Canmore

Sedona’s First Sister City

After four years of planning and relationship building, the City of Sedona, Arizona, and the Town of Canmore, Alberta, officially became Sister Cities following unanimous council approvals in May and June 2025.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to fostering goodwill, cultural exchange, and collaboration across the arts, education, libraries, wellness, governance, business, and outdoor recreation.

With the strong support of Canmore Mayor Sean Krausert and the Canmore/Sedona Sister Cities Association, the relationship has been built on mutual respect and has already led to meaningful collaborative projects.

Info & profile of Canmore

A Historic Partnership Built on Shared Values and Community Spirit

June 28, 2025 marked a historic day for the communities of Sedona, Arizona and Canmore, Alberta as they officially became Sister Cities, solidifying nearly two years of growing friendship and collaboration.

A ten-member delegation from Sedona traveled to Canmore to celebrate the signing ceremony, joining members of the Canmore/Sedona Sister City Association. The event was highlighted by the signing of official Sister City documents by Canmore Mayor Sean Krausert and Sedona Mayor Scott Jablow, followed by an exchange of symbolic gifts—Sedona’s city flag and Canmore’s colorful “Funky Dude” banners.

A notable addition to the day’s events was the signing of a Sister Library Agreement by Machelle Preston, Director of the Canmore Library, and Judy Poe, Executive Director of the Community Library Sedona—further strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two towns.

Photo, right to left:  Rob Seeley, Canmore/Sedona Sister City Association, Sean Krausert, Scott Jablow, Chuck Marr, Sedona Sister Cities Association 

Sedona Sister Cities Association Canmore Committee Charter

Since their first meeting in May 2025, the Canmore Committee has really taken off. They now have 13 members and six collaboration projects.

MEMBERS

Don Groves (Chair), Jennette Bill, Charles Blum, Tyler Carson, Clarice Doucette, Patty Falsetto, Patty Kelly, Nate Myers, Winnie Muench, Judy Neiman, Judy Poe, Deb Sanders and Pete Sanders.

CHARTER

Nurture and grow a sustainably successful partnership with the Town of Canmore, Alberta, Canada to: 

— Foster appreciation for the unique culture of each community

— Develop meaningful activities and exchanges that bring together students, educators, performing, visual, design, film, photographic, literary, oratory, and culinary artists, librarians, wellness professionals, government officials, business persons, outdoor enthusiasts, groups with common interests

 — Facilitate collaboration to address mutual community challenges (i.e. environmental stewardship, sustainable tourism, economic development, affordable housing, community wellness, transportation) 

— Design exchange and collaboration frameworks that can be utilized (or modified) by future sister city partnerships 

Image:  Sedona Mayor, Scott Jablow and Canmore Committee Chair, Don Groves holding the May 19, 2024 Friendship Agreement between Canmore, Alberta, Canada and Sedona, AZ.

PROJECTS

  1. School to School Partnerships (Patty Falsetto)

  2. Cultural Arts Exchanges (Winnie Muench)

  3. Golf Exchanges (Jennette Bill , Coordinator and Linda Goldenstein)

  4. Sister Libraries Projects (Judy Poe, Coordinator, and Patty Kelly)

  5. Mother’s Day Tea Fundraiser for 2027 Rising Stars Concert (Clarice Doucette)

  6. Canada/USA Social Activities (Don Groves)

Collaboration Project Teams

  • Patty Falsetto

    School to School Partnerships

  • Winnie Muench

    Cultural Arts Exchanges

  • Jennette Bill

    Golf Exchanges

  • Linda Goldenstein

    Golf Exchanges

  • Judy Poe

    Sister Libraries Projects Coordinator

  • Patty Kelly

    Sister Libraries Projects

  • Clarice Doucette

    Mother’s Day Tea Fundraiser for 2027 Rising Stars Concert

  • Don Groves

    Canada/USA Social Activities

Projects in Action

School to School Partnerships

SSCA formed an education committee, including WSS teachers Falsetto and Deb Sanders, Verde Valley School Head of School Ben Lee and Anne Walton in Canmore, to explore possible partnerships after the two cities signed a two-year friendship agreement this spring. 

