Winnipeg-Setagaya Goodwill Exchange

For 47 years – nearly half a century – students from Winnipeg and Setagaya (Tokyo, Japan) have enjoyed the unique opportunity to visit each other’s home cities and experience a different culture and education system.

On September 16, Japanese students arrived at Richardson International airport, excited to begin their visit in Canada. The students had the opportunity to ice skate, paddle a canoe and meet the  Mayor of Winnipeg. They also visited many attractions during their stay, but the highlight had to be the zoo where the polar bears were busy playing. Many of the students also enjoyed trying pizza and poutine for the first time.

In January 2018, students from École Viscount Alexander and from General Byng will visit their Japanese exchange partners in Setagaya.

Emma Beckstead, a grade 9 student at Vincent Massey, was pleased to find that her Japanese exchange partner, Kinuka, had similar interests to her own. “We both like sports and animals… We are actually a lot more similar than you’d think.” Emma is looking forward to visiting Kinuka again in Japan in just a few months.

Judy Farrell and Shannon Tipping, principals at General Byng and École Viscount Alexander respectively, feel that “these worthwhile authentic cultural learning experiences are invaluable to create safe and caring communities.”

“Being part of such a rich student learning experience reinforces our passion and belief that teaching inclusion and acceptance is imperative to instilling these values in our future citizens,” they said. And since Pembina Trails’ vision is to help students acquire knowledge and skills to meet the demands of modern society and become good, productive global citizens, this program and others like it are invaluable.