The City of Owen Sound’s Council boss is en route to Dayi County in China’s Sichuan province to officially establish a sister-City partnership.
Mayor, Ian Boddy, is scheduled to depart on Saturday and return on April 22nd.
He says the Scenic City and the County Town of Dayi are similar, as both boast an agricultural-based economy, ski hills and/or mountains and waterfront property.
Boddy tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the overseas visit may benefit business in Owen Sound, whether its from new investment or tourism to Grey-Bruce.
It’s also an opportunity for a cultural exchange and an education.
Boddy and his family will tour Beijing and Shanghai before meeting with representatives from Dayi County.
He and his family will incur a majority of the costs associated with the China trip.
The bond between Owen Sound and Dayi County (population 502,198) began in 1908 when City missionaries visited Sichuan province and established a medical school, a hospital and friendships with local residents.
Owen Sound has existing sister-City relationships with Miamisburg, Ohio in the United States and Ocho Rios, St. Ann’s Bay in Jamaica.
Mayor Boddy says he’ll extend invitations to all sister-Cities to attend Owen Sound’s 160th Anniversary celebrations in 2017.
Representatives from Dayi County, however, are interested in visiting this Summer.