Following the Tuesday, May 7 meeting of the Canmore Town Council in Alberta, Canada, at which the council unanimously approved entering into a two-year friendship agreement with Sedona to discuss potential exchanges and shared projects, the Sedona City Council approved the agreement during its meeting April 23.

“A friendship agreement is a public statement and endorsement of efforts between two communities that are exploring a sister city relationship together,” the Canmore Town Council agenda stated. “It acts as a catalyst for discussion through creating awareness of the initiative in the community … As per the lessons learned, and agreed to by all involved, endorsing the friendship agreement does not commit the town of Canmore to any financial support or ongoing obligations whatsoever.”

“We’re in the preliminary stages,” Canmore-Sedona Friendship Committee Chairman Rob Seeley said of his committee, which formed during the spring. “We’re just getting started, but I’m excited by the possibilities of where this might go. These are both dynamic and beautiful places that have their challenges and opportunities. So it will be nice to share some of that information, and I’m looking forward to the sister city arrangement.” 

Sedona Sister Cities Association Chairman Chuck Marr expressed his optimism that a formal sister city relationship between Sedona and Canmore will be in place within the year.

Canmore currently has a sister city relationship with Higashikawa, Japan, that was established in 1989; however, the council’s agenda noted that that “relationship was very much driven by municipal leadership of the day” and the city’s website does not list any notable events that have taken place as part of that relationship since 2013.

As a result, the Canmore criteria for a future sister city relationship note that it should be based on the residents’ choice, not municipal leadership, and that funding for the program should not come from the city — points that the Sedona Sister Cities Association has raised throughout the process. 

“Sister cities must ensure that they have similar expectations as to what their relationship means,” Canmore Mayor Sean Krausert said during his City Council meeting. “Failure to have similar expectations inevitably results in frustration, disappointment or stress in the relationship.” 

In celebration of the friendship agreement, SSCA will be hosting an international brunch to celebrate the cultural exchange at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Sunday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for people who are not members of SSCA or complimentary for SSCA members.

“This event promises to be a delightful gathering where attendees can learn more about the Friendship Cities agreement and engage in discussions about future collaborations,” the SSCA website stated. “The Canmore committee will be on hand to share the initial plans for shared projects and exchanges between Canmore and Sedona. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discover the beauty and charm of Canmore, Alberta, Canada. But the celebration doesn’t stop there. We are pleased to announce another exciting development on the horizon — the expressed interest of Jasło, Poland, in becoming Sedona’s sister city.” 

SSCA member Edyta Wieczorek, a native of Jasło, will also be presenting on the history of her former home, and the group will be visiting Jasło in late August to experience the Days of Wine Festival.

Marr noted that SSCA has had three preliminary discussions with three cities in Ireland.

“We have folks that are planning to travel to Ireland later this summer, and visit other cities that they think might be a good answer,” Marr said. “But right now we are going to focus on the Canmore relationship, and then see how things go from there.”

A formal signing of the friendship agreement will take place after brunch is served during the SSCA event on Sunday, May 19. For more information about the Sedona Sister Cities Association and the upcoming brunch, visit sedonasistercities.org.