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Castlegar-Embetsu
Educational Exchange Website |
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THE CASTLEGAR-EMBETSU EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE COMMITTEE
The
Castlegar-Embetsu Educational Exchange Committee (CEEEC) is an organization
with dedicated volunteers who are 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, have 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 have 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. A number of 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 was facilitated by a grant from the Shikano Fund provided and
established in 1998 by Mr. Mitsuo Shikano, a Japanese
businessman who was born in Embetsu. Each Castlegar student's travel expenses
are partially subsidized from the interest raised on the Shikano Fund.
The Shikano Fund was administered by the Selkiek
College Foundation from 1998 to 2010.
Mr. Shikano’s wish was to reinforce the relationship of
goodwill and understanding between young people of Castlegar and Embetsu. Students act as ambassadors for the City of
Castlegar and Canada. This exchange
provides an opportunity for the youth of each community to learn about the
culture and customs of the other.
This annual
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 five students to Castlegar.
In 2008, eight Castlegar students and two adult leaders visited Embetsu.
In August
of 2008, the city of Castlegar invited Embetsu officials to attend the grand
opening of the new City Hall. The City was very pleased to have the Embetsu
delegation of seven which included the Mayor Shigeyuki Kawashima for the
celebration.
Sadly, Mr. Mitsuo Shikano, founder of the Student Exchange Program
between the City of Castlegar and its sister city Embetsu, Japan, passed away
on June 2, 2009 at the age of 81. The
Castlegar-Embetsu Educational Exchange continues as his legacy.
The 2009
exchange was postponed due to swine flu concerns. In 2010, an Embetsu delegation of seven, two
leaders and five students, visited Castlegar in the summer.
In 2011,
the Shikano Fund was transferred to the City of Castlegar. The City of Castlegar now administers the
fund and is responsible in ensuring the exchange program continues.
The 2011
the delegation from Castlegar was cancelled due to the earthquake and tsunami
disaster hit Northern Japan on March 11.
Instead, the Town of Embetsu sent its seventh student delegation of five
to Castlegar in August.
In July
2012, the Castlegar student delegation will be visiting Embetsu. The members are Victoria Apostoliuk, Kyra Gedig, Dante Enewold-Deary, Cody Sloot, and
Kyle Stetsko-Kallin and their leaders are Maria
Burton and Yuri Kutschera.
For more information please contact Curt Kutschera or Yuri Kutschera,
CEEEC Members at 365-7785.
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Location |
Japanese
Leaders Adults |
Japanese
Students |
Canadian
Leaders Adults |
Canadian
Students |
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Jun. 1988 |
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10 |
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June, 1989 |
Embetsu |
6 |
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1992 |
Embetsu |
3 |
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Sep.1993 |
Castlegar |
10 |
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1996 |
Embetsu |
1 |
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1998 |
Embetsu |
2 |
6 |
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1999 |
Castlegar |
3 |
4 |
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Jul. 2000 |
Embetsu |
2 |
8 |
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Mar. 2001 |
Castlegar |
2 |
8 |
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Sep. 2001 |
Castlegar |
15 |
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Jul. 2002 |
Embetsu |
2 |
8 |
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Mar. 2003 |
Castlegar |
1 |
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Mar. 2003 |
Castlegar |
2 |
8 |
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Jul. 2004 |
Embetsu |
2 |
8 |
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Mar. 2005 |
Castlegar |
2 |
2 |
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Aug. 2005 |
Castlegar |
2 |
9 |
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Jul. 2006 |
Embetsu |
3 |
6 |
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Aug. 2007 |
Castlegar |
2 |
5 |
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Jul. 2008 |
Embetsu |
2 |
8 |
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Aug. 2008 |
Castlegar |
7 |
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2009 |
Castlegar |
* |
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Aug. 2010 |
Castlegar |
2 |
5 |
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2011 |
Embetsu |
** |
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Aug. 2011 |
Castlegar |
2 |
3 |
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Jul. 2012 |
Embetsu |
2 |
5 |
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Total Visits |
178 |
60 |
44 |
25 |
49 |
HISTORY OF SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP TIMELINE
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TOTAL PASSENGERS USING CASTLEGAR
AIRPORT: 356 |
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*postponed due to swine flu **postponed due to tsunami disaster June 21, 1989: Sister city
agreement signed |
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June 21,1999: Sister City 10th
Anniversary, June 21, 2009 Sister City 20th Anniversary |