2016 Kakehashi Program Kitami Hokuto Senior High Alberta Visit
2017/3/27
From March 11th through to March 19th, a delegation of 20 Students and 2 teacher chaperones from Hokkaido’s Kitami Hokuto Senior High visited Alberta. They are all participants in a two-way exchange through the Kakehashi Program with John G. Diefenbaker High, which is their Canadian partner school.
The Kakehashi Program is a visiting exchange program for students that takes place mainly with North America. Established by the Japanese Government, it aims to enhance mutual understanding of politics, economy, society, culture, history, and diplomatic relations among participants. This year’s exchange marks the third time this program has taken place with this consular jurisdiction.
Visit to sister city Barrhed and the introducer of curling in Japan – March 12
The Program delegation visited Barrhead, the sister city of Hokuto where Kitami Hokuto Senior High is located, where they toured a museum, a farm and the Town Hall. The group also paid a visit to the home of Mr. Wally Ursuliak who went to Kitama city in the 1980’s to teach the sport of curling. He talked about his own experience visiting Hokkaido and shared stories relating to the history of curling in Japan.
Visit with Alberta Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell – March 13
The group met with Alberta Lieutenant Governor, Her Honour Lois E. Mitchell who expressed her wish that the participants keep their Canadian experience in their hearts as they take on new challenge ahead, as well as her hope that they visit Alberta again sometime in the future. In her remarks, Vice-Consul Tomori expressed thanks to the Lieutenant Governor for this precious opportunity while encouraging the students to keep in mind what each of them can do with their dual Canada-Japan experience after they return home.
Visit with Calgary Mayor , His Worship Naheed Nenshi and City Hall Tour – March15
Accompanied by Deputy Consul-General Yoshioka and Vice-Consul Tomori, the delegation paid a visit to City Hall to meet with Calgary Mayor Nenshi. Following the Mayors’ welcome address, each student was asked about what impressed them during their visit to Canada. At the end of the visit, each student received a commemorative pin bearing the City of Calgary’s emblem as a gift from the Mayor.
Following this, the group toured City Hall, learning about Calgary’s history and the art displayed in the building. They were especially fascinated by the displays showing the damage Calgary sustained in the 2013 flood disaster.
Reception hosted by the Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary – March 15
Approximately 80 people were in attendance at a reception held at the Consulate-General’s official residence, including Calgary Board of Education members, Calgary Japanese Community Association representatives, journalists, John G. Diefenbaker High School Principal, students and parents, as well as the Kitami-Hokuto delegation.
The reception began with an address by Deputy Consul-General Yoshioka who expressed his admiration for the Canadian strength of acknowledging differences and the vitality of a country built on multiculturalism, expressing that Japan can learn a great deal from this competency. He urged the Kakehashi Program participants to continue developing their mutual understanding of both countries, and not to forget the memories of this friendly exchange experience. Calgary Board of Education representative Darlene Unruh thanked the Japanese Government for making this rare tangible experience of each other’s culture possible for both the Canadian and the Japanese students.
The students of both schools enjoyed pleasant conversations in English with the reception attendees. The Diefenbaker students gave a presentation on their experiences from the time they spent in Japan. The Kitami Hokuto students also presented an overview of their school and the Japanese school system, and then performed a Yosakoi dance performance.
Visit with the Calgary Japanese Community Association
Both the Kitami Hokuto and Diefenbaker students visited the Calgary Japanese Center located within the Calgary Japanese Association space. They were welcomed by the Association Chairperson and approximately 15 members of the association. The members shared real experiences of the history and lives of persons of Japanese descent in Canada, which all of the students were very much interested to learn about from them.
The Kitami Hokuto students also had the opportunity to attend Diefenbaker High School to observe regular classes, as well as take part in a homestay hosted at the homes of their Diefenbaker counterparts. In addition they enjoyed skating on Lake Louise and curling in Calgary, while also being able to visit both the Prince Takamado Japan Centre for Teaching & Research at the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary campus.
The Kakehashi Program is a visiting exchange program for students that takes place mainly with North America. Established by the Japanese Government, it aims to enhance mutual understanding of politics, economy, society, culture, history, and diplomatic relations among participants. This year’s exchange marks the third time this program has taken place with this consular jurisdiction.
Visit to sister city Barrhed and the introducer of curling in Japan – March 12
The Program delegation visited Barrhead, the sister city of Hokuto where Kitami Hokuto Senior High is located, where they toured a museum, a farm and the Town Hall. The group also paid a visit to the home of Mr. Wally Ursuliak who went to Kitama city in the 1980’s to teach the sport of curling. He talked about his own experience visiting Hokkaido and shared stories relating to the history of curling in Japan.
Visit with Alberta Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell – March 13
The group met with Alberta Lieutenant Governor, Her Honour Lois E. Mitchell who expressed her wish that the participants keep their Canadian experience in their hearts as they take on new challenge ahead, as well as her hope that they visit Alberta again sometime in the future. In her remarks, Vice-Consul Tomori expressed thanks to the Lieutenant Governor for this precious opportunity while encouraging the students to keep in mind what each of them can do with their dual Canada-Japan experience after they return home.
Visit with Calgary Mayor , His Worship Naheed Nenshi and City Hall Tour – March15
Accompanied by Deputy Consul-General Yoshioka and Vice-Consul Tomori, the delegation paid a visit to City Hall to meet with Calgary Mayor Nenshi. Following the Mayors’ welcome address, each student was asked about what impressed them during their visit to Canada. At the end of the visit, each student received a commemorative pin bearing the City of Calgary’s emblem as a gift from the Mayor.
Following this, the group toured City Hall, learning about Calgary’s history and the art displayed in the building. They were especially fascinated by the displays showing the damage Calgary sustained in the 2013 flood disaster.
Reception hosted by the Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary – March 15
Approximately 80 people were in attendance at a reception held at the Consulate-General’s official residence, including Calgary Board of Education members, Calgary Japanese Community Association representatives, journalists, John G. Diefenbaker High School Principal, students and parents, as well as the Kitami-Hokuto delegation.
The reception began with an address by Deputy Consul-General Yoshioka who expressed his admiration for the Canadian strength of acknowledging differences and the vitality of a country built on multiculturalism, expressing that Japan can learn a great deal from this competency. He urged the Kakehashi Program participants to continue developing their mutual understanding of both countries, and not to forget the memories of this friendly exchange experience. Calgary Board of Education representative Darlene Unruh thanked the Japanese Government for making this rare tangible experience of each other’s culture possible for both the Canadian and the Japanese students.
The students of both schools enjoyed pleasant conversations in English with the reception attendees. The Diefenbaker students gave a presentation on their experiences from the time they spent in Japan. The Kitami Hokuto students also presented an overview of their school and the Japanese school system, and then performed a Yosakoi dance performance.
Visit with the Calgary Japanese Community Association
Both the Kitami Hokuto and Diefenbaker students visited the Calgary Japanese Center located within the Calgary Japanese Association space. They were welcomed by the Association Chairperson and approximately 15 members of the association. The members shared real experiences of the history and lives of persons of Japanese descent in Canada, which all of the students were very much interested to learn about from them.
The Kitami Hokuto students also had the opportunity to attend Diefenbaker High School to observe regular classes, as well as take part in a homestay hosted at the homes of their Diefenbaker counterparts. In addition they enjoyed skating on Lake Louise and curling in Calgary, while also being able to visit both the Prince Takamado Japan Centre for Teaching & Research at the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary campus.
