INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & FRIENDSHIP CITIES COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

 

An Open meeting of the International Relations & Friendship Cities Committee was held in the Clerk's Committee Room, City Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. on Wednesday, 2017 April 12 at 12:00 p.m.

 

1.

CALL TO ORDER

 

 

PRESENT:

 

 

ABSENT:

 

STAFF:

 

 

Councillor P. Calendino, Chair

Councillor P. McDonell, Member

 

Councillor J. Wang, Vice Chair

 

Mr. A. Fourt, Community Engagement Manager

Ms. N. Vracar, Administrative Officer

The Chair called the Open meeting to order at 12:17 p.m.

 

 

2.

MINUTES

 

 

A)

Minutes of the Open meeting of International Relations and Friendship Cities Committee held on 2017 January 31         

 

 

MOVED BY councillor MCDONELL

SECONDED BY councillor CALENDINO

 

THAT the minutes of the Open International Relations & Friendship Cities Committee meeting held on 2017 January 31 be adopted.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

3.

CORRESPONDENCE

 

 

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR MCDONELL

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR CALENDINO

 

THAT the correspondence be received.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

           

A)

Correspondence from Oyo State Tourism Board

Re: Study Tour Request                                        

 

 

Correspondence was received from Oyo State Tourism Board, Nigeria, regarding a study tour request.  Objectives of the proposed study tour are to visit major tourist sites in Burnaby, learn about operation and maintenance of tourist sites, and gain a better understanding of how public and private sectors can partner to create revenue and employment opportunities in the tourism industry.

 

The Committee advised that it would be more valuable for the Oyo State Tourism Board to visit another city in British Columbia.

 

Staff undertook to relay this information to the writer.

 

B)

Correspondence from City of General Santos

Re: Sister City Proposal                                    

 

 

Correspondence was received from the City of General Santos, Philippines, regarding a sister city proposal.  On 2017 February 28, the City of General Santos Council adopted a resolution expressing an intent to establish a sister city relationship with the City of Burnaby.

 

Arising from discussion, the following motion was introduced:

 

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR MCDONELL

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR CALENDINO

 

THAT this item of correspondence be TABLED until the next meeting in order for staff to obtain more information on the sister city proposal.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

C)

Correspondence from City of Taichung

Re: Invitation to the 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition

 

 

Correspondence was received from Mayor Chia-Lung Lin, City of Taichung, Taiwan, inviting the City of Burnaby, its citizens and businesses to participate, sponsor, support, or perform at the 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition. The event will be held from 2018 November 03 to 2019 April 24.  The theme of the event is "Rediscover GNP: Green, Nature, and People".

 

 

 

 

 

Arising from discussion, the following motion was introduced:

 

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR MCDONELL

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR CALENDINO

 

THAT this item of correspondence be TABLED until the next meeting.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

Staff advised that they will contact Tourism Burnaby and Burnaby Board of Trade to discuss representation of the City at the exposition.

 

The Committee suggested that the City feature its Eco-Sculpture Program at the event.

 

Staff undertook to investigate.

 

D)

Correspondence from City of Hwaseong

Re: 2017 Student Homestay Exchange Program

 

 

Correspondence was received from Kim Gye-sun, City of Hwaseong, Republic of Korea, regarding 2017 student homestay exchange program.  Under the program, ten middle school students from Hwaseong would visit Burnaby and ten middle school students from Burnaby would visit Hwaseong for ten days in July and August of 2017.   The program aims to build friendship between the two cities and cultivate global leaders among the youth. 

 

Arising from discussion, the following motions was introduced:

 

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR MCDONELL

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR CALENDINO

 

THAT staff forward a copy of correspondence to Ms. Gina Niccoli-Moen, Superintendent, Burnaby School District and find out if students participating in the exchange program could be accommodated.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E)

Correspondence from Kunming Municipal People's Government

Re: Invitation to the 2017 South & Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair                                                            

 

 

Correspondence was received from Mayor Wang Xiliang, Kunming Municipal People's Government, China, inviting the City of Burnaby and its businesses to set up an exhibit at the International Sistership Pavilion at the 2017 South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair between June 12 and June 18.  The event is a networking opportunity for the business community.

 

Arising from discussion, the following motion was introduced:

 

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR MCDONELL

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR CALENDINO

 

THAT staff respond to Kunming Municipal People’s Government to express appreciation for the invitation and advise that the City has to decline the invitation as Council and City officials have recently travelled to Kunming.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

The Committee suggested that the City send an eco-sculpture to be displayed at the fair.

 

Staff undertook to investigate.

 

4.

NEW BUSINESS

 

 

A)

Community Engagement Manager

Re: Potential City of Mesa Sister Visit to Burnaby on Canada's 150th and Burnaby's 125th Anniversary     

 

 

Community Engagement Manager

 

The Community Engagement Manager informed the Committee that a letter has been sent to Mayor John Giles, Mesa, Arizona, expressing an interest in hosting the City of Mesa in Burnaby during the upcoming Canada’s 150th and Burnaby’s 125th anniversary celebrations.

 

The Committee recommended that the visit be organized during the month of August when events such as the Burnaby Blues Festival and Roots are held.

 

Staff undertook to follow up with the City of Mesa officials.

 

 

 

B)

Councillor Calendino

Re: Italian Sister City Exploration Update

 

 

Councillor Calendino proposed several potential sister cities in Italy.

 

Staff undertook to investigate. 

 

5.

INQUIRIES

 

 

There were no inquiries brought before the Committee at this time.

 

6.

ADJOURNMENT

 

 

MOVED BY councillor mcdonell

SECONDED BY councillor calendino

 

THAT this Open Committee meeting do now adjourn.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

The Open meeting adjourned at 12:56 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________

________________________

Nikolina Vracar

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER                  

Councillor Pietro Calendino

CHAIR

 

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