日本カナダ商工会議所主催「姉妹都市プロジェクト」で継続開催中のカナダスーク市と交流をしている名取市中学生22名の歓迎会を、2023年4月6日（木）にSELCで開催いたしました。
当日は、皆渡航の疲れも感じさせずに、歓迎会会場のSELCのメインロビーでは、最初にサミー高橋会長よりWelcomeメッセージにつづき、名取市出身のTaro理事が当時の名取市の生活を振り返り、カナダで一輪車通学で広告費の学費で通ったエピソードを交えた自己紹介、つづいて出席理事とSELCより2名留学生がそれぞれ挨拶し、そして出席した22名の中学生からはカナダについていろいろ活発な質問がされていました。最後は、バンクーバーの有名な和食店からの弁当を一緒に美味しくいただきました。
平成3年度から始まった名取市中学生海外派遣事業で、カナダ・スーク市にあるジャーニーミドルスクールとは平成11年度の第9回派遣事業から交流が始まり、また相互交流として、交流校が名取市でホームステイも行っています。
東日本大震災の時は、復興支援のために、カナダ連邦・BC州、アルバータ州政府、カナダ林産業界およびカナダウッドグループが「カナダ-東北復興プロジェクト」を立ち上げ、名取市の「ゆりあげ港朝市 メイプル館」のほか、「どんぐり・アンみんなの図書室（現：名取市歴史民俗資料館）」を整備。その後の2020年開催の東京オリンピックでは、名取市はカナダの復興ありがとうホストタウンとして、自転車競技をはじめとしたカナダ出場選手の応援をいたしました。
また今回来加に先立ち２月２５日（土）には、立命館大学産業社会科学部永野ゼミが主催する、弊会後援のZoom交流イベント「いまつながろう閖上（ゆりあげ）とカナダ」を開催しています。この５月4日には名取市国際課主催で「カナダを知る講演会」が開催され弊会サミー高橋会長が登壇する予定です。
国際交流・広報係 ☎022‐724‐7143
日本カナダ商工会議所では引き続き、両国の若者をつなげ、友好の絆を活性化するイベントを開催する予定です。
Developing world friendships with Sooke, 22 junior high school students from Natori-shi were invited to a welcome party by “the City Exchange Project” by JCCOC
On April 6, 2023, a welcome party was held for 22 junior high school students from Natori City, deepening exchange with Sooke, Canada, as part of “the City Exchange Project” sponsored by the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce.
Despite the fatigue from the journey, the students were full of energy at the welcome party held at SELC’s main lobby. Sammy Takahashi, the chairman, delivered a welcome message followed by a self-introduction from Taro, a board member who was born and raised in Natori City and shared an episode of his life in childhood and of commuting to school on a unicycle using the advertisement fee for the tuition. Two attending board members and two SELC international students also gave a courtesy. The 22 junior high school students who attended the party asked various enthusiastic questions about the topics.
Finally, everyone enjoyed a delicious Bento, provided by a famous Japanese restaurant in Vancouver.
The Natori City Junior High School Overseas Dispatch Project started in 1991. Exchange activities with Journey Middle School in Sooke, Canada began with the 9th dispatch project in 1999. As part of the exchange program, Journey Middle School students also came to Natori City and stayed with host families.
During the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Canadian federal government, the governments of British Columbia and Alberta, the Canadian forest industry, and the Canada Wood Group launched the “Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project” to support the reconstruction efforts. As part of this project, they supported the restoration of the “Yuriage Port Morning Market Maple Hall” and the “Acorn and Ann Everyone’s Library (now the Natori City Historical and Folklore Museum).” Natori City was also a host town for Canada during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and cheered for Canadian athletes, particularly in cycling events.
In addition, on February 25, before their trip to Canada, the Nagano Seminar of Ritsumeikan University’s Faculty of Industrial Social Sciences, which is supported by the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce, held a Zoom exchange event called “Connecting Yurage and Canada.”
On May 4th, the International Division of Natori City is holding a lecture titled “Getting to Know Canada,” and our Chairman Sammy Takahashi is scheduled to present.
Public Relations Division of Natori City
Contact:☎⁺81-22‐724‐7143
The Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce plans to continue holding events that connect young people from both countries and promote friendship between them.
