DIDSBURY - The Town of Didsbury is putting out a call for host families as part of the 2025 Maple Leaf Exchange Program with the town’s sister city Miki, Japan.
In his monthly report to council presented at the Feb. 11 meeting, the town's chief administrative officer Ethan Gorner updated council on the 2025 student exchange program.
The town is in need of host families to take in students, he said.
“While families that have children are encouraged to apply, we are now opening up application to families that do not have students at Westglen school,” he said.
A delegation from Miki will be in Didsbury on March 21-26 as part of the planning for this year’s student exchange.
“The delegation arrives on Friday night (March 21) whereby they are welcomed and introduced to their host families at a welcome dinner at the multi-purpose room (in the Didsbury Memorial Complex).”
Throughout the delegation’s four day visit to Didsbury, members will spend time with host families and at the school “experiencing Didsbury and the surrounding areas before Tuesday night when they have their Sayonara party.”
All applicants are required to submit their application form and all adults in the host family households must submit to a vulnerable sector check, council heard.
Anyone interested becoming a host or in learning more about the exchange program can visit the town’s website, he said.
During the Feb. 11 council meeting, councillors carried a motion moving the scheduled Mar. 25 council meeting to Mar. 26 to accommodate councillors attending the Sayonara party.
In his monthly report, Gorner also reported on a recent Alberta Occupational Health and Safety inspection at the Didsbury Memorial Complex.
“They inspected not only the arena but the pool as well and were impressed with the town’s overall OHS program including our policies and procedures we have in place, the training we offer our staff, our competency records, the due diligence of our checklist and record keeping as well as the condition in which we maintain our facility,” he said.
Administration is pleased with the report and “continue to maintain the health and safety of Town of Didsbury staff and patrons to the highest standard,” he said.
During the Feb. 11 meeting, council carried a motion instructing administration to prepare a report, including all costs and documentation, associated with the rental of a temporary condenser unit for the Didsbury Memorial Complex.
“There is a whole bunch of information I would like to see,” said Coun. Bill Windsor.
Council accepted Gorner's monthly report as information.
