What better way to bring two communities together than by sharing a favorite recipe?

Community Library Sedona and Canmore Public Library in Alberta, Canada, are joining forces to create A Taste of Canmore & Sedona, a community cookbook celebrating the friendship between the two cities through food, family traditions, and culinary creativity.

The project invites residents of all ages in both communities to submit an original recipe for consideration in the cookbook. From treasured family dishes passed down through generations to creative new favorites inspired by local ingredients, the libraries hope to assemble a collection that reflects the people, cultures, and traditions of both communities.

The cookbook is more than a collection of recipes. It is an opportunity for residents separated by more than a thousand miles and an international border to discover how much they have in common.

Food, like books, has a remarkable ability to bring people together. A favorite recipe often carries a story — a family celebration, a childhood memory, a cultural tradition, or a special gathering with friends. By sharing those recipes, Sedona and Canmore residents can offer one another a glimpse into their lives and communities.

The collaboration also reflects the spirit of the Sister Cities relationship between Sedona and Canmore, which encourages friendship, cultural understanding, and connections between residents of the two communities.

Once completed, the Sister City Libraries Community Cookbook will be available in print, creating a lasting keepsake of this international collaboration.