The Sister City relationship between Port Alberni and Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan has been an important one for both cities over the past four decades, says former Port Alberni mayor Ken McRae. McRae travelled to Abashiri in 2003 with his wife Dolly and friend Ken Barlow, who represented Port Alberni Port Authority. It was the 17th year of the twinning. “The Abashiri delegation had previously visited Port Alberni in September 2001 for the 15th ann…