Canada
St Catharines celebrate 50 years
of twinning
By William Doyle-Marshall
Fifty years after St. Catharines, Ontario and Port of Spain, Trinidad were twinned, Helen Atteck, widow of the Father of Mundialisation Phil Atteck reflects during the 2018 summer on how this happened. It was a chance meeting between two far-seeing individuals – Philip Atteck of Port of Spain and Bill Burgoyne of St. Catharines in 1965. Phil was the President of the Trinidad Magic Circle Ring 91 and the Caribbean representative of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
Helen recalls they recognized two communalities between Port of Spain and St. Catharines – they were port cities and both had fledgling universities that have matured into significant institutions today. They had British heritage, British legal system, British parliamentary system, a common language and common aspirations.
“Yes, they decided their communities could be friends,” she remembered. It took three years to come to fruition. In 1968 St. Catharines and Port of Spain City Councils passed resolutions to TWIN with each other and they went one step further: each city declared itself to be Mundialized, meaning, to be a city of the World embracing the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
That friendship is what a delegation from Port of Spain and residents of St. Catharines celebrated during the summer of 2018. Keith Atteck, writing in the historic program recalled being involved as a youth in the event his deceased father created. “I was a boy of nine years old and a member of
Fifty years after St. Catharines, Ontario and Port of Spain, Trinidad were twinned, Helen Atteck, widow of the Father of Mundialisation Phil Atteck reflects during the 2018 summer on how this happened. It was a chance meeting between two far-seeing individuals – Philip Atteck of Port of Spain and Bill Burgoyne of St. Catharines in 1965. Phil was the President of the Trinidad Magic Circle Ring 91 and the Caribbean representative of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
Helen recalls they recognized two communalities between Port of Spain and St. Catharines – they were port cities and both had fledgling universities that have matured into significant institutions today. They had British heritage, British legal system, British parliamentary system, a common language and common aspirations.
“Yes, they decided their communities could be friends,” she remembered. It took three years to come to fruition. In 1968 St. Catharines and Port of Spain City Councils passed resolutions to TWIN with each other and they went one step further: each city declared itself to be Mundialized, meaning, to be a city of the World embracing the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
That friendship is what a delegation from Port of Spain and residents of St. Catharines celebrated during the summer of 2018. Keith Atteck, writing in the historic program recalled being involved as a youth in the event his deceased father created. “I was a boy of nine years old and a member of
Mayor Walter Sendzil.
the first Andrew Cub Pack. My parents told me that there would be a parade that I would participate in. I wanted to be the best representative so I stood straight. I remember the day we marched around the square (Woodford Square) in front Port of Spain City Hall. I was proud to be the only Cub Pack member among all of the older scouting representatives. I also recall thinking that the ceremony took a long time.”
And Helen Atteck welcomed the visiting Port of Spain delegation and St. Catharines' folks to an Evening to Remember. Reflecting on what Twining has done for Port of Spain and St. Catharines, she is proud to have been involved. “Good friends have been involved, business opportunities created and educational opportunities explored. My generation has opened the door. I offer a challenge to the next generation to build on the past achievements to use imagination and creativity to continue and expand the Twinning of these two cities for the benefit of our joint communities,” Ms. Atteck urged.
As part of the Twinning initiatives is a scholarship at Brock University lasting for ten years – from the 40th anniversary to the 50th anniversary. Ten talented Trinidadian students benefitted from that fantastic scholarship opportunity, she acknowledges.
Seriously, 2018 has been a busy year for Helen. There was a visit to St. Catharines also by a Trinidadian youth soccer team which went very well indeed. They played five matches in all and won three. From all indications 2019 will be hectic as well. In the autumn Mayor Walter Sendzik paid tribute to Phil Atteck for initiating the mundialization between the two cities. “Recognizing that our communities shared common traits Philip also recognized that establishing a formal relationship would present us with opportunities to more fully explore social, cultural, economic and educational initiatives for years to come.” The Mayor also presented certificates of achievements to members of the two twinning associations.
Now there is a new President of the St. Catharines Twinning Association – Elizabeth Grimmond. She is described by Ms Atteck as a younger and very able person with fresh ideas and that bodes well for the future. “I expect Elizabeth will revitalize the Twinning. She has lots of ideas and energy. We need that,” says Helen.
February 2019 will be also be very special for Helen Atteck as the Twinning Associations are celebrating the 50th anniversary of St. Catharines and Port of Spain Twinning. Mayor Sendzik will not be going to Trinidad for the February celebration. He has other commitments at that time related to the summer games that will be coming to St. Catharines.
And Helen Atteck welcomed the visiting Port of Spain delegation and St. Catharines' folks to an Evening to Remember. Reflecting on what Twining has done for Port of Spain and St. Catharines, she is proud to have been involved. “Good friends have been involved, business opportunities created and educational opportunities explored. My generation has opened the door. I offer a challenge to the next generation to build on the past achievements to use imagination and creativity to continue and expand the Twinning of these two cities for the benefit of our joint communities,” Ms. Atteck urged.
As part of the Twinning initiatives is a scholarship at Brock University lasting for ten years – from the 40th anniversary to the 50th anniversary. Ten talented Trinidadian students benefitted from that fantastic scholarship opportunity, she acknowledges.
Seriously, 2018 has been a busy year for Helen. There was a visit to St. Catharines also by a Trinidadian youth soccer team which went very well indeed. They played five matches in all and won three. From all indications 2019 will be hectic as well. In the autumn Mayor Walter Sendzik paid tribute to Phil Atteck for initiating the mundialization between the two cities. “Recognizing that our communities shared common traits Philip also recognized that establishing a formal relationship would present us with opportunities to more fully explore social, cultural, economic and educational initiatives for years to come.” The Mayor also presented certificates of achievements to members of the two twinning associations.
Now there is a new President of the St. Catharines Twinning Association – Elizabeth Grimmond. She is described by Ms Atteck as a younger and very able person with fresh ideas and that bodes well for the future. “I expect Elizabeth will revitalize the Twinning. She has lots of ideas and energy. We need that,” says Helen.
February 2019 will be also be very special for Helen Atteck as the Twinning Associations are celebrating the 50th anniversary of St. Catharines and Port of Spain Twinning. Mayor Sendzik will not be going to Trinidad for the February celebration. He has other commitments at that time related to the summer games that will be coming to St. Catharines.
