It’s been the culmination of a lot of work, fundraising and co-operation, but the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden opened their new Bunka Centre, Thursday, July 14.
“ It’s a wonderful building,” summarized Brad Hembroff, president of the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden committee.
The building, designed by Elizabeth Songer, provides a cultural hub for visitors to experience and learn more about Japan and the history of Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden through exhibits, workshops, and ongoing programs and events. While the garden and the structures inside it reflect traditional Japanese culture, the Bunka Centre offers visitors a modern technology-enhanced experience using augmented reality and interactive experiences, including a memory booth, meeting rooms, display rooms and rooms for art exhibits.
Bunka means culture in Japanese.
Lethbridge’s Songer architecture inc designed the new Bunka Centre to suit a variety of uses and was recently announced as the winner of the 2022 Prairie Wood Design Awards in the industry award
category for the Centre.
Hembroff noted the Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens has been a hub for cultural activities and fellowship since it first opened in 1967.
“The Bunka Centre tells the story of the Japanese Gardens. It’s history is not static. It will continue to evolve,” he said.
“ It‘s been an absolute team effort,” he continued, thanking all of the volunteers and partners who helped fund, build and organize the new Centre. Several government grants and fundraising efforts funded the new building.
“It’s an incredible honour to gather here with all of you,” said MP Rachael Thomas, on hand to help cut the ribbon.
The garden was built as a Centennial project designed as a monument to the
contributions made to southern Alberta by Canadians of Japanese origin. Nikka Yuko, which means Japan-Canada Friendship, is a Canadian garden done in Japanese style that reflects and highlights aspects of both cultures inside the city’s largest living art piece.
“ It truly took a community to pull this off,” Thomas continued.
Mayor Blaine Hyggen thanked city council and former mayor Chris Spearman for helping spearhead this project.
“ Nikka Yuko Garden is a cornerstone of tourism in Lethbridge. The economic impact is huge.” Hyggen said
“When I come here, I feel at home. It’s very impressive,” said Tatsukuni Uchida, Consul General of Japan in Calgary, noting the centre helps foster Japanese-Canadian relations.
Celebrations continue tonight at there Yates Theatre at 7 p.m. with performances by the mini Dancers and an extended performance by Booming Tree Taiko drummers from Edmonton.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor
