Two Canmore/Sedona Projects : March 2025

 I am so happy to share that our Community Library Sedona has partnered as a Sister City Library  with the Canmore Public Library. In case you are wondering, “Sister Cities Libraries” are  partnerships between libraries in different cities or countries aimed at promoting cultural  exchange, sharing resources, and fostering international collaboration. These partnerships  typically involve the exchange of books, programs, and knowledge to strengthen global  connections and mutual understanding.   

This was all new to me when our library director, Judy Poe, first asked me to be the liaison  between the two libraries, along with Lyndsey Allen of the Canmore Public Library. I had never  heard of the Sister Cities Association prior to this. I was surprised and impressed to learn that it  was a movement organized by President Eisenhower who founded Sister Cities International in  1956 as a way to “foster people-to-people diplomacy and promote exchange, peace, and mutual  understanding after World War ll.” Over time, the concept spread globally, with thousands of  sister city relationships formed between cities in over 140 countries each promoting friendship  and cooperation across borders. In my opinion, in 2025, this couldn’t be more relevant. And as a  Canadian born - American citizen, I am personally very proud to be a part of this partnership.

Our first joint project as Sister Cities Libraries is a Local Author Book Exchange! Each library  has selected seven local authored books to be exchanged and displayed in our libraries. We will  be adding custom bookplates to the inside of each book included in the exchange, identifying  them as part of this program. Our goal is to have the displays set up by mid to late April. The  Sedona Sister Cities Association was an integral supporter by organizing a raffle for a two night  stay at the Malcolm Hotel in Canmore to support the Sedona and Canmore Sister Libraries  projects. The raffle was held at the Banff Film and Book Festival World Tour in Sedona and was  a smashing success, which provided the funds for this book exchange project.  

Lyndsey and I both felt that this local author exchange was the perfect first project to introduce  both Canmore and Sedona communities to the Sister Cities organization, whose mission is for  cities around the world to form long-term partnerships, encouraging exchanges in education,  culture, and community development. And community is what libraries are all about. 

 The Sister Cities’ Sedona-Canmore Classroom Exchange Program was initiated during the  summer of 2024 and then launched in October 2024 when Patty Falsetto, grade 1 teacher at the  West Sedona School in Arizona and Terri Williamson, first grade teacher at the Elizabeth  Rummel School in Canmore, Alberta were paired and made their first classroom exchanges.  They have gone on to have 3 subsequent classroom exchanges to date; a book reading, favorites  and spring exchange.  

Deb Sanders, Sedona Class Exchange Coordinator and her husband traveled to Canmore in  October 2024 to make the first in person exchange of class books, heart rocks and pictures.  While at the Elizabeth Rummel School, students were taken on a virtual tour of the West Sedona  School using Google Earth. Terri Williamson’s class sent back with Deb Sanders several student  created books, a teacher backpack and a book of Canmore’s trees and plants, all gratefully  received.  

These teachers have continued their class connection through Zoom conferences, one  featured the book Stone Soup while students ate soup!  

Jessica Barrett is a third grade teacher at the Running River Waldorf School in Sedona. She  was paired with Mija MacDonald of the Alpenglow Waldorf Inspired School in Canmore. They  are exchanging pen pal letters spring 2025.  

We are hopeful that in the future there will be further connections between Sedona and  Canmore Schools. For the 2025-2026 school year we have interest from grades 2,3 and 4 in  Sedona. Anne Walton, the Canmore Class Exchange contact is exploring those interests in  Canmore schools.   

We are in the discussion stages to see if a student council exchange forum could be  established via Zoom allowing students to share their ideas on topics related to their  communities.  The possibilities are endless for our children, grades K-12.