First Rising Sun

This is the image of the "First Rising Sun of 2012" the picture was taken in Matsushima an area devastated by the Japanese Tsunami on March 11, 2011.
The Sun rise is so beautiful and stands a beacon of hope and promise for 2012.

---

Meet A/JTMA Executives!

Resulting from the 2011 Annual General Meeting an addition was made to the Alberta/Japan Twinned Municipalities Association Executive Members.

Erynne Sjoblom was elected as Executive Visionary for a term of three years. Erynne brings a new dimension to the Association in that the position is one representing the "youth" of our Association. Youth defined as an individual who is not more than twenty five years of age (25) and not less than eighteen years of age (18).

Erynne recently returned from Wanouchi-cho, Japan (The Town of Hinton's Japanese twin town) where she taught English for one year. Erynne's first hand experience working with youth as well as her knowledge of the Japanese language is an invaluable asset and resource to the Association.

Erynne is a University student and currently resides in the City of Calgary.

Welcome Erynne!
Erynne Sjoblom

Jerry Madsen was elected as our Treasurer at the August 20, 2011 Annual General Meeting in Hinton. The term of the Treasurer is for two years.

Jerry and his wife, Connie reside in Rocky Mountain House. Jerry is an active member of the Rocky Kamikawa Friendship Society. Jerry and Connie have supported and contributed greatly towards Japanese relations. Jerry and Connie have also participated in many A/JTMA functions, events and conferences.

Jerry brings a wealth of experience along with wisdom and insight to the Association.

Welcome Jerry.
Jerry Madsen

Dr. Roy Kariatsumari was elected as our Association Vice President at the Annual General Meeting in Hinton on August 20, 2011. The position is a two year term.

Dr. Roy and his wife Betts reside in Rocky Mountain House and have been very avid members of the Rocky Kamikawa Friendship Society as well as active in A/JTMA events, conferences and functions.

Dr. Roy is instrumental in sustaining their excellent relationship with Kamikawa, Japan. In June this year, a very successful fundraiser was held to raise donations to be sent towards the Japanese Tsunami relief efforts.

Dr. Roy brings significant experience, wisdom and foresight to the Association.

Welcome Dr. Roy.
Roy Kariatsumari

Donna Cowan was elected as Association Secretary at the August 20th 20ll Annual General Meeting in Hinton. The term of the position is for two years.

Donna and her husband Doug reside in the Town of Stony Plain. She has been very active in the Stony Plain – Shikaoi , Japan relations for many years. Donna, the former Mayor of the Town of Stony Plain certainly understands the importance of having and sustaining a twin relationship. Donna has had 17 visits to Japan and certainly brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the Association.

Welcome Donna.
Donna Cowan

Harold Pereverseff was elected as President of the Association at the Annual General Meeting held in Lethbridge on September 15, 2007. His term is to end at the Annual General Meeting in 2012.

Harold and his wife Cheryl reside in Lethbridge. Harold is involved in International Relations in a number of ways and has been for several years. He is President of the Lethbridge Twinning Society and in 2011 was designated as Country Co-ordinator for Canada with Sister Cities International.

Harold has visted Japan on three occasions and has gleaned an understanding of the Japanese culture, language and established close freindships there.
Harold Pereverseff

---

Consul General of Japan – Calgary

Consul General of Japan – Calgary
Consul General Susuma Fukuda

On December 06, 2011 – The Lethbridge Twinning Society hosted a dedication ceremony at the City Hall in Lethbridge. A Japanese Taiko, a gift from Towada City, Japan, was unveiled and dedicated.

Please see more details at: Lethbridge Twinning Society - Events

It was a great honour to have Consul General Fukuda attend in Lethbridge for this special dedication ceremony.

---

Save The Date

May 04 & 05, 2012 is the date of the A/JTMA Annual Conference in Wetaskiwin.

Please contact Gladys Mojelski at bgmojel@xplornet.com for further details.

The conference questionnaires that were circulated at the Hinton Conference this year are requested back to Gladys as soon as possible please.

---

Dr. David Ibsen visit to Lethbridge

On November 9th and 10th - Dr. David Ibsen (Executive Director of "Family and Community Twining Society (FACTS)") attended in Lethbridge. He met with Harold (President of A/JTMA).

Discussions centered around interaction between FACTS and A/JTMA in particular with respect to youth involvement as well as travel to Japan, with educational aspects in mind. Dr. Ibsen had the opportunity of visiting the University of Lethbridge where he met with (PICTURE) Trish (Middle) and Laura (Left) at the University of Lethbridge International Centre for Students.

