The Town of Saugeen Shores has formally established a sister city relationship with the Municipality of Zonnebeke in Belgium.
Efforts to twin the towns were started by Southampton Legion President John Willetts years ago. Saugeen Shores drafted a Memorandum of Understanding in February and the agreement was approved and signed by Zonnebeke council on June 30.
The Municipality is home to Passchendaele, the historic battlefield from the First World War where Canada secured a victory that helped shape its national identity. According to a media release from Saugeen Shores, it is one of many small Canadian communities that sent sons and daughters who served and sacrificed in one of the defining conflicts in the country's history.
"This Memorandum of Understanding turns a shared history of sacrifice into a living relationship between our two communities," said Mayor Charbonneau in release. "We're proud to formalize our bond with Zonnebeke, and to ensure that the connection between Saugeen Shores and Passchendaele continues to be honoured by future generations on both sides of the Atlantic."
Following ratification, Saugeen Shores and Zonnebeke will begin implementing the partnership, including planning a formal signing ceremony, launching initial joint initiatives, and preparing for a delegation visit around November 11.
