Itabashi, Japan

ln May of 1989 the City of Burlington signed a twinning agreement with the City of Itabashi, Japan. Since that time various exchanges and programs have been carried out between ltabashi and Burlington and relations between the cities have flourished on all levels. In return for the City of Burlington naming a road in Burlington "Itabashi Way", the City of Itabashi donated Itabashi Bridge to the city.

1999 marked the 10th anniversary of the twinning relationship and to honour this event Burlington received a fabulous waterfront fireworks display as a gift from Itabashi. Over 120 Itabashi visitors celebrated the twinning anniversary display along with close to 200,000 local residents. The City of Burlington marked the 10th anniversary by sending a delegation to Itabashi. One of the highlights of the visit was the unveiling of our gift to Itabashi, the Friendship clock. This clock is a replica of the 125th anniversary clock that stands outside Burlington City Hall.  2009 marked the 20th anniversary of this twinning relationship. Burlington hosted guests from Itabashi in June 2009, during the Sound of Music Festival. 

• Welcome to Burlington message in Japanese

Apeldoorn, Netherlands

The City of Burlington signed an official twinning agreement on May 6, 2005, in Apeldoorn.  Apeldoorn Mayor Fred de Graaf, on behalf of the citizens of Apeldoorn, presented the citizens of Burlington with “Louise”, a piece of landscape furniture artwork as a sign of Apeldoorn’s commitment to the twinning. The City of Burlington presented a piece of original artwork entitled Jacob’s Creek, by Burlington artists Marian Cole and Elizabeth Pudsey, to the mayor and citizens of Apeldoorn as a sign of friendship and commitment to the twinning relationship. Jacob’s Creek is a magnificent quilt with five mixed media paintings and will serve as a solid reminder of the relationship that exists between our two cities.

After the official signing ceremony a number of initial objectives were discussed:
• Foster ties between Apeldoorn and Burlington’s veteran community
• Focus on youth, education and sports through exchange visits
• Focus on the arts through exchange visits including local artists

Entering into this twinning relationship is the culmination of the two cities working together for 10 years with the support of a grassroots organization of Burlington residents with ties to Apeldoorn and The Netherlands.  During this time both cities participated in a number of sport and cultural exchanges, as well as informal discussions.  Exchanges have included a contingent of young athletes from Apeldoorn who participated in the Burlington International Games and a group of students from Nelson High School attending an International Youth Conference in Apeldoorn. 

• Welcome to Burlington message in Dutch

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S.A.

After years of Burlington Teen Tour Band's participation in Can-Am Days events during March Break in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a Sister City/friendship affiliation was signed in 1992.  Activities between the cities have focused primarily on sport and culture and involved participation in the Burlington International Games, the Sound of Music Festival and the Teen Tour Band Visits.   

Related Pages

• City of Burlington

Related Links

• Tourism Apeldoorn
• City of Itabashi
• Visit Myrtle Beach