Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes with Bandai Mayor Gen-ichi Igarashi at stone monument celebrating 25 year sister city relationship.

Kizuna (絆^?) is a Japanese word  – meaning “bond”.

Three council members returned to Oliver over the weekend after spending about 7 days in Japan.

Mayor Ron Hovanes, Councillors Dave Mattes and Andre Miller with spouses travelled overseas with 4 other people from Oliver, Marion Trimble, Gary Doll and Kevin and Corinne Tomlin.

Other council briefs:

Council will investigate way to cost share with local MLA Linda Larson and staff at the next Union of BC Municipalities convention in Whistler in 2014.

Mayor Ron Hovanes has invited other councillors to join him in attending a one day event this Friday – at a Healthy Living Coalition seminar at the Oliver Community Centre.

One street will closed off by the Town on November 29th – Christmas Light Up event. School Avenue (Main Street to Kootenay Street) will be closed in the afternoon of that Friday to allow for set up of displays. The former Mesa Hotel site was not available for use.

Cal Craik has been appointed as a public representative on the Airport Advisory Committee for the remainder of this council’s term.

The town will renew its membership in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities at a cost of just over $800. This organization lobbies on behalf of cities and town for gas tax and other federal revenue for infrastructure improvements.