Secretary, Hyewon Park, at the 2024 JETAA Canada National Conference.
JETAA Prairies President, Rigor Maglaya, and JETAA Prairies Secretary, Hyewon Park, at the 2024 JETAA Canada National Conference.

On the first night, MOFA hosted a reception on campus to welcome all of the delegates with speeches given by the Deputy Consul General Satomi Okagaki on behalf of the of the Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver, JETAA Canada representative Alena Seinboold, and JETAABC President Danielle Markewicz. The delegates mingled while light food and refreshments were served. There were a mix of old faces with new faces.

Deputy Consul General, Satomi Okagaki, gives a speech at the Welcome Reception as part of the JETAA Canada National Conference 2024 held at Simon Fraser University.
Deputy Consul General, Satomi Okagaki, gives a speech at the Welcome Reception as part of the JETAA Canada National Conference 2024 held at Simon Fraser University.

The next day, the chapter reps held their annual presentations regarding their respective chapter’s activities. The delegates also exchanged ideas about their success stories and challenges that each chapter faces. It was a great reminder that no matter how large a chapter is: each chapter faces the same challenges as a smaller chapter.

JETAA Canada National Conference 2024 at Simon Fraser University.
JETAA Canada National Conference 2024 at Simon Fraser University.

After the delegates finished their agenda for the day, the delegates travelled to Downtown Vancouver to a local Japanese restaurant for a dinner hosted by CLAIR. Afterward, a few of the delegates enjoyed some sightseeing.

On the last day, the delegates voted that the next host city for the national conference is Halifax. Later, the delegates brainstormed about creating more inter-chapter events. One of the potential ideas conjured up is having a fantasy sumo league tournament where alumni predict who would win in the sumo tournament circuit and the winner of the fantasy league gets awarded a physical trophy.

In a more casual setting, the delegates enjoyed a nice dinner at a Japanese restaurant in Downtown Vancouver on the Saturday night. On the Sunday afternoon, the delegates toured the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre where they were holding a festival consisting of local Japanese/Japanese-Canadian merchants and artisans. The delegates toured the facility and learned about the struggles of Japanese immigrants in Canada.

JETAA delegates at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre, August 2024.

JETAA Prairies would like to give its sincerest thanks to MOFA, CLAIR, JETAA BC, and Simon Fraser University for hosting the 2024 JETAA Canada National Conference. In addition, JETAA Prairies would like to thank all the delegates who attended. See you all next year!