Building Bridges
The Sedona Sister Cities Association is proud to reaffirm its commitment to building bridges of understanding through citizen diplomacy. While national governments—including those in Canada and the United States—may see leadership changes and policy differences, people-to-people connections remain a steadfast way to foster goodwill, cultural exchange, and cooperation.
The foundation of this citizen-led movement dates back to 1956, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower introduced his groundbreaking People-to-People program. He believed that lasting peace depends on direct engagement between everyday citizens, saying, “I have long believed, as have many before me, that peaceful relations between nations require mutual respect between individuals.” This vision of “citizen diplomacy” took root through Sister Cities International, which continues to champion these values worldwide.
Today, the Sedona Sister Cities Association carries on this legacy through proactive partnerships and dynamic exchanges designed to promote mutual understanding:
Strengthening Ties with Canmore, Alberta
• Friendship Cities Agreement: Sedona’s Friendship Cities relationship with Canmore, Alberta, Canada, has already yielded inspiring educational collaborations. Initially involving one classroom in a single school, the program has expanded to five Canmore schools, connecting Sedona and Canmore grade school teachers and their students in culturally rich lessons.
• Reciprocal Concerts: Looking ahead, planning is in progress for concerts that will feature both talented youth performers and nationally recognized artists from Sedona and Canmore, further enriching the cultural ties between the two communities.
New Bridges with Jaslo, Poland
• Historical Film Premiere: Sedona recently hosted the premier U.S. showing of Raze to the Ground, a film depicting Jaslo’s destruction during World War II. This poignant event fostered a deeper appreciation for the resilience of Jaslo’s people and their shared history.
• Visual Exchange: Soon, Jaslo residents will view posters in their town square showcasing “The Beauty and History of Sedona,” encouraging mutual awareness and highlighting the captivating landscapes and heritage of Northern Arizona.
• Educational and Scientific Collaboration: The Jaslo Gen Science Center and the Science Vortex of the Verde Valley are preparing to launch cooperative projects, leveraging each institution’s expertise to enhance STEM education and innovation in both communities.
• Invitation to Jaslo Wine Festival: In August 2025, the Jaslo Wine Festival will welcome Sedona-area wineries to feature their varietals, offering an exciting cross-cultural exchange and opening the door to future economic and tourism partnerships.
Canmore, Canada
CANMORE, CANADA - OUR FRIENDSHIP CITY
Canmore, Canada was not on the radar of the Sedona Sister Cities Association Board, when 45 cities were evaluated in 2022 for consideration as potential partnering cities. A local resident came to a SSCA Board meeting and recommended that we consider Canmore. She was from Canmore and lived in both Canmore and Sedona and gave many reasons why Canmore would be a good sister city for Sedona. From this initial conversation, the planned trip by Sedona Sister Cities volunteers to Banff almost two years ago was extended to nearby Canmore. Mayor Sean Krausert and his wife visited Sedona the following April, and returned to Canmore invested in creating a Sister City leadership team.
A second Sedona team returned to Canmore in 2023, and SSCA members met with Rotary leaders and others interested in exploring this partnership. This spring two Canmore community & Rotary leaders came to Sedona and both returned to Canmore committed to formalizing this relationship. Both Mayors and city councils approved initiating a formal Friendship City Agreement which was signed on May 19, 2024. CANMORE, CANADA - OUR FRIENDSHIP CITY With its counterpart in Canmore, our Sister City Canmore Team is developing an active program of exchanges including grade school student projects, a concert series and a 2026 Summer Youth Exchange.
About Canmore: Surrounded by Alberta provincial parks and located ten miles south of Banff, Canmore has many similarities to Sedona: an inviting destination surrounded by the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies, a tourist population of over 2 million yearly, and a developed focus on sustainability (Master plans for environment, tourism, traffic, energy transition). Canmore, founded in 1884, has a diverse and growing younger population of 15,990. Unique to Canmore is the Nordic Centre, an international training site for cross country skiing. Annual events and festivals include mountain biking marathons, the Winter Carnival and the annual Folk Music Festival.
Canmore Update
Sedona Sister Cities Association Canmore Committee Charter
Since their first meeting in May, the Canmore Committee has really taken off. They now have 12 members and seven projects.
