Sister Cities

Sister City Information

The City of Camrose has a number of twinning arrangements with communities outside of Alberta which include Kamifurano, Japan, Warwick, Australia; Chicoutimi, Quebec; and Kentville, Nova Scotia. While not officially a sister city, we have information about Camrose, Wales, Camrose's namesake village in the U.K. These communities are similar in size and have common elements in economic and cultural areas.

The Town of Kamifurano is by far our most active partner and we have had many exchanges and visits that have continued since we began this relationship in 1984. Our knowledge, understanding and trust between the two cultures has flourished over the years. A variety of exchanges have strengthened bonds and student exchanges have proven especially successful. These relationships tend to lean towards developing and fostering interpersonal relationships. The objectives are to promote friendship, goodwill, education, economics and tourism.

The following article better explains just what a Sister City is.

Sister Cities Enhance Relations

While Canada and Japan has continually deepened their friendly relations over recent decades, municipalities across both countries have taken initiatives to enhance this goodwill at the grassroots level.

"Sister cities" is a general term given to municipalities which, over the course of long-term relations, decided at one point to formalize their friendly relations. (The other commonly used term used to be "twinning", but it is falling out of use because of the lack of flexibility when more than two municipalities are involved.) These agreements most often occur between cities bearing similarities in such characteristics as size, climate, geography and industry. The agreement usually is the start of greater information and cultural exchange between the municipalities. Exchanges of students, art exhibits and study missions between governments or industries are common projects which arise out of such relations.

Japan Report
Vol. 46, No. 2
May-June 1998

History of Camrose's Sister City exchanges

Kamifurano, Japan
1984-85	The twinning of Kamifurano was promoted by the Province of Alberta, Public Affairs Bureau. Prior to Kamifurano making a twinning commitment, a Japanese delegation visited Camrose in 1984. An understanding was agreed upon that the official twinning ceremonies would be staged in Kamifurano in September, 1985. Mayor Rudy Swanson and other delegates from Camrose attended the ceremonies.
1989	Mayor Siwak and a Camrose delegation visited Kamifurano and Ohyama in September.
1990	The City of Camrose participated in the 10th anniversary of the Province of Alberta twinning with the province of Hokkaido, Japan.
1995	The Mayor of Kamifurano and Japanese delegates visited Camrose to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our twinning agreement and this agreement was renewed at that time.
1998	Camrose Mayor Norm Mayer traveled to Kamifurano to celebrate Kamifurano's 100th anniversary as a Town.
	Camrose Composite High School also has a twinning relationship a sister school in Ohyama, Japan and joint celebrations have been organized over the years. Several student exchanges have been arranged over the years by principal Max Lindstrand.
1999	Camrose/Japan Friendship Society formed.
2000	To commemorate the 15th Twinning Anniversary between the City of Camrose and the Town of Kamifurano, Hokkaido, Japan, Council granted the designation of the north east area of Mirror Lake Park which includes the Gazebo, Viewpoint and surrounding flower beds, as the "KAMIFURANO FRIENDSHIP GARDENS"
2006	Students from CCHS and principle Max Lindstrand, accompanied by Japanese Friendship Society member Michiko Rassmussen, visited Kamifurano in April.
2007	To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the twinning of Camrose and Kamifurano, a four-face clock was installed in front of City Hall.
Kentville, Nova Scotia
1980	The twinning of Kentville was initiated through the Canada Week committee as an information exchange. Camrose Council members, while attending a conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, visited Kentville.
Chicoutimi, Quebec
1978	The twinning of Chicoutimi was initiated through the Canada Week committee as an information exchange.
1984	Alderman Mona Sparling visited Chicoutimi
1988	Alderman Elmer Miller stops to visit Chicoutimi Council during a curling bonspiel he attended.
1990	Laura Rosland, a student furthering her education during the summer months studying French at the Université de Chicoutimi, brings greetings to Chicoutimi Council.
1992	Chicoutimi delegation visits Camrose.
Warwick, Australia
1974	The twinning with Warwick was initiated through correspondence from the United Town World Organization.
1978	A group of thirty from Warwick visited Camrose.
1983	Alderman Bill Fowler, while vacationing in Australia, contacted city officials via telephone.
1987	Rotary exchange student Cindy Hildebrand, a student from CCHS, brought greetings to Warwick City Council from Camrose City Council.
1990	Alderman LeRoy Johnson, accompanied by his wife Diane, visited Town Hall in Warwick.