Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford and a councillor will be attending a special ceremony this November in Shimizu, the sister city of Squamish in Japan.
Shimizu is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the town’s establishment, and they have invited Squamish mayor and councillor to a ceremony on November 3 to mark the occassion. The invitation was sent on May 29 by Yoshihiro Seki, Mayor of Shimizu.
While earlier there were plans for the Mayor and two councillor to visit Japan, it was decided by that only one councillor will be going to the ceremony. The name of that councillor has not been finalised. The trip for the mayor and one councillor will cost around $8,000. At a council meeting on July 8, staff recommended that upto $11,000 be allocated from the council contingency for this trip.
Mayor Armand Hurford was supportive of the trip, saying his family had hosted a exchange student from Japan and found the program quite valuable. “Wnytime we have this kind of exchange with people, it’s really impactful and important, even though slightly intangible,” he said.
Coun. Eric Anderson said council needs to keep investing in the relationship with Shimzu, which has been the sister city since 2005. He said Shimzu also has a Port and he has encouraged chamber and other local organisations in the past to be aware of the potential benefits this can bring. Coun. Jenna Stoner said she appreciates the value of this relationship but won’t support three people going to Japan. “I have hard time justifying sending three people to Japan with the council contingency funding. Knowing that, I will entertain a mayor and councillor to visit Japan,” she said.
Coun John French said it’s important that someone from District attend the special ceremony. Council decided to amend the motion and voted unanimously to send two people—Mayor and councillor—to Shimzu in November.
Corinne+Lonsdale says
I am wondering if anyone on Council can tell us how we have benefitted from the relationship with Shimizo. I was on Council when the Sistering took place. A couple of visits with them coming here and the Mayor going there. Gifts were exchanged and lots of pleasantries. However between 2005 and 2012 I did not see any economic benefit that warranted the expense of sending delegates back and forth. I know they came here sometime around 2012 but do not know how often since then. The $8,000 could be better spent right here at home! Make a donation to the Food Bank, Under One Roof, the Hospital Foundation to name a few. Better yet put that toward clearing some of the dead trees and managing the debris on the forest floor under in Coho or Merrill Park.
Jennifer Kensingon says
The district can’t afford to fix roads and delaying projects, yet they can travel on taxpayer funds?
Ted+Prior says
That’s 20 grand that could of been spent elsewhere