NEWS RELEASE

Mayor Kelly Sends Message of Support to Japanese People

(March 11, 2011) Halifax - Mayor Peter Kelly, on behalf of HRM Council and residents, has expressed sympathy and support for the people of Japan in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami which hit that nation Friday.

“The thoughts and prayers of residents of the Halifax Regional Municipality go out to everyone affected by this disaster,” Mayor Kelly said. The mayor noted that the City of Hakodate in northern Japan had been particularly hard hit by the tsunami. More than 30,000 residents had to flee a two-metre wave of water.

Halifax twinned with Hakodate in 1982, 14 years before amalgamation. “There are strong ties between our two communities,” said the mayor. “We are very concerned for the safety of our friends there.” Mayor Kelly visited Hakodate in 2008 in recognition of our 25th anniversary of our sister city relationship, and, last July, entertained his Japanese counterpart, Mayor Masanori Nishio at City Hall, along with members of the Hakodate Chamber of Commerce. The Japanese port city is home to a star-shaped citadel like Halifax and has a population of 276,000, about two-thirds that of HRM.

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Contact:

Mayor Peter Kelly
490-4010