KATHLEEN SAYLORS 

Ever wondered about our namesake city in Woodstock, England? The city of Woodstock is considering adding the English township as a “sister city” this week, as well as a Japanese city. A memo by Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch on Thursday’s council agenda urges the city to consider adding two new sister cities, one of them Woodstock, England – a town of 3,100 about two hours northwest of London in Oxfordshire County. Birtch is also asking council to consider the addition of a sister city in Japan, though a specific city has not yet been identified. Woodstock already has two sister cities: Pesche, Italy, established in 2002, and Sylvania, Ohio, established in 1992. Woodstock has been active in the sister cities arrangement with Sylvania. “Exchanges take place in the form of goodwill and involvement in community events such as parades, festivals, exchanges between service clubs and more,” the memo notes. The possibility of entering a sister cities agreement with Woodstock, England, was identified after a collaboration of two service clubs, the men’s Probus clubs (Rotary clubs for retired members) of each Woodstock. Birtch said he took part in a discussion in December with both clubs and the mayor of Woodstock, England, regarding a heritage twinning. “In discussions regarding a possible heritage twinning of the two Woodstocks, our director of culture was quickly able to identify many similarities. This possible twinning was discussed with the sister city committee and all agreed it would be a great relationship to explore based on heritage,” Birtch wrote. And in Japan, a Southern Ontario Marketing Alliance (SOMA) delegation travelling to the area this fall will be authorized to explore the partnership, if council approves. “During discussion with chamber of commerce members in Japan, it was noted that many communities in Canada have sister city relationships with Japanese cities. Woodstock has a very diverse economic tie to Japan with multiple companies including some of the largest manufacturing investments in Ontario, and has yet to formally seek a sister city status in Japan,” Birtch notes in the memo to council. Woodstock sister city relationships are managed by a committee. A sister city in Japan would be for “economic development” purposes, Birtch said, and noted the city’s economic development officer is in agreement that a sister city twinning is “long overdue.” A sister city in Japan would be chosen to align with Woodstock’s industrial background, and selected with the help of the Canadian embassy, consul general and Canadian Chamber of Commerce, to be located in Japan’s “industrial heartland.” Council is expected to make a decision on whether to explore entering these agreements on Thursday.