Halifax, Nova Scotia: A City Embracing Diversity
When Canadian cities and diversity come to mind, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are commonly mentioned. However, my hometown of Halifax, Nova
Scotia is steadily becoming more diverse. I studied at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax from 1989 to 1993, earning my Bachelor of Commerce with a double major
in Finance and Marketing. During this time, I befriended students from Hong Kong, Singapore, and of course Japan, as Saint Mary’s University has an
international academic exchange agreement with the Hokkaido University of Education at Hakodate. This was the start of my continued interaction with people
from non-Western backgrounds.
Engaging Diversity Through Sport
I was assigned to Ninohe, Iwate as a member of The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme in July 1993, staying for three years. While there, I
had the unique experience of playing rugby with the Misawa Air Force Base Rugby Team, Misawa Snow Devils, in Aomori Prefecture, and on a few occasions,
I joined the Japanese Self-Defense Force Team when they were short of players. Both military teams trained together and shared players. This made for a truly
international experience. The experience resonated with me, and I felt truly accepted by both US Forces Japan players and Japan’s Self-Defense Force team
members. They also appreciated the fact that I was in the Canadian Forces Communications Army Reserve for three years, so they made me feel like I was
one of their own.