Team Member: Deb Sanders and Patty Falsetto

West Sedona School and Canmore kids meet.

Click on link: (Red Rock News Article)

https://www.redrocknews.com/2024/12/06/west-sedona-school-and-canmore-kids-meet/

West Sedona school and Canmore, Canada kids meet via Smart TV.

It was with an adventurer’s heart and sister city excitement that I flew from Phoenix to Calgary to make the first Teacher/Classroom Education Exchange with the Elizabeth Rummel School in Canmore, Alberta Canada. I brought with me class projects and gifts from Patty Falsetto’s class at West Sedona School and shared them with Terri WIlliamson‘s class in Canmore.

With Janet Krausert, the Canmore Mayor’s wife looking on, the students and I took a Google Earth Tour of the West Sedona School campus pointing out the unique features of the school and the area. I read the book The Three Little Javelina’s to the class which highlights the unique Arizona flora and fauna within the context of the classic story Three Little Pigs.

We toured the school, met with the Principal Brian Witishyn and heard about a whole school community wellness program called Right From The Start, a mindfulness program that helps adults and children settle their mind and feelings before beginning work.

Pete, my husband, as the Wellness Rep, shared another area that Sedona and Canmore have in common. Pete’s children’s book for soothing the part of the brain that generates anxiety and fear was left with the Elizabeth Rummel School and welcomed at the Canmore library and by the Administrator of the Right From The Start program.

Team Members: Deb Sanders, Patty Falsetto and Pete Sanders

Deb Sanders’ Canmore Outreach...

Deb Sanders with Canmore students with class projects and gifts from Patty Falsetto’s West Sedona Classroom.

Cultural Arts Exchanges

Sedona Sister Cities International Days launched with an inspiring evening of music featuring exceptional young artists from Canada, Ukraine, and Arizona, September 17, 2025. This free concert presented through a Sister Cities cultural exchange between Sedona and Canmore, Alberta uniting young international artists in a celebration of musical excellence and global friendship. This event was organized by Winnie Muench.

Featured Artists

• Jacques Forestier (Canada) – A violinist from Edmonton, Alberta, and rising international star, Jacques is a student at the Curtis Institute of Music and winner of the 2024 Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition. He has performed with major orchestras across three continents.

• Vasylisa Nikolenko (Ukraine/Canada) – A Ukrainian pianist now based in Alberta, Vasylisa is a two-time provincial piano competition winner known for her expressive performances of Bach and Chopin.

• Jayden Yoneyama (Arizona) – A 13-year-old violinist from Phoenix, Jayden has soloed with Orchestra Northern Arizona and earned multiple competition honors. He’s recognized as one of Arizona’s most promising young musicians.

• Justin Kang (Arizona) – A 15-year-old cellist and pianist from Laveen, Arizona, Justin is the 2025 OPUS Strings Competition winner and has soloed with the Phoenix Symphony. He is also active in community music outreach.

Team Member: Winnie Muench

Golf Exchanges

The inaugural Sedona Sister Cities–Canmore Sister Cities Golf Exchange will tee off this fall in Canmore, bringing together golfers from two spectacular mountain communities for the “Red Rocks vs. Rocky Mountains Tournament.”

A team of 12 golfers from Sedona — many of whom regularly play at Seven Canyons Golf Club — along with several spouses, will travel to Canada for the friendly international exchange and two-day tournament at the scenic Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club.

In addition to tournament play, participants will enjoy rounds at the world-renowned Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course and Kananaskis Country Golf Course, as well as sightseeing throughout the majestic Bow Valley, world famous Banff Springs area and the iconic Lake Louise region. The exchange will also feature a Sister Cities welcome reception and a celebration dinner following the tournament.

