A presentation ceremony was held at the official residence of the Consul General of Japan in Vancouver on December 27, 2022, to honour Ruth Midori Coles, President of Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society, who was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays at the 2022 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals.
Surrounded by her family and friends, Ms. Coles smiled shyly as Consul General Kohei Maruyama placed the medal on her chest.
During the ceremony, Consul General Maruyama congratulated Ms. Coles and stated, “It is an honour to present this award to Ms. Ruth Midori Coles. Her outstanding contributions to the health and welfare of the Japanese Canadian community in Canada and promoting friendly relations between Japan and Canada.”
In her speech following the ceremony, Ms. Coles expressed her gratitude, saying, “I certainly am feeling a little overwhelmed, and really feel the honour to receive this honour.”
“I would just like to start first with honouring my parents and the Christian values on which I have been raised because they are the values that have been instilled in me from an early age. And my father and mother, in particular, were instrumental in helping many Japanese people relocate to Grand Forks, where we lived as youngsters. And from then, they supported my education and my going into social work. It was very important, and that was the kind of journey that I took to where I am today,” she reminisced.
Ms. Coles went on to commend the dedication and contributions of the staff and colleagues who have worked together to support the community, stating, “I thank you very much for all you have done, and you have been the heart of moving us forward in looking at the needs of the seniors, and I think there’s still a lot more to do so I hope I can be there alongside you and work together. I am receiving this honour on your behalf.”
Lastly, she turned to her husband with a smile and remarked, “Last but not least, my family, my husband in particular, who has supported and encouraged me,” she said. “You have been editing some of my speeches, and you’ve done a marvellous job, and I really do want to thank you very much.”
Text by Naomi Mishima
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