Both Apeldoorn and Itabashi, Burlington’s sister cities in the Netherlands and Japan, respectively, will be feted this weekend at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre in two free events, both taking place on Saturday, May 13.
The first is Canada-Netherlands Friendship Day, starting at 10 a.m. in BPAC’s Family Lobby, followed by the Sakura Festival in the same space at 1 p.m. The city-funded events are organized by the Mundialization Committee, made up of culturally-minded volunteers to support the twin-city relationships via the Apeldoorn Subcommittee and the Itabashi Subcommittee.
The theme of the first event is friendship, with an underpinning of history —specifically, “to commemorate the liberation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands by Canadian Armed Forces in 1945,” says Hassan Raza, the chair of the Burlington Mundialization Committee.
Both the Canadian and Dutch national anthems will be played, followed by greetings from Consul-General of the Netherlands Harman Idema; Elizabeth Witmer, former Deputy Premier of Ontario; Mayor Ton Heerts of Apeldoorn; and Burlington’s own Mayor Marianne Meed Ward. Friendship-themed artwork by students from Bruce T. Lindley Public School and Trinity Christian School will be on display, and visual arts students from Nelson High School will be presenting on the Dutch masters. Students from the Community Pathway Program at Nelson will give a presentation on the Friendship Garden, re-dedicated in September, and cared for and planted with daffodil and tulip bulbs by the students.
The city’s pride and joy, the Burlington Teen Tour Band, will be performing musical interludes during the event as well, and coffee and cookies will be available.
For Apeldoorn Subcommittee Chair Anne Koopman, the twinning with Apeldoorn and organizing this annual celebration is not only a way of giving back to the community, but is also something close to her heart. Not only is Anne “proudly Canadian but proudly Dutch,” but her husband, Arnold, was born in Apeldoorn, and they travel back frequently to visit friends.
The Koopmans have also hosted people from Apeldoorn for homestays organized by the committee; Apeldoorners and Burlingtonians alternate homestay years. Anne notes that Niagara Falls and Toronto are always part of the itinerary, alongside Burlington’s sights, but the Apeldoorners always want to go up to Algonquin Park as well — and she has to break it to them that Algonquin is not exactly a day trip. As well as the sightseeing, Anne remarks that it is a cultural exchange, an opportunity to learn more about each other’s food and homes.
As Arnold said once in Apeldoorn, “Travellers not only bond with each other, but also with their hosts; everybody becomes part of an extended family while proudly representing their own city.”
This year’s celebration also marks the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands and the 18th anniversary of Burlington’s twinning agreement with Apeldoorn, established by Burlington resident Jack van der Laan. When a memorandum of understanding between the two cities was signed in 2003, gifts were exchanged; from Apeldoorn, Burlington received the granite bench that now sits in Spencer Smith Park. Her name is Louise. (Yes, the bench.)
The official twinning agreement was signed in 2005, and city delegations travel between sister cities every five years.
Similarly, delegations also travel every five years to Itabashi, Japan, Burlington’s other twin city, with an annual Sakura Festival held in Burlington, as they do in Japan, to honour our sister city as well as to celebrate the cherry blossoms (though Burlington’s sakura — cherry blossoms — didn’t fully cooperate, as they bloomed earlier than expected this year).
This year’s Sakura Festival, says Itabashi Subcommittee Chair Rob Lyng, will include Japanese music, art, and martial arts (aikido and karate) demonstrations. There will be drumming performances by local group Dokon Daiko, and Toronto-based Nagata Shachu; music from Japanese folk ensemble Ten Ten Canada; a dance performance by Sakuramai Toronto; and a performance on the koto, the national instrument of Japan.
Consul-General of Japan Takuya Sasayama will deliver opening remarks, as will Mayor Meed Ward. Lyng notes that after last year’s festival, the consul-general mingled with the performers amongst the cherry blossoms in Spencer Smith Park, and it was “perfect timing” for photos with the beautiful blooms.
Lyng became involved in the Mundialization Committee after his work on an international sustainable electricity project with Japanese partners piqued his interest in the culture of the country. Lyng has had the opportunity to be part of the official delegation to Itabashi in 2019, and he and his wife have also hosted homestay students from our twin city in their own home, leading to a lasting friendship.
For Lyng, the twinning of Itabashi and Burlington is all about those human connections and learning. “I really appreciate the satisfaction that everyone I’m involved with gets from participating in these kinds of things; it’s a very positive experience. Then, of course, personally, I learn more about the culture and people of Japan, which I find very interesting.”
While the one-day celebrations and the delegations are the big events, the Mundialization Committee also works on global citizenship throughout the year, with a yearly high school pen pal program with Itabashi and Burlington students, movies and lectures at the library, and more.
Next year is the 35th anniversary of twinning with Itabashi, so Lyng says to expect extra special events then. In the meantime, you can learn more about the Netherlands and Japan and join in the fun this weekend to celebrate Burlington’s sister cities of Apeldoorn and Itabashi.
