August 9, 2019
NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
A group of North Carolina checks out Medicine Hat city council chambers Friday during a tour of city hall.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@MHNmocranker
A group of travellers from Western North Carolina has spent time in the Hat this week thanks to the work of Friendship Force groups.
The group flew into Calgary on Wednesday and took a shuttle into the Hat the next day. The group is staying with host residents in the city who will help them get to know the city while they’re here.
“None of us have ever been to Medicine Hat – we’re excited,” said co-ordinator Susan Harvey. “We researched it and what it was going to be like in Medicine Hat, but it is all new to us and we’re all looking forward to seeing everything.”
The group took tours of city hall, Medalta, the Esplanade, Redcliff and many other important areas of the city and surrounding area.
“For some of us who have lived in prairie parts of the world, this is familiar to us,” said Harvey. “The drive out here was flat but when we got here, it’s very beautiful.”
Co-ordinator Lynne Cigal says Friendship Force is all about making new connections with people around the world.
“A big part of this is getting out of your comfort zone, living with new people and having an open attitude when visiting somewhere new,” she said. “The mission of Friendship Force is to promote peace and understanding by making new friends.
“By the end of the week, we’re good friends with the people here and we hope they’ll come and stay with us.”
