Council to donate to Japan
At the Governance and Priorities Committee meeting on March 29th, Carrie Baher of the Crowsnest Consolidated Parent Advisory Council asked Council to match the funds raised at the school’s fundraiser for Japan relief.
Baher also requested that Council give its support to establishing an official Sister City connection with the city of Hokuto, Japan, due to the special relationship the Crowsnest Pass has formed with the city through the high school’s exchange program.
At the April 5th Council meeting, Council approved the motion to match the donation of $1,500 and donate an additional $1,000, write a letter of support to the mayor of Hokuto, and to support the establishment of Sister City status.
The donation of an additional $1,000 serves to match the $2,500 donation the Crowsnest Pass received from the Town of Hakushu (one of the communities which was amalgamated into the City of Hokuto in 2004) during the Lost Creek Fire in 2003.
Prior to the vote, Councillor Siegbert Gail said he was leery about becoming a sister city to Hokuto, as the process could take quite some time, and he was concerned with burnout from volunteers working on the project, and didn’t feel that it was something Council should be focusing time and resources on.
“It doesn’t fall in line with our priorities at this time,” said Gail.
Councillor Brian Gallant said he fully supported the idea, noting that these projects are largely volunteer run and Council would only have to endorse it.
Councillor Larry Mitchell said the project would not require an excessive amount of work, and that it was more of a formalization of an existing “friendship tie” between the two communities.
The motion to match funds, write a letter of support, and establish Sister City status was passed unanimously.