Japanese Canadian Legacy Project Launches SEDAI Website

TORONTO, Ontario, May 1, 2008: SEDAI, the Japanese-Canadian Legacy Project (the “Sedai Project”) announces the launch of version 1 of its website and digital archive which highlight the unique history, experiences and contributions of Canadians of Japanese ancestry. The website at www.sedai.ca contains video clips of oral histories, text, archival photographs and related material.

Connie Sugiyama, a longtime advisor to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (“JCCC”) and founding Chair of the Sedai Project said: “We are very excited and proud to be launching our first website. It is a remarkable achievement from a dedicated and talented group of volunteers on the Sedai Project Committee who have worked collaboratively and given so generously of their time, talents and skills to make this website a reality. It is our hope that our website will capture the oral histories and first hand accounts of members of our community and will serve as a valuable educational resource for all Canadians and for all those interested in the history and legacy of our community in Canada.”

The Sedai Project has received the generous support and sponsorship of Densho, the Japanese American Legacy Project; the Japanese American National Museum and its Discover Nikkei Project, Mr. and Mrs. David Kitamura, the National Association of Japanese Canadians, the Nelson Hyland Foundation; Sony Canada and many individual members of the community.
The Sedai Project operates as a special committee of the JCCC in collaboration with its Heritage initiatives and reports directly to the JCCC board of directors.
The JCCC was founded in Toronto more than 40 years ago. It is a registered Canadian charity and one of the oldest and most successful organizations of its kind in Canada. Open to everyone regardless of race, religion, sex or age, the JCCC provides a place - and more importantly, the impetus - for the exchange of ideas; a showcase for those with Japanese artistic and athletic talents; social and intellectual events: the history and future of the unique Japanese-Canadian community (for further information see: www.jccc.on.ca.).