It may have been a grey day in Milton, Ontario, but the atmosphere was streaked with brilliant blue as JETAA Toronto's Fighting Carps team captured gold in the 'D' division of the TigerTel dragonboat regatta on August 15.

Many thanks to Kwok Chan for the most excellent photography!

Take 20 new JET recruits and six kitchen-savvy alumni plus one native Japanese cook, stir well in a steamy 45-degree room and what do you get? A whole lot of oishii dishes!

This year's cooking class whipped up treats like okonomiyaki, cold soba, Japanese curry and some mercifully refreshing ramune to drink. Diagnosis? Delicious.

*URGENT NOTE* due to expected bad weather this weekend, including thundershowers forecast for Sunday, we have had to postpone this event until next week. It will now be held Sunday, August 29. Otherwise all details, and times are the same!

Thanks for your understanding.

-- JETAA Toronto Team

Remember all those good things about summertime barbeques in Japan: yakitori, yakiniku, mochi, grilled corn and pumpkin, yakionigiri and all that good stuff? They don't have to just be memories!

Join us for the JETAA Toronto Natsu Matsuri BBQ and Scavenger Hunt on Ward's Island! In addition to chowing down, and enjoying the island atmosphere, we will also be holding a mini-scavenger hunt around the park. There will even be prizes . . .

As these words hit the page, the latest crop of Toronto-area JETs have already finished Tokyo Orientation. They have arrived at their respective prefectures and are just settling in for their first night in their new homes.

This year's departing JET crew was almost 60 strong and very genki! The group had an intensive three-day Pre-departure Orientation (PDOT) with Marcia Iwasaki and the Consulate General of Japan staff, Japan Foundation staff, 25 JETAA volunteers and 8 JAVA volunteers participating.

There are only six more weeks before the new JETs depart to experience Japan.

Come out and have a drink, grab a bite to eat and share your experiences with the new JETs at the annual JETAA Toronto Pub Night at the Bedford Academy!

When: Saturday July 10, 2010 from 6-9pm
Where: The Bedford Academy, 36 Prince Arthur Ave, Toronto, ON M5R1A9

Light appetizers will be served.

See you there!

On a drizzly Sunday afternoon in March, 10 people converged on Hamilton. Some had never set foot in this Brooklynesque town, while others more familiar with its sights and smells. . .