Montreal Gazette - Have Canadians been slow to reach out a helping hand to earthquake-ravaged Japan?

While Quebecers opened their hearts and pocketbooks to Haiti in the wake of last year's 7.0-magnitude quake, relief efforts for Japan have been low-key in comparison…

"Japan is a developed country and there is a perception that we are self-sufficient," said Kaori Wada, 33, a PhD student in counselling psychology at McGill University. "It's true, but it's costly and it's going to be a long time for people to get their normal lives back," she added…

Wada, 33, has organized a support group for Japanese students at McGill and Concordia in the wake of the disaster. "I felt the need to talk to someone and I knew a lot of Japanese people were feeling that way," she said…

The crisis has brought together Japanese students from McGill, Concordia, Université de Montréal and the Université du Québec à Montréal, Wada said.