THUNDER BAY – The city is starting to think one of its Sister Cities just isn’t feeling it anymore.
The Sister Cities program isn’t a monogamous one, as Thunder Bay has partnerships with five municipalities. Those partnerships include Duluth and Little Canada in Minnesota, Gifu City, Japan, Seinäjoki, Finland and Keelung, Taiwan.
But Coun. Aldo Ruberto admits the relationship with Keelung might be heading south. The councilor, who chairs the Sister Cities Program, says the Taiwan city hasn’t been returning Thunder Bay’s calls for the past few years.
Unless something changes, Ruberto says Thunder Bay and Keelung, which has been a Sister City to for 20 years, may have to go their separate ways.
“The committee has decided at this stage to put everything on hold and go back to discuss this issue,” Ruberto said.
“We may end up terminating the relationship and look for other opportunities. We’re already looking at a city in China to develop a Sister City relationship. Of course we’ll have to come back to council and present it to them to allow them to that decision.”
The last time the city broke up with another municipality was about four years ago when a town in Italy also stopped calling.
