Categories: Travel

There’s a small town in Alberta with a special connection to Japan

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Just west of Edmonton sits Stony Plain, a small town with an interesting history.

This small town has a very special connection to a town in Japan, having built a strong foundation of friendship and cultural exchange. Although Canada and Japan are far apart in distance, the connection between the two has closed the cultural gap.

Shikaoi: Stony Plain’s sister town

Since 1985, the Town of Stony Plain and the small town of Shikaoi in Japan have shared a sister town relationship. During this year, Shikaoi Park was built in Stony Plain to honour the friendship established between the two.

Over the years, the town has continued to strengthen the relationship through programs like the Shikaoi Exchange Program.

This program has four main components: the Student Exchange, Host Families, the Long Stay Volunteer, and the Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) Program.

Each year, Shikaoi sends over a group of Grade 9 students to visit the town and to engage in classic Canadian activities. They immerse themselves in our culture and stay with a Canadian host family to get the full experience. Those living in the town can apply to be a host family each year for two students.

For residents in the town looking to explore and delve into Japanese culture, there are many opportunities. Whether it’s the student exchange as a high school student going to Shikaoi, living in Shikaoi as an adult to help students learn English, or volunteering as an adult at the S.S. House in Shikaoi, there are so many options.

Stony Plain even has its own blog dedicated to those living in Shikaoi, sharing their experience. Here, you can read stories of those who are actively living in Shikaoi. They share what they do on a day-to-day basis, places they visit, and much more.

The two towns have continuously worked together through the years to grow their connection, and here’s to many more!