In Culver City and the City of Lethbridge, Alberta in Canada entered into a formal "Sister City" relationship. Since that time, now 25 years ago, the Culver City Sister City Committee (CCSCC) and the Lethbridge Twinning Society (LTS) have bridged the span between to the two cities and countries.
Michael Bennett is the Director for Culver City Relations with the LTS and resides in Calgary, Alberta. He has been to Culver City several times and has established great friendships with many of the residents of Culver City.
Michael and his counterpart in Culver City, Maureen Genteman the Chair for Lethbridge relations with the CCSCC, have been working on the logistics of the 25th year anniversary plans for the better part of a year. Michael will lead a delegation of nine from Lethbridge to Culver City on November 5. The delegation will consist of the President of the Lethbridge Twinning Society, Harold Pereverseff and his wife, Cheryl along with their son, Warren, Terri DeMerchant, Tasma and Erroll Zaretski and Lethbridge City Councillor, Ryan Parker (Acting Mayor, City of Lethbridge) and his wife, Mandi.
Except for Councillor Parker and his wife, who will be staying at the Culver City Hotel, the rest of the Lethbridge delegation will be hosted by gracious volunteers within the CCSCC group. Bennett is looking forward to these homestay opportunities as this is when you really get to interact with residents. You learn how real life evolves in that city (ies) being visited. Typically, homestay guests interact, even taking dogs for walks, helping with dishes or running to the corner store for milk.
An exciting agenda and itinerary has been planned for the delegation visit for the period of November 5 through November 12. Most of the activities and venues are centered in and around Culver City........as they should be when we look at city to city relations. Members of the LTS delegation are curious and somewhat apprehensive as to what is before them when they visit the Culver City "paddle tennis court"? Canadians know how to play hockey but paddle tennis may be a challenge.
Lethbridge has already advanced into their winter season, last week over a foot of snow had fallen in and temperatures were well below freezing. The delegation is looking forward to locking up their igloos and heading to the warmer climate in Culver City.
Sister Cities are a valuable component of any community; it broadens understanding of culture, language, ethnic values and other considerations. Culver City enjoys sister city relationships not only with Lethbridge, but as well with cities in Mexico, South Korea as well as in Japan. On the other hand, Lethbridge has additional sister city relations in Great Falls, Montana, and cities in Russia and Japan. Both the CCSCC and the LTS follow the template of Sister Cities International.
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