The Uji delegation with representatives from the City of Kamloops. (Photo via Mike O'Reilly)
Delegates from the Japanese city of Uji are in town to mark 30 years of their Sister City relationship with Kamloops.
The relationship – which aims to promotes cultural awareness, economic development, and tourism – was officially formalized by former Mayor Phil Gaglardi on July 1, 1990.
“Unfortunately our 30th anniversary of our relationship [in 2020] we missed due to COVID when they were supposed to come up last time,” Kamloops Councillor Mike O’Reilly, said on NL Newsday. “They got here last night and then they head out tomorrow afternoon.”
O’Reilly says the Uji delegation includes three councillors and the mayor, Atsuko Matsumura, along with 15 international students who live in Kamloops on a cultural study and exchange.
“What was interesting last night is former Mayor [Ken] Christian and the major of Uji had done gifts for each other when they were supposed to meet last but it was cancelled,” O’Reilly said. “So former Mayor Christian was there and the mayor had individual gifts for him and he had gifts for their mayor.”
“They had met via Zoom and we did a cultural exchange with Japanese tea that they had sent over to us last year, with the students, so we tried to keep those ties as much as we could throughout COVID.”
The Sister City agreement supports alternating visits between the two cities. According to the City, Kamloops last hosted Uji-delegates in 2019.
“We’re very similar sized cities, I think Uji comes in about 180,000 people and we’re just over 100,000 so there are a lot of similarities,” O’Reilly said.
“We also had Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc with us last night, Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir and Councillor Dave Manuel, so there was First Nations dancing and we also talked about our history and how this relationship has formed and what it could be. It’s a very special to share amongst friends.”
Thrilled to welcome Uji Japan’s Mayor Atsuko Matsumura and other representatives. Uji is Kamloops’ sister city. Welcome to #Kamloops #Thompson #Cariboo! pic.twitter.com/hysOVnuPUB
— Frank Caputo MP (@FrankCaputoKTC) July 28, 2023
