History and Heritage

Twin Communities

The twinning of municipalities throughout the country is an initiative sponsored by the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ). To mark the centenary of Canadian Confederation, all parties are working together to downplay any differences or confrontations between Canada's different communities by pooling their resources and by asserting their desire and their right to live in an shared ideal of harmonious coexistence. The city of Verdun's council agreed to twin with the municipality of West Vancouver. This link was designed to foster the ongoing exchange of persons, services and information between public officials and intermediary groups on behalf of all residents. It was in this spirit that the municipalities of Verdun and West Vancouver became twin cities in September 1966.

Over the course of 1967, various meetings were held between mayors, councillors and officers. The City of Verdun received a group of 72 seventh graders that same year accompanied by nine teachers from the West Bay Elementary School of West Vancouver. By mutual agreement, the two municipalities set dates for their ceremonies, with one in West Vancouver on May 20, 1968 and the other in Verdun on June 24, 1968. Six delegates from Verdun, including Mayor J. Albert Gariépy and the city's director general, Guy Gagnon participated in the twinning ceremony in West Vancouver. During these respective events, a West Vancouver was named on Nun's Island and a Verdun Park was inaugurated by West Vancouver officials.