MEMBERS
Don Groves (Chair), Jennette Bill, Charles Blum, Patty Falsetto, Patty Kelly, Ben Lee, Nate Meyers, Winnie Muench, Judy Neiman, Judy Poe, Deb Sanders and Pete Sanders
CHARTER
Nurture and grow a sustainably successful partnership with the Town of Canmore, Alberta, Canada to:
— Foster appreciation for the unique culture of each community
— Develop meaningful activities and exchanges that bring together students, educators, performing, visual, design, film, photographic, literary, oratory, and culinary artists, librarians, wellness professionals, government officials, business persons, outdoor
enthusiasts, groups with common interests
— Facilitate collaboration to address mutual community challenges (i.e. environmental stewardship, sustainable tourism, economic development, affordable housing, community
wellness, transportation)
— Design exchange and collaboration frameworks that can be utilized (or modified) by future sister city partnerships
PROJECTS
1) School to School Partnerships (Deb Sanders)
2) Reflections Festival (Arts Exchanges) (Winnie Muench)
3) Youth Exchange (Jennette Bill)
4) Sister Libraries (Judy Poe and Patty Kelly)
5) Wellness (Pete Sanders)
6) Sister Museums (Nate Meyers)
7) Canada Day Events (Charlie Blum)
Image: Sedona Mayor, Scott Jablow and Canmore Committee Chair, Don Groves holding the May 19, 2024 Friendship Agreement between Canmore, Alberta, Canada and Sedona, AZ.
School to school Partnerships
SSCA formed an education committee, including WSS teachers Falsetto and Deb Sanders, Verde Valley School Head of School Ben Lee and Anne Walton in Canmore, to explore possible partnerships after the two cities signed a two-year friendship agreement this spring.
West Sedona School and Canmore kids meet.
Click on link:
https://www.redrocknews.com/2024/12/06/west-sedona-school-and-canmore-kids-meet/
Image: From Sedona Red Rock News
Learning About Canmore and Sedona
Jo Stone, Patrick Scheweiss, Patty Herman-Juda, Chuck Marr and Judy Neiman travel to Canmore and Banff, Canada in November at their own expense to continue the search for Sedona's sister city.
SSCA board members Linda Goldenstein, Judy Neiman, Chuck Marr, Don Groves, Joy Sinnott greet Mayor Krausert and local residents for reception with Mayor Krausert. Board members Winnie Muench, Dottie Webster and Holly Ploog also contributed to the weekend's festivities.
Mayor Sean Krausert and his wife Janet, visit Sedona in April and fall in love with the people and the Red Rocks.
Mayor Sean Krausert, with SSCA President Chuck Marr, Mayor Scott Jablow, and Vice Mayor Holly Ploog, met to discuss next steps during the Mayor Krausert's recent visit to Sedona.
Mayor Krausert was greeted by Sedona residents and many ideas came forth for ways that the two communities might collaborate and learn from each other.
Second Canmore Visit:
Chuck Marr, Jamiss Sebert, Mark Muench, Kevin Schweiss, Sarah Wakeman, Patrick Schweiss, Winnie Muench
at Lake Louise.
Reception for Martin Buckley and Rob Seeley from Canmore during the Sedona Film Festival.
Chuck Marr, Martin Buckley, Jeanette and David Bill, Rob Seeley
Jaslo, Poland
In the fall of 2023, we hosted our first SSCA Member event at Vino Di Sedona. Early in the evening we were greeted by Edyta Wieczorek, a new SSCA member. Edyta was full of enthusiasm about sister cities and was excited about the possibility of having Sedona become a Sister City with her homeland community of Jaslo, Poland. Six weeks later, Edyta brought three council members to Sedona to see the town and to meet with SSCA board members. This exploration has continued and this summer an SSCA delegation will travel to Jaslo to meet with city leaders, explore the wine country and discover potential common ground for becoming Friendship Cities. Since Edyta’s initial request to explore this possibility, we have discovered several Sedona residents with family roots in Poland. A Jaslo Cultural Exchange Team has been formed that will guide the exploration process and participate in the initial exchange this August.
Picture: Jaslo Town Square
Edyta Wieczorek and Carol Myers with Sister City members Katarzyna Betlej and Sylvia Gladkowska-President of the Polish American Congress of Arizona.
Maryla Kluz, Krzysztof Czelusniak, Edyta Wieczorek, and Robert Hap.
Carol Myers, Chuck Marr and Edyta Wieczorek at SSCA Member Event October 25, 2023.
Fara Roman Catholic Parish Church from the 15th Century in Jaslo.
17th Century Sroczynskich Palace in Jaslo
Jaslo Delegation Journey 2024
Introduction/observations/conclusion
Introduction:
The Sedona/Jaslo Sister City delegation, led by Chuck Marr, President of the
Sedona Sister Cities Association, and Edyta Wieczorek, Chair of the Sedona Sister Cities Jaslo
Committee, embarked on an unforgettable journey to Jaslo, Poland. The delegation also included
Sister City members Dick Weisbaum, Miki Dzugan, Donna Foreman, and Danusia Szumowski.
This narrative chronicles our experiences, the rich history we encountered, and the bonds we
strengthened during our visit.
