An Evening of Cultural Celebration and Achievements
By: Cheryl Lu, Social Media Coordinator
On November 9, MCIS hosted our Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the fiscal year 2022-2023. This hybrid event, blending around 250 physical and numerous virtual participations, unfolded at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC), encapsulating the spirit of Japanese culture. The evening constituted a massive gathering and celebration, replete with games, music, delicious food and joy among our staff, language professionals, board members and partners in attendance.
(MCIS Executive Director and Board members)
Entertainment Extravaganza
The evening began at 4:30 p.m. with warm greetings from our volunteers at the registration desk, followed by the distribution of complimentary MCIS mugs as tokens of appreciation. Additionally, three guided tours through JCCC’s collection of over 10,000 pieces of art and artifacts showcased the rich and ancient Japanese culture as well as the Japanese diaspora’s history and stories in Canada. The tours took around 30 minutes per session, and those who opted to remain in the hall where the meeting was to take place were treated to appetizers, games and prizes.
(An attendee holding the MCIS mug)
(Tours through the exhibition at Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre)
(Tours through the exhibition at Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre)
(Exhibition at Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre)
The entertainment stations were designed with a simple goal in mind: To ensure attendees take home something to preserve the gleeful memories from AGM 2023. Four games were available at the rear end of the hall, with various prizes valuing over $500 in total for everyone to win. From testing aim and agility to showcasing proficiency with chopsticks, the games added a delightful twist to the celebration. An origami teaching session was placed next to the entrance, with craft paper printed with traditional Japanese patterns and motifs, pre-made origami examples, tutorial sheets and a volunteer that was ready to help at any time.
(Game at MCIS AGM 2023)
(Game at MCIS AGM 2023)
(Game at MCIS AGM 2023)
(Game at MCIS AGM 2023)
(Origami session at MCIS AGM 2023)
(Origami session at MCIS AGM 2023)
(Prizes at MCIS AGM 2023)
(Prizes at MCIS AGM 2023)
Business, Values, and Global Impact
The business segment of AGM summed up MCIS’ achievements and challenges that we had come through in the past fiscal year. Internally, we established the Systems Development Office to tackle systematic matters and to adapted to the changing world with a transformational approach. Externally, we refined our new values and mission statement to better align with our social purpose route and future work in assisting and bridging those in need of professional language services. We also tied our purpose goals to the United Nations Social Development Goals so they can be measured and contribute to a global impact movement.
(Desserts at MCIS AGM 2023)
(Food at MCIS AGM 2023)
Awards and Commemorations
Following a delectable dinner, the spotlight turned to awards and recognitions.. Here are the award-winning organizations that partnered with MCIS in the past year and individuals who worked at MCIS with remarkable achievements:
- Training Facilitator of the Year: Riho Nishimura
- Translator of the Year: Renjie Stephen Hu
- Interpreter of the Year: Mara Ribeiro
- Community Partner of the Year: Homeless Connect Toronto
- Professional Partner of the year: WSIB
- Strategic Partner of the Year: Boostlingo
Staff recognition awards were given to MCIS staff who have reached their fifth- and tenth-year milestones. A moment of remembrance was taken to commemorate the life and work of Hasmukhlal Bhogilal Thakkar, a translator and interpreter integral to MCIS for over a decade, making a significant impact to MCIS and the Hindi and Gujarati communities he served. A special Thank You was given to Veronica Costea, for her contributions to the MCIS Training programs and the legacy she left upon departing MCIS.
(MCIS Executive Director Latha Sukumar with Veronica Costea)
Closing with Harmony
The evening was wrapped with a harmonious touch of karaoke, another delightful invention that the Japanese culture contributed to the world. Through music and songs in each attendee’s mother tongues, we sought to convey our gratitude to everyone who attended the event, share our mutual love and respect to the beauty of language and cultural diversity, and along with the spirited singing crowd, open a new chapter for MCIS.
Conclusion: A Night to Remember
MCIS AGM 2023 wasn’t just a meeting; it was a celebration of culture, achievement, and unity. As MCIS charts a course for the future, these moments will serve as the foundation for continued success and impact.
Click to view all AGM 2023 photos
