Posted Sep 13, 2008, 9:19 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 43
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Twin Cities
According to Wikipedia, Halifax is officially twinned with four cities: Hakodate, Japan; Campeche, Mexico; Liverpool, UK; and Norfolk, VA. I knew about Hakodate and Norfolk, but had no idea Halifax was a sister city of Liverpool or Campeche. What exactly does this entail, does anyone know?
I think there are three cities that it would make great sense for Halifax to twin with: Victoria, Quebec City, and Boston..
Victoria is Halifax's counterpart on the west coast. About the same size and growing at the same rate, Victoria probably faces similar challenges (for example right now they are planning a BRT service very similar to MetroLink, and eventually an LRT). There is a lot we can learn from each other, I think.
Quebec City is to French Canada as Halifax is to English Canada. Both were major military bases for their respective colonists and Quebec even has the same kind of Citadel (or Citadelle). Halifax could undoubtedly learn a lot from Quebec City about heritage conservation and becoming official sister cities would be a great way to bury the hatchet once and for all AND might give a boost to the Quebec federalists!
Boston, again, is to New England as Halifax is to Atlantic Canada. From the typical east-coast drunken brawler stereotype to the architecture to the numerous universities in each city there are many parallels, and Boston was also the first city to come to Halifax's aid after the explosion. Like Quebec, Boston would provide a good model for heritage preservation and restoration, and is living proof that old and new architecture can easilty coexist.
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