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Congratulations on 150 years of confederation
Many anniversaries are tied to specific colours or materials, but the celebration of the 150th birthday of a country is too momentous an occasion to be defined by one single thing. And to be sure, the four themes chosen to mark Canada’s 150 years of confederation — diversity and inclusion, reconciliation with indigenous people, youth and environment — certainly show that this is true.
In this special edition of The Canadian, Ambassador of Canada to Japan Ian Burney talks about the Embassy of Canada to Japan’s work in developing the Canada–Japan relationship. We’ll also take a walk through Canada’s 150 years of history, beginning with the arrival of aboriginal people from Asia, to now.
Canada’s diverse population is well-represented thousands of miles away in Japan by hard-working, motivated individuals, several of whom The Canadian spoke to for this issue. One thing that was highlighted repeatedly is that although the two countries differ, they have many elements in common.
We also look at the expanding and increasingly stronger bilateral trade relations. Canadian Chamber of Commerce CEO Perrin Beatty and Japan–Canada Chambers Council Co-chair Steve Dechka discuss Canada’s role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Youth is one of four themes of the Canada 150 celebrations, and we look at how some of the demands of the 21st century are being met through education systems. Dan Miles, principal of Bunka Suginami Canadian International School, talks about becoming the first British Columbia offshore school in Japan.
The Japan Exchange and Training (JET) Programme is one way for young Canadians to experience the country, and two JET participants share some of their experiences on the program.
Canada’s strengths in sports continues to be shown through its talented and diverse Olympic and Paralympic teams, who are preparing to come to Tokyo in 2020. And at the time of writing, we all wait with bated breath for the result of Canada men’s Rugby World Cup qualifying games, which will be played shortly after this issue goes to print.
Members of my family who live in Canada often post beautiful photos from around the country on social media. I then am reminded of the nation’s diverse population and picturesque landscape, two things that are certainly a cause for celebration.
Happy Canada Day to all Canadians in Japan!
