Burlington City & Honfleur Recognize 10 Year Relationship With Ceremonial Charter Signing

From the City of Burlington:

November 5, 2019

Burlington City & Honfleur Recognize 10 Year Relationship With Ceremonial Charter Signing

Burlington, VT – Today, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and Honfleur, France Mayor Michel Lamarre signed a “Sister City Charter” to celebrate and formalize a decade of the two cities’ relationships. The Mayors signed the ceremonial charter in an event held simultaneously in Burlington City Hall’s Contois Auditorium and Honfleur City Hall, and the two City Halls were also connected by videoconference for the ceremony.

“Over the last 10 years, Burlington’s relationship with Honfleur has provided our cities with meaningful exchange of ideas and experiences, and allowed us to build cross-cultural trust and friendship,” said Mayor Weinberger. “I am pleased to be able to celebrate 10 years of this relationship today, and grateful to all of those in both Burlington and Honfleur who have worked to deepen it.”

Representatives from Burlington traveled to Honfleur to be there in person for the signing. The delegation included Lise Veronneau, chair of Burlington’s Honfleur Sister City Committee, Marc and Dana vanderHeyden, Margaret Pond, and Fran Stoddard. In Burlington, Richard Gleich, secretary of the Honfleur Sister City Committee, served as translator.

Representatives from Burlington first visited Honfleur in 2009, during the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s visit to Lake Champlain. On Champlain’s trips to this region, he most frequently departed France from Honfleur harbor.

Honfleur Sister City History

Burlington’s relationship with Honfleur began in 2009 during the 400th anniversary celebration of Samuel de Champlain’s visit to the lake named for him. The City of Burlington has continue to expand this relationship in the years since, including through the official formation of the Honfleur Sister City relationship on March 21, 2012 and the signing of a “Friendship Agreement” in July 2013. Over the past decade, delegations from Burlington have traveled to Honfleur many times, and Burlington has welcomed many delegations from Honfleur. These visits and exchanges have included Mayor Weinberger, Honfleur Mayor Lamarre, students from Burlington High School and Champlain College, Boy Scouts, Vermont artists and residents, and many others. These exchanges aim to promote and foster understanding of the two cities’ respective cultures.

This press release was produced by the City of Burlington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.