Sister city delegates to experience Canada Day in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS – Nearly a quarter of a century later the bond between sister cities remains strong and this year delegates from Uji, Japan will once again get to experience Canada Day celebrations in Kamloops.

In a letter to council Uji Mayor Tadashi Yamamoto confirms a group of five official members and 12 citizens will visit Kamloops from June 30 to July 4.

“I’m sure it will be a lot of work to your side,” Yamamoto says in the letter. “I would like to thank you for your arrangements in advance…. Needless to say that each of our exchanges becomes the foundations of a great friendship between two cities.”

Officially formalized in 1990 the relationship between Uji and Kamloops is intended to promote cultural awareness, economic development and tourism. The two cities take turns sending delegates to visit the other country, Kamloops sent a handful of delegates in October, and Kamloops hires assistant English teachers to help teach English in Uji. Junior high students from Uji visit Kamloops every summer and cultural exchange groups often visit each city as well.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infotelnews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.