Salmon Arm to host first Inashiki student delegation since before pandemic

Salmon Arm to host first Inashiki student delegation since before pandemic Published 5:00 am Wednesday, July 15, 2026 A longstanding student exchange between sister cities of Salmon Arm and Inashiki resumes this summer.

Salmon Arm to host first Inashiki student delegation since before pandemic Published 5:00 am Wednesday, July 15, 2026 A longstanding student exchange between sister cities of Salmon Arm and Inashiki resumes this summer. At its July 13 meeting, city council voted to commit up to $800 to cover the costs of a city-hosted dinner for the visiting delgation on Aug. 18, and for the rental of the Little Mountain Field House for a farewell gathering on Aug. 23.

Corporate officer Rhonda West explained a long-standing sister-city relationship began with a friendship agreement between Salmon Arm and the Town of Azuma in 1990. In 2005, Azuma became part of the City of Inashiki. “The relationship has supported cultural exchange, cooperation, and international friendship between the two communities,” said West, explaining he city-hosted dinner is an opportunity to “welcome the delegation, recognize the importance of the sister city relationship and enhance cultural and civic connections.”

Providing further background, Mayor Alan Harrison explained the last student exchange took place just before the COVID-19 pandemic. “So there hasn’t been a visit since that time and we’ve been talking now with the mayor of Inashiki and his staff for about a year about how can we revive this and I think the limiting factor is finances – It’s tight, everybody is tight,” said Harrison. “And so that’s the reason why this ask is a small fraction of what the city was involved in previous.”

The visiting delegation of less than 10 students will arrive around in Salmon Arm at around 6 p.m.on Monday, Aug. 17. A formal greeting will be held at the J.L. Jackson Secondary School library, where students will be paired up with local host families. “This is kind of unusual because home hosting is not that common anymore except for sports teams, but in this exchange it’s very important,” said Harrison.

On Tuesday morning, Aug. 18, the delegation is scheduled to be at McGuire Lake Park for a photo at the Friendship Gate. At 10 a.m., they’ll be at council chambers for a welcome by city council. “I think most of you who have been invovled before in the presentations there, where the students from Inashiki come forward and speak in English to us.

It’s a very enjoyable time,” said Harrison, noting organizers of the visit have “scaled back on the kinds of activities that are taking place they’re raising their own money through everything from bottle drives to bake sales.” On Wednesday afternon, the students will be taken to Herald Park where they’ll spend the next three days camping. “They’re going to spend some time around the town of course, they’ll have free time with their host families who will take them about as well,” said Harrison.

The Sayonara Party will be an intimate gathering “to keep the cost down” at the Little Mountain Field House. The delegation leaves Salmon Arm the following morning. Harrison said Chris Filiatrault, who began the sister city relationship in 1990, and raised his family in Japan, has volunteered to serve as interpreter with the delegation.

Referring to past city welcome gathering in council chambers, Harrison noted, “I’m not sure if when I give my speech, Mr. Chris actually translates it correctly into Japanese.” “It usually gets a lot of laughs and I didn’t think I said anything funny,” said Harrison. “I think that’s probably kind of the way the trip is designed...”