Japan comes for the WSI

By Rechell McDonald
The World Snowmobile Invasion was a huge success for the town and was enjoyed by people from all corners of the world, even Japan! Two of the participants in the WSI were of Japanese origin and, as you may recall, Whitecourt is the sister city of Yubetsu, Japan.
The Yubetsu mayor wrote a congratulatory letter to Whitecourt’s own Mayor Chichak expressing his joy at the feat Whitecourt was able to be a part of, and his excitement that two Japanese participants were among the many supporters of the record-breaking event.
Whitecourt and Yubetsu have shared an important relationship since 1998 when the two cities ‘twinned’ effectively entangling them for the better. Referred to as sister-cities, both towns benefit from the exchange of culture and people, as student exchanges have happened over the years. The two towns routinely correspond with each other to keep the bond strong and develop themselves culturally.