Sedona News – The Sedona Women (TSW) are pleased to announce the introduction and discussion of our new Sister City in Canmore, Alberta, Canada, and our 2nd pending Sister City in Jaslo Poland presented by the Sedona Sister Cities Association on Thursday, October 10th, at the Sedona Public Library, where TSW programs are scheduled monthly every second Thursday from September through May from 9:30 a.m. – noon.
The Sedona Sister Cities Association (SSC), a self funded non-profit organization founded in 2022, operates under the principles of Sister Cities International as a platform for fostering citizen diplomacy and promoting peace through mutual respect. The mission of SSC is to build and maintain meaningful relationships between Sedona and its sister cities around the world, and act to facilitate exchanges that enhance mutual understanding.
The key criteria established to identify a foreign community as a potential sister city to Sedona includes a population under 50,000, a community impacted by tourism with a focus on sustainability, and a willingness to collaborate in education, healthcare, the arts, business, and government. After vetting 45 potential cities, Banff, Canada, emerged as the top contender, soon to be replaced by Canmore, Canada, 12 miles away, as a significantly better option.
Following the initial Canmore visit, and meeting with Canmore Mayor Sean Krausert by the SSC in 2022, and a subsequent visit to Sedona by the Mayor and his wife in 2023, community similarities were acknowledged by all. Following a series of video meetings and another visit to Canmore, a Friendship Cities Agreement was finalized in 2024, and Canmore and Sedona Committees were formed. Several exchanges have taken place, including collaborations between community schools and libraries, with plans for a joint concert featuring artists from both locales. A formal Sister City designation will be considered based on the success of these ongoing exchanges.
In 2023, SSC member Edyta Wieczorek introduced the possibility of establishing a Sister City relationship with Jaslo, Poland, followed by a visit to Sedona by the Jaslo City Council. To further assess community compatibility, the Jaslo team of SSC traveled to Jaslo in August, 2024, meeting with city leaders and Mayor Adam Kostrzb. They reported full support for a Sister City relationship. SSC is now gathering additional community input before making a formal recommendation for Jaslo as our 2nd Sister City.
In recognition of SSC’s rapid growth and accomplishments, the association was asked to host the annual Arizona Sister Cities Association Convention in November, 2024. The event will bring together participants from Arizona’s 14 Sister Cities organizations, their counterparts from Mexico, and representatives from Canmore and Jaslo.
The SSC builds friendships that contribute to lasting, beneficial relationships between Sedona and its Sister City partners. Through these connections, SSC works toward a more peaceful world, one community at a time.
This October 10th program is open to the public at the Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road in West Sedona. A meet-and-greet will begin at 9:30, followed by the program and Q&A at 10 a.m. To learn more about The Sedona Women or to become a member, visit the sedonawomen.com or contact Sedonawomen669@gmail.com.
The Sedona Women are dedicated to making a positive and lasting impact on the community by providing opportunities for women to build relationships, to learn about the community, to support community needs, and to enhance the natural beauty and distinctive character of Sedona. TSW is an apolitical 501(c)(3) organization that respects the diversity of its members and the inclusivity of our community.