Whistler welcomes Sister City Mayor

The Resort Municipality of Whistler welcomed the Mayor of Karuizawa, Susumu Fujimaki to Whistler from October 5 to 7, 2012. Mayor Fujimaki and his visiting delegation spent three days exploring Whistler with Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden and members of council.

This was Mayor Fujimaki’s first visit to Whistler, Karuizawa’s Sister City. Whistler and Karuizawa became the 67th pair of Canadian/Japanese Sister Cities in 1999. Both cities boast year-round tourism and a multitude of outdoor recreational activities. The relationship strengthens economic and cultural ties and promotes tourism between the Town of Karuizawa and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. 

 "I enjoyed hosting Mayor Fujimaki on his visit to Whistler,” said Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden. “Whistler and Karuizawa have enjoyed a special relationship, and I look forward to expanding our student exchange programs and encouraging travel and understanding between our communities. We hope that Mr. Fujimaki enjoyed his Whistler experience, which included visits to a few of Whistler’s 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games legacies.” 

The visit included a tour of the Cheakamus Community Forest; tree planting outside of the Meadow Park Sports Centre to commemorate Mayor Fujimaki’s visit to Whistler; tours of the Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler Olympic Park and the Squamish Lillooet Cultural Centre.

Photos: (Left) Plaque outside of the Meadow Park Sports Centre to commemorate Mayor Fujimaki’s visit to Whistler.  (Right) Mayors Wilhelm-Morden and Fujimaki with Councillor Grills and the Japanese delegation.

Whistler students are currently in Karuizawa for a six-day visit as part of the Sister City student exchange program. The annual exchange provides a cross-culture experience that explores the traditions, history, language and present day geography of both countries. It also has formed a closer bond between the Canadian and Japanese communities as both have rich histories and diverse backgrounds.