The Setagaya-Gakuen Exchange—In the beginning…

This summer will be 41 years since the first Setagaya-Gakuen/Glenlyon Norfolk School exchange, but how did this successful international programme begin?

In late Summer of 1984, Keith Walker, newly appointed Head of Glenlyon, received a call from a B.C. Government official asking if he would host a party of 40 Japanese educators who wanted to visit an independent school. After confirming that the Parents Auxiliary would host a tea, Mr. Walker agreed to the request. After the visit and further discussions, it was agreed that 70 Japanese students from Setagaya-Gakuen boys school in Tokyo would visit every other year beginning in the fall of 1985 with a reciprocal trip for initially 23 Glenlyon students starting in March break 1986. Each visit would be extended with tours to other parts of each hosting country. This agreement became the very first Japanese-Canadian school exchange in Canada.

Social Studies teacher John Crawford, who had been to Japan previously, was entrusted with making all the arrangements for the Setagaya trip to Victoria and the Glenlyon trip to Tokyo. He led this maiden trip with Mr. and Mrs. Walker only a few weeks after the amalgamation decision with Norfolk House. A much appreciated memento of this first trip was hung for many years in the entrance to the Henderson Building—a mobile of 1200 paper cranes, one made by each of the students attending Setagaya.

The formality, hospitality, and positive cultural experience had an enormous impact on both schools and future trips, with the inclusion of girls, was guaranteed through to this day thanks to the continuing staff leadership of Bruce Wilson, Rick Calderwood and Lance Pimlott. Yoku yatta!