Milestone anniversary approaches for Japanese twin city
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The Morioka-Friendship Society is planning ahead for its 25th anniversary since formally twinning with the Japanese city in May 1985.
The goal is to raise money to create a Creative Peace mural, which represents the bridge over the Pacific, said Barbara Cameron, past president of the society.
Construction of the artwork will be done in Japan but the finished project will travel between the two cities as needed.
The society is also raising funds for the next phase the Inazo Nitobe memorial garden at Royal Jubilee Hospital.
The memorial garden was created in honour of Dr. Inazo Nitobe, a world-reknowned teacher, statesman and diplomat born in Morioka, Japan. He died at Victoria's Royal Jubilee Hospital in 1933.
Friendship societies in both cities raised $200,000 to build the garden on the hospital grounds and the grand opening was celebrated in 2005.
The next phase of the work will add a Japanese-style gazebo, an entrance gate and the completion of several water features, which are currently sitting dry.
Garden renovations are on hold for now, however, as hospital construction has made the area inaccessible, Cameron said.
For more information about the society or the history of the garden, visit www.victoria-morioka.com. To contact the club or make a donation, e-mail club president McCreadie at wmccreadie@shaw.ca.
rholmen@saanichnews.com
