With less than half the money raised to send a delegation to China for that country's first-ever powwow, the city is extending its fundraising deadline to the end of the month.
Through mostly corporate donations, the Clerk's Office has raised $16,000 of the $35,000 needed to send 10 representatives to an international Tai Chi competition atop the Great Wall of China. Fort William First Nation has committed funds, as has the Thunder Bay Police Services Board.
The delegation would include mostly youth from First Nations in Northwestern Ontario.
"We're continuing to approach local businesses and organizations over the next week and a half or so to continue the same outreach we already have," said city clerk, John Hannam.
"We certainly encourage anyone we haven't visited on to hear this appeal: we'd be happy to talk with them about providing support and we'll be doing that right up until we have to buy plane tickets."
The mission is larger than wanting to hold the first powwow in the world's largest emerging economy or the appeal of round dancing on an historic monument halfway around the world that can be seen from space. The city of Jiaozou and Thunder Bay have been flirting with developing a Sister City relationship. Hannam believes Northwestern Ontario showing cultural goodwill could go a long way to improving diplomatic relations.
"Being able to send this delegation this year just underscores our commitment to growing the relationship with Jiaozou," Hannam said.
"It provides a unique opportunity to showcase some of Northwestern Ontario's culture but it's also solidifying this relationship, which we hope will grow into reciprocal visits from Jiazou."
While Jiaozou was once reliant on the resource sector like Thunder Bay, the core of the budding relationship so far relates to education and cultural exchange. The Chinese city has expressed interest in sending Grade 11 and 12 students to Thunder Bay on exchange to improve English speech and North American cultural understanding. That has garnered attention with local school boards and post-secondary institutions.
The extended deadline means the city will accept donations until July 30.