Trish is a the Acting Director of the Centre. Dr. Ibsen met as well with University Staff from the Faculty of Education. Further to these official visits, Dr. Ibsen attended a "going away" celebration dinner in honour of students from Habaeru, Okinawa, Japan who had been visiting Lethbrige.

Dr. David Ibsen is currently working on facilitating a visit to Japan planned for 2012, the trip will include cultural and educational aspects of Japan and intended on enhancing our friendship ties.

Please see: http://abssgr8.blogspot.com

---

An Incredible Opportunity and a Wonderful Experience!

It all began last summer when Joan Janeczko of Hinton reached out and invited a young student from Japan for a home stay experience. We had the opportunity of meeting Joan and her family in Hinton during the A/JTMA Conference. At that time we had petitioned Tsuzura Kikuchi of Towada city, Japan advising her of the opportunity. She responded and the rest is, well, "history". The unique and very positive opportunity was a first in A/JTMA – relations where different twin cities have interaction with one another.

Hinton of course is twinned with Wanochi Town while Lethbridge is twinned with Towada City.

Relations such as these have an incredible impact on our over all relations, and open up wide gates of opportunity, especially for our youth. This year, Joan Janeczko's daughter, Ali is preparing for a home stay in Japan! We hope that she will be able to visit Towada City, during her visit to Japan!

Our Executive Member, Erynne has been following up with these youth exchange opportunities and we certainly encourage these to continue.

Please read Tsuzura's attached report for her impression of Canada and her experiences.

---

Hands of Friendship

In commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of Alberta /Japan Twin Relationships. This memorial gift was presented to Ms. Kate Rowe of the Alberta Government Department of International and Intergovernmental Relations during the 2010 A/JTMA Conference held in Stony Plain, July 13 - 14th 2010.

The A/JTMA is proud to present such a meaningful monument to not only recognize the past three decades of twinning relations, but to also look to the future as we continue to build strong and meaningful assocations between communities in Alberta and Japan.

---

Exciting News: FREE AIRFARE TO JAPAN!

In an effort to stimulate an increase in travel to Japan, The Japan Tourism Agency has proposed that the Japanese Federal Government approve the necessary funds required in their 2012 Budget to offer 10,000 foreigners free airfares to visit their country next year.

The number of foreign tourists to Japan fell more than 50% in the three months following the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

If the Federal Government supports this endeavour, on-line applications will be available in April 2012. The Agency will select the successful applicants and ask them to write a report about their trip which will be published on the internet. Tourism officials hope that the positive reports from travelers will help ease international concerns about visiting Japan.

Check out www.mlit.go.jp and 'click' on English for more information.

More information will also be available on this website in the coming months.

---

This picture was taken at the A/JTMA conference and represents some of the attendees including Consul General of Japan, Susumu Fukuda and his wife Alicia. The 2011 A/JTMA conference was hosted by the Town of Hinton . We were very pleased with the venue along with the excellent meals program and entertainment organized by Hinton. Special thank you to Ian, Rhonda and Shiho for making us so welcome to Hinton and for the opportunity of meeting the Mayor and delegation from your Japanese twin town, Wanouchi Town.

---

2011 Annual A/JTMA Conference: Hinton, Alberta

This year, the world was (and still is) in shock as the devastating earthquakes struck off the eastern coast of Japan causing the enormous tsunami in the Fukishima area.

The long distance from here to Japan seemed so much closer as we all hoped and prayed for normality to return to the lives of the Japanese affected by this disaster. Many Alberta communities, particularly member communities of the A/JTMA rose up to the instant and did something/anything they could to provide assistance. We, the A/JTMA Executive, commend these communities for their timely and compassionate efforts.

True we too suffer our own misfortunes at the hands of nature (Slave Lake for example) we most certainly rally together for support there as well, not withstanding our efforts at home, the A/JTMA is proud of our membership who have reached out! Keep up the good work! We hope that at this year's conference, we might hear, first hand, from the represented municipalise how your Japan relief efforts went.

It will be wonderful to meet this year at the conference, those communities who have considered joining the A/JTMA, this is your moment! Please contact Shiho Hayashi at: 1(780)865-2363 e-mail: hayashi8@telus.net

Harold Pereverseff,
President
Alberta/Japan Twinned Municipalities Association

---