Mayor Horwath leads Hamilton mission to Italy

HAMILTON, ON – Mayor Andrea Horwath is leading a mission to Italy from July 3 to 14 to further foster relationships with Italy and Italian dignitaries. The mission will visit Racalmuto, Abruzzo, Palermo and Rome to celebrate the friendships with Italy and its cultural and economic significance to the City of Hamilton. This mission continues a tradition of cultural exchanges and reciprocal mayoral visits that began with the twinning of Racalmuto, Sicily and Hamilton in 1985.

Joining the Mayor will be several Hamilton community partners focused on deepening the relationship between Canada and Italy, including members of the Sicilian Cultural Society of Hamilton Inc., Festa del Monte Hamilton and Fratellanza Racalmutese committees. Dignitaries from Italian sister cities in Belgium will also be joining the delegation.

In 1985, Racalmuto, Sicily, became the first Italian city to commence its twinning relationship with the City of Hamilton. More than 25,000 Hamilton residents have roots in Racalmuto with a portion of Murray St. West in Ward 2 known as Corso Racalmuto in honour of the Racalmutesi. In 1992, Valle Peligna, Abruzzo, became the second Italian city to twin with Hamilton, further strengthening the relationship between Hamilton and the region.

As part of the mission, the Hamilton delegation will be meeting with senior Italian government officials, touring key Italian cultural areas, and will be engaged in a number of one-on-one meetings with Italian dignitaries.