Observations:
Resilience and Love in Jaslo. Throughout our visit, we were struck by the Jaslo
community’s unwavering passion for family, history, and their city. Despite the near-total
destruction at the end of World War II, the residents chose to rebuild on their historic land rather
than relocate. This determination was captured beautifully by the director of the cultural center,
who said, “Jaslo was destroyed by hate; it rebuilds with love.” This sentiment reflects the
resilience and enduring spirit of the Jaslo community, a spirit that continues to inspire us in
Sedona.
Conclusion:
Our journey to Jaslo was more than a cultural exchange; it was an opportunity to
build deep bonds between our communities. Each place we visited, each person we met, added to
the rich tapestry of friendship that can connect Sedona and Jaslo. As we return home, we carry
with us the memories of a resilient, welcoming community and a renewed commitment to our
potential sister city relationship.
Our Experience
Day 1 - Exploring Old Town Krakow
Our journey began in Krakow, a city steeped in history and culture. The picturesque Old Town, with its stunning architecture and vibrant atmosphere, offered a perfect introduction to Poland’s rich heritage. We visited iconic landmarks like Wawel Castle and St. Mary’s Basilica, immersing ourselves in the stories and traditions that have shaped this remarkable city.
Picture: Group standing in front of the National Theater in Krakow.
Left to right: Dzugan, Foreman, Wieczorek, Weisbausm (David Fowler),Szumowski, Marr
Day 2 - Offical Reception at Jaslo City Hall
Upon arriving in Jaslo, we were welcomed at City Hall by Mayor Adam Kostrzab, Deputy Mayor Przemyslaw Baciak, and City Council members along with various directors representing Jaslo departments and facilities. The reception was a testament to the growing, close ties between Sedona and Jaslo, and discussions focused on our shared goals for future collaborations. The day continued with visits to key sites, including the Generator Nauki (GEN), a center of innovation that embodies Poland’s forward-thinking spirit. It
is a modern science center with goal of inspiring young people to develop personally, engage in seeking answers to the most pressing scientific questions, deepen their scientific knowledge and acquire new skills.
Day 3 - Palace Sroczynskich and jdk cultural center
Day three began with a visit to Palace
Sroczynskich, one of the few structures that survived the near-total destruction of Jaslo during World War II. We learned about the city’s tragic history, where 95% of it was destroyed by the Germans as the Russians advanced. Residents were forced to evacuate with only what they could carry, and the city was stripped of anything valuable before its destruction. Our next stop was the JDK Cultural Center, a modern facility made possible by EU funding. Boasting a 400-seat
theater, the center is a hub of cultural activity, showcasing the resilience and creativity of the
Jaslo community. The evening culminated in the International Wine Festival, now in its 18th
year, which attracts winemakers from across Eastern Europe and celebrates the region's rich
wine-making tradition.
Picture: Group visiting Palace Sroczynskick
Left back to front: Weisbaum, Foreman, Szumowski, Dzugan, Matthew and Edyta Wieczorek, and David Fowler
day 4 - museum regionalne
A special visit at the Museum Regionalne. We explored a fascinating collection of items dating from the 13th century to today, providing a deep dive into Jaslo’s storied past. A special highlight of the day was an invitation to the home of Marie and Ted Piat, a couple with a beautiful vineyard in Jaslo who also spend half the year living in Arizona.
Their hospitality and shared connection to both Jaslo and Arizona were a poignant reminder of
the personal ties that underpin the goals of Sister Cities.
day 5 - karpacka troja, kosciol and mosir
day 5 - karpacka troja, kosciol and mosir
Our final day of exploration took
us to Karpacka Troja, a step back in time Karpacka Troja is a historic museum that took us even further back in time. This archaeological site, with its reconstructed ancient settlement, provided a fascinating glimpse into the early history of the region. The museum’s interactive exhibits and
knowledgeable guides made the experience both educational and engaging. Kosciol w Trzcinicy– our visit to the wooden church of Kosciol w Trzcinicy was a serene and spiritual experience.
This beautifully preserved 1,000 year old church, with its intricate woodwork and peaceful surroundings, offered a moment of reflection. It was a reminder of the deep spiritual roots that are an integral part of the Polish identity. We concluded our visit at MOSIR a modern sports complex that serves as a focal point for community activities. The facility, equipped with venues for judo, martial arts, volleyball, swimming, ice skating, and soccer, is a testament to the
community’s commitment to health and well-being. Notably, the complex includes a branch
library within the swimming facility, a unique feature that has proven popular among locals.
Additional photos of our Jaslo journey
Exploring Potential Friendship Cities in Ireland
Ireland
There is still a genuine interest in finding a city in Ireland that would be a great match for Sedona. We are working with staff from Sister Cities International to identify possible cities to explore further. There are two board members who will be traveling to Ireland this fall and we look forward to continuing this journey.
