London's Bicentennial (Snippet 50)

 What Is London's Sister City?
   Questions are easily answered these days, by just asking your phone. If the question is, “What is London’s sister city?”, you quickly learn that the answer is Nanjing. Often the answer is really found on Wikipedia and simply supplied by A.I.
   The question is worth asking at this time because Canada is seeking new relationships with other places since the former bonds with relatives to the south of us have unravelled. Perhaps Canadian cities should add more sister cities or expand by adding the category -  SIBLING CITIES -  with whom cultural and economic ties could be established.
   Given that this is London’s Bicentennial I thought it worth providing more background than A.I. offers. If our newly elected civic officials seek new urban partnerships, this brief bibliography may be useful. If you make it to the end, you will learn that London actually has other Sister Cities, although some of them may be illegitimate. 

Searching for London's Sister City
     If you begin with the concept of the “Sister City”, A.I. informs you that, "A sister city (also known as a twin town in Europe) is a formal legal or social agreement between two distinct cities, towns, or local governments in different countries (or sometimes the same country) to build close cultural, economic, and educational ties.”
  As noted, A.I. says: "London, Ontario's official sister city is Nanjing, China, which established its twinning agreement with London on May 7, 1997. London, Ontario is officially twinned with Nanjing, China. This sister city relationship was formally established in 1997 to build cultural, educational, and economic exchanges between the two regions.The partnership stems from a broader provincial alliance between Ontario and its sister province of Jiangsu (where Nanjing is the capital)."
  If you proceed to Wikipedia (as Mr. A.I. did) you will find a “List of Twin Towns and Sister Cities in Canada” and Nanjing is named as London’s sister. The reference provided (#90) is this one and the link is broken and I could not locate it on the website of the London Chamber of Commerce: "London and Nanjing Celebrate 20 Year Anniversary of Sister City Relationship". London Chamber of Commerce. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  Apart from providing a link to Wikipedia, A.I. does refer to the Foreign Affairs Office of Nanjing. Here is what is found:

Diving deeper, a few more references were uncovered over the years.

2013
1. News Release - Ontario - Office of the Premier - Jan. 16, 2013

"Trade Mission Delegates Sign Agreements Worth Over $200 million in Nanjing,"

January 16, 2013

Quick Facts

Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu — Ontario’s sister province in China since 1985.

The city of London, Ontario is twinned with Nanjing.

The port of Nanjing is the largest inland port in China, shipping 70 million tons of goods in 2011.
2. There is then a long report from Media Relations from Western and here is an excerpt from: "Ontario Trade Mission to China in 2013" Jan. 17, 2013:

  "Although short, the trip to China was a great success. First, President Chakma was able to see the Soochow-Western Centre for Radiation Research at Soochow University and meet with the president there. This visit helped to show Soochow how important this partnership is to Western by reciprocating a visit that Soochow’s President made to Western in November of 2011. Second, signing the faculty exchange agreement with Nanjing University will help us to foster ties with this top Chinese institution located in London’s sister city, Nanjing. Finally, we were able to showcase Western to Premier McGuinty, Minister Duguid, and Minister Chan both through our significant activities in China and through personal interactions."

2015
 This is from a Government of Ontario News Release:

"30 Year Partnership Between Ontario and Jiangsu Remains Strong

Ontario Celebrating Signing of Friendship Accord,"

April 21, 2015

Quick Facts

The provinces of Ontario and Jiangsu were “twinned” in 1985 when the Ontario-Jiangsu Friendship Accord was signed.

Since 1985 several Ontario cities have twinned with Jiangsu cities including: Scarborough and Wuxi in 1996, London and Nanjing in 1997, and Barrie and Taizhou in 2006.

Jiangsu is one of China’s leading economic performers consistently ranking among the top Chinese provinces in terms of per capital annual GDP growth of 8.7%.

2018
  The local paper reported on a discussion about drafting a policy regarding sister cities and perhaps adding additional ones.

"London City Hall: City Staff to Draft Sister City Policy," Megan Stacey, London Free Press, Feb 20, 2018.

   "London is in demand.

At least according to politicians who want to see the city craft rules for relationships with communities across the globe.

London already has one sister city — Nanjing, China — and there could be potential to create similar connections in the United States and even Haiti, politicians said at a Tuesday committee meeting. But not everyone is convinced.

Coun. Harold Usher is leading the charge, advocating for a city policy around adopting sister cities.

“We speak 95 different languages just in London alone. There’s a lot of people from different parts of the world (here). We entertain international students by the droves,” Usher said, adding that people “from all over the world” look to ­London.

“It’s time we had some kind of policy.”

Sister city relationships often are developed to enhance cultural, social and economic connections or drive exchanges between cities.

The committee recommended staff bring back a draft policy. City manager Martin Hayward cautioned that sister city partnerships can fall flat if the communities aren’t engaged.

“One of the worst things that can happen with sister cities is that nothing gets done with them,” he said.

Coun. Jared Zaifman said he has little information about how the city’s current relationship benefits residents in ­Nanjing or London.

Mayor Matt Brown told his colleagues the idea of creating more sister city partnerships was floated during a recent trip to Washington, D.C.

Brown met mayors from across the United States and Canada, including leaders from cities that share some of London’s big employers, such as 3M and General Dynamics.

“There is very good interest in communities south of our border that have trade relationships with us in partnering in this way,” he said of linking up with additional sister cities.

The Rotary Club of London also is joining the push for a sister city policy.

Steve Knox, president of the Rotary Club of London, was part of a team that travelled to Haiti in January to do volunteer work. The mayor of Aquin, Haiti, has written to Brown to ask about forming a sister city link with London.

Knox told city politicians the benefits of city sisters go far beyond economics.

“It’s being driven by friendships and partnerships and capacity-building between non-governmental agencies,” Knox said.

He added that service clubs, churches and schools can play a big role in facilitating cultural and other exchanges as part of sister city relationships."

The Bonus: 
   After more searching I did find that London had (or has) other sisters. They were located on Grokipedia which is mainly the creation of A.I. and Elon Musk. They are listed in this essay, which contains additional information: List of Twin Towns and Sister Cities in Canada. 

"London has multiple sister cities: Gifu, Japan (1969); Huế, Vietnam (1995); Morioka, Japan (1989); Sahagún, Mexico (1994); and Weinan, China (2012), all emphasizing diverse cultural, educational, and economic partnerships."

As winter approaches, it would be nice to have a sister city - or more, located someplace warm. And perhaps we could re-visit the idea of adopting the Turks and Caicos Islands.