The city has officially renewed its relationship with its Japanese sister city.
City officials rang the peace bell at city hall Tuesday to mark the occasion and honour its Sister City of Gifu. Several local churches also joined in the ceremony as well as students from École Gron Morgan.
Coun. Aldo Ruberto, Sister Cities Advisory Committee chairman, said he believes it is important to foster good relationships with the Sister Cities.
“We can learn from other cities and they can learn from us. It’s not just business,” said Ruberto. “The ringing of the bell resonates within the community. One simple motion transcends across the city. I guess it is very symbolic and it captures a lot of people.”
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City officials traveled to Gifu last year in hopes to generate better relations.
Ruberto said the relationship with Gifu is developing well but hoped that things could improve more.
“Years ago we had about 500 students attend Lakehead University,” he said. “Something happened with the relationship over the years where that sort of diminished. Now we’re down to maybe 20 students if we’re lucky. I know Lakehead is trying for more international students and they’re up to 500 this year.”
Gifu City in Japan has been sister cities with Thunder Bay for more than five years. The city with a population roughly of 400,000 rings its more than 100 temples, shrines and church bells each year to mark a tragic day in its history.
During the Second World War, Gifu was a major industrial centre. On July 9, 1945 it has heavily bombed by the United States, killing more than 800 people. Its six sister cities, which includes Thunder Bay, also ring a bell to honour the day and try to ring in an era of peace.
Hiroko Beekki-Moller, assistant city advisor for the Japanese Sister City, said the ceremony is a respectful moment.
“I really want people to have a peaceful moment,” she said. “We should think about peace globally and locally.”
