Sakura Trees Symbolize Appreciation for Canadian Missionary's Contributions
Participating in the ceremonial planting were (from left)
Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin School Chancellor Masanobu Fuakmachi;
Alumni Association President Sachie Matsumoto;
Ms. Cynthia Graham, Public Works, City of Hamilton;
Rev. Ian Sloan, Centenary United Church of Hamilton;
Hamilton City Councillor Russ Powers and Rev. Seiichi Ariga.
The deep-rooted friendship between Japan and the community of Dundas in Hamilton was reinforced on June 17 with a tree planting ceremony in Centennial Park, marking the donation of 37 Sakura (Japanese Flowering Cherry) saplings from Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin School in Tokyo. In attendance were Hamilton City Councillor Russ Powers, Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin Chancellor Masanobu Fuakmachi and 25 of the School's alumni.
The donation was made possible by the alumni who wished to express their appreciation to its founder, Canadian missionary Martha Cartmell, as well as to the people of Hamilton who gathered funds to dispatch her to Japan in 1882 and to all of the missionary school teachers who contributed to Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin’s development.
A book on female Canadian missionaries was published to commemorate the School’s 125th anniversary. Hanako Muraoka, who first translated Anne of Green Gables into Japanese, was also a student at the School.
An additional donation of 60 trees was made by the School to Lakeview Cemetery in the City of Thorold, where Ms. Cartmell is buried.
A sign explaining Canadian missionary Martha Cartmell's founding of Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin School,
as well as the history behind the Sakura donation, was put in place.
