An Okanagan College student based in Kelowna is off to Kasugai, Japan, for three months to keep the connection strong between the sister cities.
Maya Courtney, just shy of turning 20 years old, is leaving for Japan on April 23 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Kelowna and Kasugai.
“It’s more than just a fun little trip,” said Courtney. “While I’m there, I’m going to be volunteering and helping the community, helping with any English classes that need any assistance, both in high school and at the university.”
When Courtney was heading into Grade 12, she realized she was going to be entering the “big, scary world of being an adult” soon. Because of that, she decided to attend as many community events and join any community groups she could.
That was the same year Courtney became a Lady of the Lake in 2024, as well as Kelowna’s Princess. She said being part of the youth ambassador program helped her with public speaking, writing, and much more.
At the same time, in her Grade 12 journalism class, Courtney had to write about a historical landmark. She decided to write about Kasugai Gardens in Kelowna, and the annual school exchange where students from Kasugai come to Kelowna and attend Constable Neil Bruce and Glenmore Middle School, as well as the experience everyone had.
“That’s kind of what started my spark,” she said.
After attending a few events, including the 40th anniversary of the Bonsai Tree Club, Courtney spoke about her interest in going to Kasugai, but it didn’t work out at the time. However, it led to other opportunities with the Kelowna-Kasugai Sister City Association (KKSCA).
She helped rebuild the association’s website and policy book. Once she was done with that, the KKSCA president, Ken Fix, offered Courtney the three-month trip last August.
“I didn’t even think that was an option back,” Courtney recalled.
Since then, she has been planning the trip, organizing fundraisers, and doing what she can to get the community involved. In that, she’s had bake sales, held a vision board event at Komorebi Cafe, sold knitted hats, and more.
“In the past six months, I have also given presentations to Kiwanis, Downtown Rotary Club, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, GMS students, and Lady of the Lake candidates,” said Courtney. “While presenting to the youth, I encouraged them to connect and volunteer in the community, as every little step can bring you closer to your goal.”
She added that two years ago, she never thought she would be going to Kasuagi as a Kelowna Sister City representative.
On top of this, Courtney also recently finished her Communications, Culture, and Journalism studies diploma at Okanagan College.
“The second I was done with finals, my full-time focus has been on preparing for my trip,” Courtney said.
Despite Kelowna and Kasugai being sister cities for the past 45 years, Courtney has a goal in mind for this three-month experience.
“My trip is to reconnect the sister cities to continue to build our relationship and see if there are local businesses here in Kelowna who would be excited to rebuild or create a new relationship with our sister city counterparts,” Courtney explained. “We’re all really excited and working together to connect again.”
She said she’s received donations and gifts from multiple Kelowna companies to take with her to Japan, as well as letters from Mayor Tom Dyas and Kelowna MLA Stephen Fuhr.
Courtney added that Kasugai mayor Naoki Ishiguro “is really focused on our sister city relationship and on different ways that we can trade and we can grow together as cities and support each other.”
She said that Kelowna and Kasugai are similar in many ways.
“The people of Kasagai are so excited and exhilarated to have any connection with Kelowna,” Courtney said. “There’s one store in Kasagai, it’s a restaurant that has a whole Kelowna section where he sells things from Kelowna.”
This trip will be Courtney’s first solo trip to Japan, but she has been there before.
“I went to Japan in grade 11 for 10 days with my high school, Kelowna Secondary School, which was to visit the sister city school,” said Courtney.
One of the teachers at the Japanese school is Tom Carlson, who is also a KSS teacher.
“It’s his town and the city where he taught, he taught English,” explained Courtney. [The first] trip was basically to see him, see his high school, and we had done a student exchange with them.”
During that trip, Courtney had a host sister, whom she still talks to and is excited to see again.
“I’m really excited to continue seeing her and then make more connections.”
Courtney returns on August 15, and shortly after, five Japanese students will come to Kelowna.
“Part of my job will be to help support them on their journey and answer any questions and help with any culture shock that might come their way.”
Anyone interested in donating to or helping out Courtney can email her at maya@rezgeek.com.