25th JET Programme 2011 Farewell Reception
On the afternoon of July 29th, a Farewell Reception was held in the auditorium of the Embassy of Japan for the 2011 Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme participants departing Ottawa for Japan on July 30th (2 of the 21 Ottawa participants will depart on August 23rd). The reception gave participants and their families an opportunity to meet and mingle with members of the local Japanese community, officials of the Canadian government, representatives of local post-secondary institutions as well as other representatives associated with Japan and the JET Programme. Numerous JET alumni were also present to celebrate and support the new JETs. The 21 Ottawa participants are part of a contingent of over 200 new JETs from across Canada.
Ambassador Ishikawa spoke to the assembled guests stressing the importance of the JET Programme as an international exchange that has sent over 7000 Canadians since 1988.
In understanding how difficult it must have been for participants and their families to decide to partake in the JET Programme following the disasters in Japan on March 11th, he conveyed his heartfelt gratitude and commended their motivation. He also recognized a former JET participant and JET Alumni Association (JETAA) Ottawa member, Brent Stirling, who has been selected to revisit his school in Fukushima under the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Japan Tourism Agency. The Ambassador expressed his hope that Mr.Brent would be able to send a positive message about the area’s recovery from the recent disasters and would encourage tourism and more Canadians to consider applying for the JET Programme.
Chantal Mason-Gagné and Gabriel Misaka, two of the departing JETs spoke on behalf of their peers and they shared their appreciation for being given a great opportunity to better understand Japanese culture and for personal and professional growth. They also expressed their excitement and desire to help be a positive influence for Japanese students and their respective Japanese communities.
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