What
is a Sister City?
Summerland
and Toyokoro are twins, or Sister Cities. It is a relationship
that has both legal and moral responsibilities, duties and obligations.
The stated purpose of the sister-city relationship is to strengthen
our ties of friendship on a basis of mutual understanding, and
to develop industries, education and culture of both communities.
Mayor Cameron and then Mayor Satoshi Nagase signed the Sister-City
Agreement five years ago and at that time they stated:
Yasushi Nishimoto
Mayor
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"We
are confident this exchange between our municipalities will
lead to friendship and contribute to improved relations
between Canada and Japan."
They
then proclaimed the Sister-City relationship of Summerland
and Toyokoro.
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Toyokoro Spends Money
When
a Toyokoro delegation visits Summerland, they spend a lot of money
in the community for many items including:
- accommodation
- purchases
at grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations,
- purchases
from downtown businesses as well as businesses outside the downtown
core such as Sumac Ridge Estate Winery and Summerland Sweets,
and
- fees
to various activities e.g. Kettle Valley Railway, swimming pool,
Center Stage Theatre etc.
Students
One
of the cornerstones of the relationship is the student exchange.
The students are paired up with a new brother or sister. The focus
is on assisting each student to get a better understanding of
the other's culture. The annual visits always include a large
delegation of students and often the students develop life-long
friendships. They always get insights into one another's culture.
The emphasis is on education and that experience also inevitably
leads to them developing an understanding and empathy of all people.
A
Toyokoro Visit Is An Economic Boost For Summerland
The
benefits to Summerland are huge in terms of not only increased
cultural awareness but also economic stimulus. Let me explain.
The benefits to our youth are obvious, but the benefits to the
rest of Summerland are less obvious. A visit from our Toyokoro
friends is always accompanied by generous
support of our local businesses.
They are particularly strong supporters of Summerland Tourism
operators but also have established long-term business relationships
with other businesses here ( e.g. Sumac Ridge.) Toyokoro purchases
many thousands of dollars worth of Summerland products for their
festivals.
In
Toyokoro's city hall they also proudly display many of Summerland's
products.
Not
only does the small grant that the municipality gives to the Sister-City
society go directly back into the local economy but it also stimulates
our economy. Summerland gets back thousands of dollars for a very
small investment.
Japanese Traditions
Under
whatever situation people from the two countries meet in a civic
exchange, the most important aspect for the Japanese people is
formal recognition and greetings from the Mayor and Council.
While
it may not seem important for most of us in the "western
world", it is highly important to them that a brief ceremony
be held on each occasion when we get together. It needs to be
significant but not elaborate.
To
the Japanese people it is a recognition of the highest regard
that we hold for them. This brief formality will quickly melt
into more light-hearted activities
In
the end, a feeling of warm friendship is what means the most
to them. When a solid friendship has been established then
there is a wide variety of beneficial programs that can be
implemented.
The
world famous Taiko Drummers
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Summary
The
Toyokoro/Summerland Sister-City relationship is important to all
of our citizens and has many direct and indirect benefits for
people in our community.
The
relationship is expanding all the time. For example, an initiative,
which Vince Hannas suggested, is an artistic program where artists
from each community display their works in the other. Mr. Hannas
also envisions a day when artists from Toyokoro would come here
to Summerland and hold Workshops and artists from our community
would go there to demonstrate their methods.
Business
promotions between the two communities could also be improved
and Summerland products are already very popular in Toyokoro.
The
proper reception and entertainment of the Toyokoro delegations
is important for both communities and will take some money (perhaps
a small amount of money in comparison to some other organizations.)
When
our delegations was in Toyokoro we had complete days scheduled
for us with meals and accommodations provided as well as we had
the opportunity to do many activities unique to Japan including:
making a bowl in a wood-working studio; doing Japanese calligraphy;
taking part in a Japanese tea ceremony; visiting a Shinto Shrine;
making pottery; visiting their Junior High School and taking part
in a Sumi drawing experience; and being welcomed at a welcome
reception, given a departure banquet and having activities planned
for each evening.
In
contrast, Toyokoro citizens pay for their own food and accommodations
when they come to Summerland and Summerlanders don't pay when
they go to Toyokoro.
All
members of Council and the Mayor should greet the Toyokoro delegations
and I look forward to your active support of this very worthwhile
program for the citizens of our community.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom
Johnston
Mayor (2003-2005)
