Consul-General Ito visits the City of Nayoro and Town of Shimokawa in Hokkaido
50th anniversary celebration of the sister city relationship between Lindsay, Ontario and Nayoro, Hokkaido (From left: Chair of the Lindsay-Nayoro Twinning Committee Ms. Heather Newman, former exchange student Mr. Dylan Robichaud, Mayor of Nayoro Mr. Takeshi Kato, Consul-General of Japan in Toronto Ms. Takako Ito, and Kawartha Lakes City Councilor Mr. Patrick O’Reilly)
On July 29, Consul-General Ito visited Nayoro, Hokkaido, which has a sister city relationship with Lindsay, Ontario. There she paid a courtesy call on Mayor Takeshi Kato and visited Nayoro City University where she discussed matters of international exchange with Dr. Kazuhiro Sako, President of the University. As well, she attended the 50th anniversary celebration of the sister city relationship between Lindsay and Nayoro where she gave remarks.
On July 30, Consul-General Ito went to the neighboring town of Shimokawa which itself has a sister city relationship with Kenora, Ontario. There she paid a courtesy call on Mayor Kazuyuki Tani and discussed the town’s efforts with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international exchange. In Shimokawa, she visited the biomass power plant, high-density retirement community and other SDGs-related sites. For their efforts in building a sustainable community, Shimokawa won the 1st "Japan SDGs Award’s" Chief's Award (bestowed by the Prime Minister) in 2017, and was selected as a “SDGs Future City” in 2018.
Consul-General Ito gives remarks at the 50th anniversary celebration of the sister city relationship between Lindsay and Nayoro
Consul-General Ito meets with Dr. Kazuhiro Sako, President of Nayoro City University (second from right), and professors
Consul-General Ito flanked by Shimokawa Mayor Kazuyuki Tani (right) and Deputy Mayor Koki Takeda (left)
A diagram of Shimokawa’s biomass boiler
Shiitake mushrooms being cultivated in a greenhouse powered by biomass power generation