Save the original Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre

The original Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) at 123 Wynford Drive is at risk of being almost entirely demolished to make way for condo towers. The building at 123 Wynford Dr. has deep cultural, historical and architectural significance.

The Toronto Chapter of the National Association of Japanese Canadians (Toronto NAJC) has opposed this development and received significant pro bono legal support for more than a year. However, to continue effectively contesting the developer's plan for 123 Wynford Dr. at the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing beginning on August 6, 2024, we must raise funds to continue with legal support for the labour-intensive eight-day hearing. The amount to be raised still represents much less than the actual cost of legal fees.

Less than 20 years after Japanese Canadians were unjustly incarcerated during the Second World War, the Japanese Canadian community built the JCCC as a living monument to celebrate their ancestry, regain a sense of pride and promote friendship with all Canadians through culture. The building was designed by the late Raymond Moriyama, one of Canada’s finest and most respected architects. Japanese Canadians arrived in Ontario as exiles in their own country, stripped of all possessions and property. 75 community members courageously stepped forward and put second mortgages on their homes and businesses to finance the building.

Now that structure is under threat. The developer can and should prepare a better design for the site and make an effort to save the building. The surrounding neighbourhood already has a staggering 10,000 homes in the approval pipeline and is in desperate need of a community hub. As this Toronto neighbourhood continues to grow, it’s important for residents to have spaces to gather.

Please donate to the Ad Hoc Committee to Save the Original JCCC (led by the Toronto NAJC) in our efforts to save the original JCCC so the building can continue to serve the Banbury-Don Mills community.

The building holds significance not only for the Japanese Canadian community but for all Canadians. It stands as a testament to the roots of multiculturalism and a memorial to the history of Japanese Canadians. This landmark reflects the spirit of friendship that is embodied in the inclusive values that define our nation.