Nelson Izu-shi Friendship Society
The Nelson Izu-shi Friendship Society welcomes new members who support the goals of the Society:
Our purpose is to deepen friendship and mutual understanding through educational, cultural, and economic exchanges and to promote world peace and prosperity through cooperation and goodwill between the sister cities of Nelson, British Columbia, Canada and Izu-shi, Shizuoka, Japan.
Since the Friendship Society was formed in 1987, our members have organized many visits and exchanges between our two cities. Local families have made new international friends by visiting Izu-shi and by welcoming Japanese visitors into their homes. In 2017, multigenerational delegations from Nelson and Izu-shi made reciprocal visits to celebrate our 30th anniversary as sister cities. Similar exchange visits also took place in the spring and summer of 2019 and we have begun to explore other kinds of sister city cooperation. Please note: our planned exchange for 2021 has been postponed at least until 2022.
In 2003, thanks to the vision and leadership of Jim Sawada and Hiro Okusa, the work of community volunteers, many generous donations, and the support of the two cities, our society created the ‘Friendship Garden’ in Cottonwood Falls Park. That work has continued since 2017 with landscaping, pathway improvements and lighting, a new gate and welcoming garden on the west side of Cottonwood Creek, and stone steps and a viewpoint with safety railings. Our volunteers provide ongoing pruning and garden maintenance.
The Friendship Society hosts a number of seasonal community events in Nelson throughout the year to promote the sister city friendship and to contribute to Canada’s multicultural society. These include a spring cherry blossom/sakura hanami, a booth at Lakeside Park for Canada Day, a summer Obon picnic, a full moon viewing and haiku reading in September, and an Autumn Leaves gathering in the fall.
In 2018, the Friendship Society was honoured to receive a Community Giving Award from Fortis BC. In accordance with the City of Nelson’s nomination letter, we are now in the process of creating display signage for the park to share stories of Cottonwood Creek and its significance in our community.
To join and become involved contact us via our contact page
Since the Friendship Society was formed in 1987, our members have organized many visits and exchanges between our two cities. Local families have made new international friends by visiting Izu-shi and by welcoming Japanese visitors into their homes. In 2017, multigenerational delegations from Nelson and Izu-shi made reciprocal visits to celebrate our 30th anniversary as sister cities. Similar exchange visits also took place in the spring and summer of 2019 and we have begun to explore other kinds of sister city cooperation. Please note: our planned exchange for 2021 has been postponed at least until 2022.
In 2003, thanks to the vision and leadership of Jim Sawada and Hiro Okusa, the work of community volunteers, many generous donations, and the support of the two cities, our society created the ‘Friendship Garden’ in Cottonwood Falls Park. That work has continued since 2017 with landscaping, pathway improvements and lighting, a new gate and welcoming garden on the west side of Cottonwood Creek, and stone steps and a viewpoint with safety railings. Our volunteers provide ongoing pruning and garden maintenance.
The Friendship Society hosts a number of seasonal community events in Nelson throughout the year to promote the sister city friendship and to contribute to Canada’s multicultural society. These include a spring cherry blossom/sakura hanami, a booth at Lakeside Park for Canada Day, a summer Obon picnic, a full moon viewing and haiku reading in September, and an Autumn Leaves gathering in the fall.
In 2018, the Friendship Society was honoured to receive a Community Giving Award from Fortis BC. In accordance with the City of Nelson’s nomination letter, we are now in the process of creating display signage for the park to share stories of Cottonwood Creek and its significance in our community.
To join and become involved contact us via our contact page
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