Ukraine and France cities ask to twin with Windsor; new council to decide

Two more cities want to twin with Windsor: Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, and Bondy, France. The City's International Relations Committee voted Sept. 2 to leave both requests for the next council, its minutes in the Nov. 9 agenda show.

Topics: Council and City Hall

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Two cities have asked to become twin cities with Windsor, and the outgoing International Relations Committee (IRC) has left both requests for the new council.

According to the IRC's Sept. 2, 2026 minutes, included in the Nov. 9 City Council agenda:

Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine sent a letter to the mayor's office asking for a twin city partnership. The committee voted to tell the city's contact that the request "will be reviewed by the International Relations Committee during the next term of Council." Councillor Ed Sleiman raised concern that there may not be enough staff and resources for more twin or sister cities. Councillor Fred Francis, now mayor-elect, said the decision would ultimately fall to the next council.

Bondy, France, a suburb of Paris, also asked. Members noted Windsor already twins with St. Etienne, France, and Councillor Francis said that relationship has been dormant for about 12 years. The committee passed the same motion for Bondy.

The committee also heard that council approved a Friendship City relationship with San Juan del Rio, Mexico, on July 27, and that the mayor will contact San Juan del Rio's mayor in 2027.

Windsor's current twin cities, according to the City: Granby (1956), Coventry (1963), St. Etienne (1963), Udine (1977), Mannheim (1980), Ohrid (1981), Las Vueltas (1987), Fujisawa (1987), Changchun (1992), Saltillo (1994), Lublin (2000) and Gunsan (2004).

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