Partnership one year old

Apeldoorn celebrates 'twinning engagement' with Burlington Day

APELDOORN, the Netherlands - The Canadian flag flew high recently in this central Dutch town. Exactly one year earlier, October 16 was dedicated as 'Burlington Day' to mark the signing of a partnership agreement between the Ontario city and Apeldoorn.

Plans for the official twinning of the two cities are pencilled in for May 5, 2005. Together with Canadian war veterans and executives of the Burlington Apeldoorn Committee, the mayor and councillors of Burlington will visit Apeldoorn to sign the declaration together with Apeldoorn's Mayor F. de Graaf. The visit by the Canadians is part of the 60th Liberation Anniversary commemorations and celebrations in the Netherlands. In 1945, Apeldoorn served as the headquarters of the Canadian army in the Netherlands.

According to Apeldoorn's city council, Burlington Day will be an annual occasion, to be celebrated with a number of community events.

The ties between Apeldoorn and Burlington had their genesis in the 1995 Liberation festivities when the Burlington Teen Band participated in that year's program. Since then, visits were made back and forth. The Canada Netherlands Friendship Association headed by clothier Jack VanderLaan continually has nourished the blossoming friendship.