Organizers say the event is designed not only to celebrate golf, but also to strengthen the friendship and cultural ties between the sister cities through fellowship, hospitality and shared experiences.

The Sedona “Red Rocks” team is already looking forward to welcoming the Canmore “Rocky Mountains” team to Sedona for the return exchange tournament in 2027.

Team Members: Jennette Bill & Linda Goldenstein

Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club /1st tee

Eric Bradley

Class A PGA Professional, Director of Golf & Instruction

Seven Canyons Golf Club

Chris Schatzmann

Head Golf Professional Top 10 Golf Professional

Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club

Community Library Sedona Forms Sister City Partnership with Canmore Public Library — Launches Local Author Book Exchange

Sedona, AZ — The Community Library Sedona and the Sedona Sister Cities Association are proud to announce a new international partnership with the Canmore Public Library in Alberta, Canada, officially becoming Sister City Libraries.

“This library-to-library partnership is a unique extension of the Sister City mission, built on shared values of learning and international friendship — values that are deeply important to us as a library and that we strive to share with our community and the world,” said Patty Kelly, project coordinator for the library.

As part of this collaboration, the two libraries will work together on programs and creative initiatives that highlight local voices, share cultural heritage, and promote international learning.

The first official project is a Local Author Book Exchange. Kicking off May 1, each library has selected seven books by local authors to send to their Sister City counterpart. These books will be featured in special displays, allowing readers in both communities to experience new stories and perspectives. Every book will include a custom bookplate and a personal note from the author.

“ This partnership is about more than books. It’s about building bridges, celebrating creativity, and connecting communities across borders — all through the power of libraries,” Kelly added.

More collaborations are already in the works as the Sedona and Canmore libraries continue to grow this meaningful exchange.

Team Members: Patty Kelly, Judy Poe

Learn more:

Sister Cities International https://sistercities.org/

Community Library Sedona https://communitylibrarysedona.org

Photo:Patty Kelly, Local Author Book Exchange project coordinator

Sister Libraries Photo Contest Celebrates Everyday Beauty

The Community Library Sedona and the Canmore Public Library are delighted to announce the winners of the first-ever Capture the Moment: A Sister Libraries Photo Contest, a cultural exchange created through the Sedona–Canmore Sister Cities partnership.

The contest invited adult photographers to submit a single image and short reflection capturing everyday life in their community —from quiet moments to scenes of natural wonder.

Sedona Winners:

1st – Tom White

2nd – Christel Veraart

3rd – Roger May

Canmore Winners:

1st – Barbara Jouanin Cárcamo

2nd – Kael Johnston

3rd – Chiara Loewen

Winning images and the photographer’s reflections will be exhibited at both libraries, featured online, and shared through Sister Cities and library communications.

This creative collaboration highlights the shared mission of Sister Cities: celebrating connection, culture, and community — one moment, one photo, and one friendship at a time.

This shared celebration of place and perspective reflects the mission of Sister Cities partnerships—to build community connection, deepen understanding, and create peace through personal relationships and cultural exchange.

Winning photographs and photographer’s reflections will be showcased in both communities and featured in the Community Library Sedona newsletter and social media platforms.

Team Members: Patty Kelly, Judy Poe

For more information, visit sedonasistercities.org, communitylibrarysedona.org or

canmorelibrary.ab.ca/

Canada/USA Social Activities

Periodic events celebrating the unique culture, traditions, and independence of Two Great Nations and Two Great Communities.

Team Member: Don Groves

July 1st Canada Day

The Canmore Committee hosted 55 members and guests at The Village Decanter Tasting Room to celebrate Canada Day on July 1 while also recognizing America's upcoming 250th anniversary.

The evening honored the longstanding friendship between the United States and Canada through a series of toasts and basket raffles to celebrate the values both nations share.

Canmore Committee Chair Don Groves reminded guests that the two countries have long been connected by freedom, democracy, and mutual respect.