New Building Timeline

April 15, 2021-Lethbridge residents and Nikka Yuko supporters alike will soon be able to enjoy and benefit from the unique cultural centre being constructed at the garden, provisionally named the Nikka Yuko Bunka Centre. The Lethbridge and District Japanese Garden Society presented the name to the Cultural and Social Standing Policy Committee today and spoke to the Society’s plans to honour the many visionaries whose dedication is reflected throughout the garden. The Committee will present the name at a future City Council meeting.

Bunka, pronounced boon-kah, means culture in Japanese. As the garden is known as the “Gem of the South” the Nikka Yuko Bunka Centre will engage the community and guests with cultural experiences and programs offered by the Society. The Bunka Centre will also provide space for the community to celebrate and gather for their own cultural purposes, events, and activities. The Centre will be a hub for Henderson Lake users as a year-round place to enjoy, whether they are grabbing a coffee or tea from the café or relaxing with friends and family. In total, the facility will include two dedicated exhibit spaces, a café, and rentable spaces for meetings and community events, the largest with a capacity of 100 people.

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden’s founders will be honoured in the new Bunka Centre through exhibits and spaces dedicated in their names. These include Cleo’s Café (named after Cleo Mowers), the Kawamura Room (named after both Reverend Yutetsu and Yoneko Kawamura), Dr. Hironaka Room (named after Dr. Bob Hironaka), Dr. Kubo Room (named after Dr. Tadashi Kubo), and the Dr. Sugimoto Commons (named after Dr. Masami Sugimoto).

(Photo provided by Friction Fit Framing)

February 24, 2021: Trusses arrive for the Bunka Centre and work begins on the roof.
(Photo provided by Friction Fit Framing)

December 15, 2020
(Photo provided by Friction Fit Framing) 

December 17, 2020: The Lethbridge & District Japanese Garden Society is pleased to accept a $15,000 Community Priority Grant from the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta. This money will go towards developing our interactive digital media equipment for our new building. 

December 10, 2020: Construction is coming along quickly with the new building and the walls are starting to go up! 

Art's Alive and Well in the Schools, a yearly art exhibit put on by all the Lethbridge city schools within the Holy Spirit Catholic School Board, Lethbridge School Division and École La Vérendrye, is usually displayed in cooperation with the Southern Alberta Artt Gallery in the spring. 

However, due to COVID, this was turned into a virtual exhibit called Art'sAlive and Well in...Our Homes! The exhibition consists of artwork created at home and submitted by children from all the schools. A sample of these artworks are being displayed along the construction fencing around the new Nikka Yuko Bunka Centre.

Construction has begun in the green space outside of Nikka Yuko's garden walls. 

On September 11, 2020 the Lethbridge & District Japanese Garden Society blessed the ground for the Nikka Yuko Bunka Centre. Elder Calvin Williams presented the Land Blessing and Reverend Yasuo Izumi presented a Calming of the Earth Spirits Ceremony. 

In attendance were members of the Society, Mayor Chris Spearman, the Consul-General of Japan Mr. Kobayashi as well as key members from the City of Lethbridge who have been integral to the success of this project. 

City Council votes 7-2 to move the project forward

Society does a presentation regarding the operational costs of the new building and fee for service needs

Postponement due to COVID-19 - New meeting date set for March 30

Society provides Council with information regarding operations and need for new building to continue

Society provides Council with information regarding operations and need for new building to continue

Society provides Council with information regarding operations and need for new building to continue

Decision was postponed/tabled due to CIP groups not having enough time to respond to the motions and more information was needed by groups

Council put forward a motion to discontinue the project on Thursday, February 20 for the Monday, February 24 meeting

Construction drawings were submitted to City for review and discussion on starting the RFP for construction

City Council requested a report on the status of ALL CIP projects approved for review.

Society working with City Manager and Administration on a Joint Operations Committee to find effective and efficient ways to work together.

This includes continuing the Fee for Service Contract Discussions that are going year from year.

University of Lethbridge - Centre for Oral History & Tradition

Lethbridge College - AV and VR Programming development

Phase One study done on the exhibit piece. Exhibit research and design in coordination with new building design

ATB Centre open house on all City projects including Nikka Yuko - information on the design (City & Society collaboration)

Vision XS - Nikka Yuko focused on design, space, products and operational cost business planning

Society presented a 4 year plan as per City process. Increase was for covering basic staffing without the new building for 2 years (September 2018)

City and Society agree that a year by year contract until more information of design and operation of the new building was complete (Approved in 2018/2019)

Vision XS Market 5 Business Model Consultation (Market, Space, Experience, Cost, and Operations)

Nikka Yuko signs contract with Viator & Expedia and starts to promote Nikka Yuko to the travel trade

Nikka Yuko is the first and only Lethbridge attraction until 2019 to attend this travel trade conference to promote Nikka Yuko as a destination to worldwide companies

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) submitted by City department for consideration

Society participated in learning about the travel trade and export ready products and experiences

Planning assistance for a possible new building - Estimate One

50/50 City & Society
Society/City Collaboration

Initial Marketing & Final Marketing Research Report
Feasibility Analysis
Business Plan

$100,000 was given to Nikka Yuko by Mr. Alex Yanoshita in honour of Mr. Broder