ABOUT
JLC Victoria was born out of a passion for Japanese bilingual education in Canada.
A mother had an idea of opening the first Japanese immersion preschool in Victoria for her own child in 2017. Since her idea became into reality in 2018, this first and only licensed Japanese immersion childcare on Vancouver Island has been growing with wonderful educators and the local community.
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We value "LEARN THROUGH PLAY" method and strongly believe that children learn the best through play; therefor, our priority is to keep our activities always fun and enjoyable for children.
We value "JAPANESE ONLY" policy and keep it strict. It is important that children are immersed into Japanese environment to learn Japanese language and culture as natural as possible while having fun. Our goal is NOT to force them to study Japanese but to make them coming back to our programs to use Japanese!
OUR PHILOSOPHY
HOLISTIC EDUCATION
We believe in the importance of well-rounded education.
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
We value child-initiated free play to cultivate child's independence of mind.
DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM
We value individual differences and stimulate growth individually.​
POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL GUIDANCE
We value positive guidance to respect every stage of child's growth.
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION,
We believe in the benefits bestowed by diversity.
OUR TEAM
AYAKO INOUE
Founder/School Director/Educator
Language education has always been Ayako's passion, and she has been teaching children both in Japan and Canada while deepening her knowledge & experience in business management, working for global corporations. After settling in Victoria, she decided to open the first Japanese immersion preschool in Victoria with Yuri.
YURI POMEROY
Principal/ Educator (ECE)
Yuri has raised her own children in Japanese in Victoria and pursued her career as an Early Childhood Educator. She has worked in the local daycare facility for over 10 years and she also has extensive experience in teaching Japanese language & culture in Victoria over 20 years.
AYA MIZUKAMI
School Manager/Educator (ECE)
​Aya has a kindergarten teacher license in Japan, became an ECE in Canada and joined JLC in 2021. She has tremendous experience in early childhood education both in Japan and Canada, not only as a preschool & kindergarten teacher but also as a professional nanny in Canada over ten years. She became a facility manager in 2023 after managing the preschool program for two years.
KEIKO PIMLOTT
Educator
Keiko has over-10-years of experience in teaching Japanese for preschoolers in Victoria while she raised her own children. She has been working for JLC since the opening of our preschool program in 2018, supporting children and parents at the infant/toddler classes and the after school club as well.
MIYOKO ABE
Educator
Miyoko worked as a kindergarten teacher in Japan before moving to Canada. She has been also teaching Japanese for kindergarten children in Victoria over ten years. She joined JLC in 2020 and has been supporting children and parents at Infant/Toddler, preschool and after-school programs.
WAKANA Niki
Educator
Wakana obtained her Early Childhood Educator Assistant license in Vancouver while she worked at a Japanese daycare as a volunteer and joined JLC in January 2024. With her passion for working with children, her goal is to acquire an ECE license in future.