Point Roberts has a new sister — sister city that is.
The tiny American peninsula and Campobello Island, N.B. recently signed a Sister Cities International Partnership agreement that was several years in the making.
According to the agreement, the two communities share similar goals of international cooperation, mutual prosperity, world peace and they believe it is in their collective interest to strengthen ties. They also share a geographical peculiarity.
Joel Lantz, president of the Point Roberts Registered Voters’ Association, and Stephen Smart, the mayor of Campobello Island, signed the agreement.
“Ruby White, who is one of the original founders of the Point Roberts Registered Voters’ Association started researching this idea about five years ago,” said Lantz. “About six months ago she got on me again and really pushed for this. I just really helped get this to the finish line. It’s pretty cool and all Ruby’s idea.”
Campobello Island is off the coast of Maine, but located in New Brunswick on the Bay of Fundy. It is one of three Fundy Islands.
“Campobello and Point Roberts are mirror images of one another,” said White. “They have to drive through the state of Maine to get to their mainland just like we have to drive through B.C. to get to ours. They have basically the same amenities, other than they have no gas stations or banks and we have several gas stations and two banks, but they have their larger areas and an international park. I think it could provide a vehicle for the two communities to address their mutual concerns.”
Lantz said the voters’ association will be reaching out to Point Roberts residents as well as those on Campobello Island for ideas as to what projects or initiatives the two communities could tackle.
He said a community celebration is being planned for later in June and a sign will be erected coming into town declaring the sister city relationship.
“Maybe there can be some kind of cool program we can come up with around cultural exchange, environmental stewardship. I think those are the things we are interested in,” said Lantz.
According to the Sister Cities International website, a sister city, county or state relationship is a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. A sister city, county, or state relationship is officially recognized after the highest elected or appointed official from both communities signs off on an agreement.
