Here’s How Burlington is Celebrating a Special Anniversary with its Sister City in Japan

Published June 27, 2019 at 6:15 pm

This year the city of Burlington is celebrating a very special anniversary with its sister city in Japan.

This year the city of Burlington is celebrating a very special anniversary with its sister city in Japan.

Back in May of 1989, as noted in a recent press release, Burlington signed a twinning agreement with the city of Itabashi in Japan. 

The relationship between the two cities has blossomed quite a bit over the years.

“Over the years, the Mundialization Committee has arranged various programs and exchanges between ltabashi and Burlington and relations between the cities have flourished on all levels,” notes the release. “The twinning relationship has been demonstrated through regular citizen visits, official delegations, special gift exchanges, student art and pen-pal exchanges and memorable anniversary celebrations.”

And 2019 marks the 30th twinning anniversary of the two cities. And the cities are celebrating in a very special way.

The city of Burlington, and Mayor Marianne Meed Ward will be hosting an official delegation from Itabashi.

The eight-member delegation, which will be held from June 30 to July 2, 2010, will consist of Itabashi Mayor Mr. Takeshi Sakamoto and Chairman Yoshiyuki Motoyama, Assembly Members Mr. Ichiro Yasui, Ms. Kayoko Shiba, Ms. Eri Tamauchi and Mr. Kazumoto Takazawa and senior staff members Mr. Tamotsu Yoshida and Mr. Hiroshi Maruyama.

“The delegation will visit several locations throughout the city to learn about environmental actions, post-secondary education and childcare,” reads the release. “The group will also officially open the Itabashi Garden and attend the Canada Day Opening Ceremony.”

The Itabashi Garden opening will take place at the Tansley Woods Community Centre at 10:45 a.m. on Monday, July 1, 2019. Meed Ward and Sakamoto will both be in attendance. 

The garden has been built in the courtyard area behind the community centre, and was inspired by the gardens of the Itabashi area and the local Burlington landscape. The construction began in the fall of 2018.

In addition, as mentioned, Sakamoto will join Meed Ward in welcoming and addressing the crowd at the Canada Day Opening Ceremony at Spencer Smith Park at 4 p.m. 

For more information, click here.

Photo is courtesy of the city of Burlington.

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