|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
THE CASTLEGAR-EMBETSU EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE COMMITTEE
The Castlegar-Embetsu Educational Exchange Committee is made up of volunteers who are dedicated to facilitating the exchange of young people from Embetsu, Japan and Castlegar, Canada.
The Town of Embetsu is located on the northern tip of the island of Hokkaido, Japan and has a population of 4,000 citizens. Fishing and Agriculture, two of the township's key industries, has allowed Embetsu to prosper.
In 1989, representatives of the City of Castlegar and Selkirk College visited Embetsu to sign a Sister City agreement. Since then there has been continuing exchanges between the two cities. The Student Exchange Program between Castlegar and its sister city Embetsu, Japan, has been operating with great success since 1998. Groups of Castlegar students have visited Embetsu and other parts of Japan, while Embetsu students have come to Castlegar and visited other parts of B.C.
The Student Exchange is facilitated by grants from a fund established by Mr. Mitsuo Shikano, a Japanese businessman who was born in Embetsu. Each student's expenses are partially subsidized from the interest raised on a loan provided by Mr. Shikano in 1998. Mr. Shikano wishes to reinforce the relationship of goodwill and understanding between the young people of Castlegar and Embetsu, to act as ambassadors for the City of Castlegar and for the Castlegar Schools, and to provide an opportunity for the youth of each community to learn about the culture and customs of the other.
Mayor Mike O'Connor, Marilyn Luscombe, President
of Selkirk College, Delyse Syvester, the Executive Director of the Selkirk
College Foundation, and Bill Jankola, the Chair of the Exchange Committee have
stated their appreciation for Mr. Shikano's valuable contribution to the
exchange program. The continuation
of Mr. Shikano's financial support to the Student Exchange Program will
benefit both communities in Canada and Japan.
The program has continued to be very
successful. In 2006, Mayor Lawrence
Chernoff joined the delegation to Embetsu to represent the city of
Castlegar. In 2007, Embetsu sent a
delegation of two adults and 5 students to Castlegar. In 2008, 8 students and two adults visited
Embetsu.
In August of 2008, the city of Castlegar invited
Embetsu to send an adult delegation. The
city was very pleased that Embetsu was able to send a delegation of 7 people
which included the Mayor Kawashima.
To see updates of all visits please click on the
links above.
For more information please contact Yuri
Kutschera, CEEEC Member at 365-3664.