News Release
HRM Opens Its Doors to International Delegations
(Tuesday, September 25, 2007) In the coming weeks, Halifax Regional Municipality will welcome elected officials and staff from Reykjavik and Hamilton, who are visiting to learn about HRM’s best practices and innovative programs. A group from Norfolk, Virginia, will also visit HRM to explore partnership and business opportunities, and to strengthen sister city ties.
“HRM has an international reputation for many of our successful programs, and we’re more than happy to share what we know and have learned with other municipalities,” said HRM Mayor Peter Kelly. “Along with showcasing our accomplishments and best practices, we look forward to exchanging ideas with our visitors from Reykjavik, Hamilton and Norfolk, and exploring partnering opportunities.”
The first delegation, from Reykjavik, Iceland, arrived today and will stay until September 30th. Reykjavik is interested in HRM’s Call Centre and Transportation & Public Works operations (street maintenance, graffiti clean up, parking, municipal real estate). The group viewed a display of HRM equipment today and will also tour the Call Centre, the 911 Centre, and Public Gardens.
October 3rd to 6th, Mayor Fred Eisenberger and staff from the City of Hamilton will look at renewal and revitalization in HRM, with presentations on such programs as the Port of Halifax Development, the Halifax Regional Economic Strategy and the Halifax Regional Plan. They will also tour throughout the region, including various waterfronts, the Port Authority, Dartmouth Crossing, the new Halifax Wastewater Facility and the Thermal Energy Project.
The Norfolk Sister City Group arrives from Virginia on October 3rd and will tour extensively throughout HRM. The group will explore commercial interests in the region, as well as opportunities to further connections between the HRM and Norfolk ports and between Dalhousie and Old Dominion universities. The delegation will present a mermaid sculpture to HRM as a symbol of friendship and in recognition of our sister city status. (HRM presented a lobster sculpture to Norfolk earlier this year.) Norfolk has been a HRM’s sister city since 2005.
“The variety of projects and attractions our visitors want to see while here simply highlights how much we have to be proud of in HRM,” said Mayor Kelly. “I wish to thank all of our partners for helping us create exciting and meaningful visits for our guests—the Greater Halifax Partnership, the Port of Halifax, the Province of Nova Scotia, the Waterfront Development Corporation, the Downtown Halifax Business Commission, and HRM staff helped make these visits possible.”
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Mayor Peter Kelly
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