Nelson Izu-Shi Friendship Society
  • Home
  • Sister Cities
    • Origins of the Nelson – Shuzenji (now Izu-shi) Relationship
    • NELSON EXCHANGE VISIT TO IZU-SHI - SPRING 2019
    • IZU-SHI EXCHANGE VISIT TO NELSON - SUMMER 2019
    • NELSON DELEGATION VISIT TO IZU-SHI - SPRING 2017
    • IZU-SHI DELEGATION VISIT TO NELSON - SUMMER 2017 >
      • The yunomi jyawan
      • celebratory quilt
      • Saturday market
      • Mona Smith's Photos
      • Flashback to summer
  • The Friendship Garden
    • A Short History
    • Building the Friendship Gate
  • Community Events
    • Community Events 2023 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2023
    • Community Events 2022 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2022
      • O-Bon Summer Picnic - August 2022
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2022
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2022
      • 35Th Anniversary, Opening The Garden Shed, And Honouring Jim Sawada
    • Community Events 2021 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2021
      • Canada Day July 2021
      • Olympic & Para Olympic Cycling July 2021
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2021
    • Community Events 2020 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2020
      • Canada Day Tent July 2020
    • Community Events 2019 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2019
      • Obon Summer picnic - August 2019
      • Onibana Taiko Drumming Performance - August 2019
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2019
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2019
    • Community Events 2018 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2018
      • Canada Day July 2018
      • O-bon Summer Potluck Picnic - August 2018
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2018
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2018
    • Community events 2017 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2017
      • Songs and Laments May 2017
      • Canada Day July 2017
      • Obon Picnic August 2017
      • Otsukimi (Full Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading) Sept. 2017
      • Autumn Leaves October 2017
    • Community Events 2016 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2016
      • Canada Day July 2016
      • Obon Picnic August 2016
      • Otsukimi (Full Moon Viewing and Haiku Reading) Sept. 2016
      • Presentation to City Council September 2016
      • Autumn Leaves October 2016
      • Consul General visits Nelson November 2016
  • About us
    • Executive and board
    • Contact
    • Brochure
  • MEMBERSHIPS
Picture

Nelson Izu-shi Friendship Society


​The Nelson Izu-shi Friendship Society welcomes new members who support the goals of the Society.
​​​
The purposes of the Society are:
a) to deepen friendship and mutual understanding through educational, cultural, and economic exchanges with Izu-shi, Shizuoka, Japan;
b) to raise awareness of our sister city relationship through the Cottonwood Falls Friendship Garden and community activities in Nelson and area;
c) to promote world peace and prosperous global relationships 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, we have organized 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 next exchanges have been postponed until at least 2023 due to the Covid pandemic.


In 2003, the Society created the sister city ‘Friendship Garden’ in Cottonwood Falls Park. Building on the vision and leadership of Jim Sawada and Hiro Okusa, the participation of community volunteers, many generous donations, and the support of the two cities, Friendship Society members have continued to develop and care for the garden since then. In recent years, we’ve built the new Friendship Gate and garden beds along with stone steps and viewpoints on the west side of Cottonwood Creek. We are grateful to the City of Nelson and the Columbia Basin Trust as well as to our community supporters and suppliers for their ongoing contributions to this beautiful garden and park.
 
The Friendship Society normally hosts a number of seasonal cultural events in Nelson to promote the sister city friendship and 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, and a full moon viewing and haiku reading in September. The Fall 2021 Autumn Leaves gathering at Cottonwood Falls Park was our first event in two years.

In 2018, our Society received 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. Installation of ten signs is planned for the spring of 2022.


In December 2021, the Friendship Society was very pleased to be recognized and honoured by the City of Nelson as a recipient of a 2021 Sustainability Leadership Award for our work in Cottonwood Falls Park.

​
In 2022, we will be marking our 35th sister city anniversary. To join the Nelson Izu-shi Friendship Society and become involved please contact us via our contact page​

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Celebrating our 35th Anniversary as Sister Cities, Opening the Garden Shed,
​and Honouring Jim Sawada



Upcoming Events
​

*Click the Menu Headings for the main pages.*
  • Home
  • Sister Cities
    • Origins of the Nelson – Shuzenji (now Izu-shi) Relationship
    • NELSON EXCHANGE VISIT TO IZU-SHI - SPRING 2019
    • IZU-SHI EXCHANGE VISIT TO NELSON - SUMMER 2019
    • NELSON DELEGATION VISIT TO IZU-SHI - SPRING 2017
    • IZU-SHI DELEGATION VISIT TO NELSON - SUMMER 2017 >
      • The yunomi jyawan
      • celebratory quilt
      • Saturday market
      • Mona Smith's Photos
      • Flashback to summer
  • The Friendship Garden
    • A Short History
    • Building the Friendship Gate
  • Community Events
    • Community Events 2023 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2023
    • Community Events 2022 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2022
      • O-Bon Summer Picnic - August 2022
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2022
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2022
      • 35Th Anniversary, Opening The Garden Shed, And Honouring Jim Sawada
    • Community Events 2021 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2021
      • Canada Day July 2021
      • Olympic & Para Olympic Cycling July 2021
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2021
    • Community Events 2020 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2020
      • Canada Day Tent July 2020
    • Community Events 2019 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2019
      • Obon Summer picnic - August 2019
      • Onibana Taiko Drumming Performance - August 2019
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2019
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2019
    • Community Events 2018 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2018
      • Canada Day July 2018
      • O-bon Summer Potluck Picnic - August 2018
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2018
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2018
    • Community events 2017 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2017
      • Songs and Laments May 2017
      • Canada Day July 2017
      • Obon Picnic August 2017
      • Otsukimi (Full Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading) Sept. 2017
      • Autumn Leaves October 2017
    • Community Events 2016 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2016
      • Canada Day July 2016
      • Obon Picnic August 2016
      • Otsukimi (Full Moon Viewing and Haiku Reading) Sept. 2016
      • Presentation to City Council September 2016
      • Autumn Leaves October 2016
      • Consul General visits Nelson November 2016
  • About us
    • Executive and board
    • Contact
    • Brochure
  • MEMBERSHIPS