Whitecourt celebrates its 20-year anniversary with sister town Yubetsu, Japan

On October 30, four adults and 11 students arrived in Whitecourt from Yubetsu, Japan. The travelers will spend one week learning about our schools and culture as part of our sister town student exchange program. Those taking part in the program experienced our Halloween tradition, took tours of Whitecourt and our lumber industry, and attended classes with our local students. They brought a piece of home with them and let us experience Taiko drumming. Taiko drumming is a Japanese tradition dating back to ancient times. The powerful sounds of Taiko drumming were once used to communicate and inspire the morale of soldiers in battle. Taiko drumming is now commonly played in festivals and common rainmaking rituals.

Prior to the trip, the students studied English and examined our cultural practices.
The delegates and chaperones are Miki Sato, program facilitator for the Town of Yubetsu and translator; Tsutomu Abe, Superintendent of Education; Toshiko Kano, Yubestu townsperson; and Shizuka Uchino, member of International Friendship Society.
Mayor Ashida arrived in Whitecourt on November 4.

The students and chaperones will be leaving Whitecourt on November 6 and will spend the day at West Edmonton Mall before flying back to Japan on Wednesday morning.