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Consul-General of Japan and Sakura Committee Chair Tetsuo Yamashita addresses the residence of Castleview Wuchwood Towers (CWT) at the 30th anniversary of the facility's partnership with Momiji Health Care Society. |
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Sakura Trees Mark 30th Anniversary
of Elderly Care Partnership
The 30th anniversary of the partnership between the Momiji Health Care Society, which provides care for Japanese Canadian seniors, and Castleview Wychwood Towers (CWT), a long-term care home in Toronto, was marked by the donation of six trees from the Sakura Project.
Three Japanese flowering cherry (Sakura) trees planted on Nov. 25 were added to the three planted in 2007, completing the Project’s donation to CWT. The donation was recognized at the anniversary celebrations held on Nov. 30, which was attended by: Consul-General of Japan Tetsuo Yamashita; Sandra Pitters, General Manager, City of Toronto – Long Term Care, Homes and Services; Board Chair Pam Waintraub and Executive Director Brigitte Robertson from the Momiji Health Care Society. CWT Administrator Vija Mallia emceed the proceedings. A plaque commemorating the donation was unveiled by Mr. Yamashita and Ms. Pitters. The celebration was also attended by two of Momiji’s founding members, Fred Sasaki and Fred Sunahara, who is Ms. Waintraub’s father.
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Mr. Yamashita, along with Sandra Pitters, General Manager, City of Toronto – Long Term Care, Homes and Services (centre), and CWT Administrator Vija Mallia, hold the plaque commemorating the Sakura donation. |
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Sakura trees are beloved by the Japanese people, and the Sakura Project aims to plant 3,000 Sakura in public places around Ontario as symbols of friendship between Japan and Canada. “For the past 30 years, Japanese Canadian seniors have lived here at Castleview Wychwood in constructive cooperation with Momiji Health Care Society,” said Mr. Yamashita, who also chairs the Sakura Committee which oversees the Project. “The Sakura trees now planted here will hopefully continue to evoke fond memories of, and provide another link to Japan for residents and their visitors.”
CWT serves 456 residents of whom 40 are of Japanese heritage, due to its partnership with Momji which also has its own facility in Scarborough. The Sakura Project has planted 2,417 trees to date, and its completion is expected in 2010.
