St. Catharines and Port of Spain, Trinidad

The purpose of Twinning is to promote co-operation at the civic, institutional, organizational, and individual citizen level, between the two Towns, with no intolerance or discrimination, and consequently to the benefit of both communities. Twinning of communities in different countries is approved and encouraged by the United Nations and Unesco. From Twinning, the natural progression is to Mundialization. This movement was started in Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945 when the survivors of the devastation caused by the world’s first atomic bomb signified their resolve to work for a world order which would make forever impossible, a repetition of the tragedy from which they had just escaped.

Mundialization fulfills the principles of ‘The Charter of the United Nations’ and implements the meaning of  ‘The Universal Declaration of Human Rights’. It means acceptance of our role as a Community of the World, symbolized by the United Nations, since we recognize that our security and welfare is linked with the security and welfare of all the cities, towns and villages of the world, threatened with the destruction by total war. In no way does this diminish or threaten our attachment and responsibility to our Country and Hometown. Rather, we become more aware of our responsibility as Citizens and accept the urgency of helping others.

Mundialization, in short, means that we, as a community, accept and work to carry out, the principles of the Charter of the United Nations; that we affirm our belief in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and attempt to understand and implement its meaning in our community and throughout the world.

The idea for co-operation and involvement between the two cities was initiated by Mr. Phil Atteck, Radio Manager of Radio Guardian (at that time), in Port-of-Spain. The coincidence which sparks off sub-sequent events is that both Radio Guardian and CKTB in St. Catharines have the same radio wave length of 610. The City Councils of the two cities passed civic resolutions in favour of Twinning and Mundialization. The climax to these resolutions was at Port-of-Spain on Friday, August 30, 1968, and St. Catharines on October 4, 1968 at St. Catharines City Hall.

Since then, Executive Officers and Standing Committees have been formed on both sides, in the form of normal organizational structure, to conduct the business of Twinning.

September of 1969, the First Charter Flight of approximately 140 people arrived in St. Catharines for the furtherance of Twinning. With them arrived a Steel Band, which took part in our Grape & Wine Festival with such success, that this has been repeated for the past four years. The enthusiasm generated by the visit of the Trinidadians and the Steel Band, prompted a return flight to Port-of–Spain in 1970 to enjoy their Carnival. Our return trips to Trinidad are accompanied by hospital and school supplies, financial assistance, and our Grape King and Grape Queen representing our own Niagara Grape and Wine Festival.

Although we are a non-profit organization, we have a social aspect in that we hold dances providing West Indian music. From these functions we derive a source of revenue which enables us to finance our organizational ventures in St. Catharines and Port-of-Spain.

The organization of Twinning is not alone in this venture. We have the support of the City Councils of both Port-of-Spain and St. Catharines as well as Service Clubs, Churches, Schools, Boy Scouts, etc. which have twinned with counterparts in Trinidad. We also receive assistance and participation from Social Clubs and various Ethnic Groups to further our endeavours.

It is with this brief summation of Twinning and Mundialization, that the St. Catharines Twinning Association hopes to enlighten you on the ideals and aims of Twinning.