Knack to promote winter tourism, international partnership with trip to China

Mayor Andrew Knack will head to Edmonton’s sister city Harbin in the new year to mark the 40th year of the city’s partnership.

Mayor Andrew Knack will begin his new year with a trip to an Edmonton sister city in China.

On Jan. 3, Knack will visit Harbin for the city’s Ice and Snow Festival and Global Mayor’s Dialogue, designed to honour the 40th anniversary of the two cities’ relationship. It’s the first time a mayor has visited Edmonton’s Chinese sister city in 10 years.

Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang, China’s northernmost province. Knack was invited by Mayor Wang Hesheng and is set to meet with Harbin’s equivalent of Explore Edmonton as well as other industry leaders.

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“If you think about Harbin and their climate, they’re a very similar winter city to Edmonton in terms of temperatures, the amount of snow,” Knack told reporters on Tuesday. “You’ve got a massive city there that has a lot of potential.”

Since 1985, Harbin and Edmonton have been collaborating based on their mutual northern climate and embrace of winter activities.

Knack says with Beijing’s recent decision to resume group tourism to Canada after a five-year hiatus, the timing was right to “establish a new relationship” and “find new economic development opportunities” through shared winter tourism interests.

“We’re during the middle of our winter recess, so we’re not in the middle of council meetings. Instead of taking a break, I thought this would be a good opportunity to make sure that we’re getting out and continuing to promote our city,” he said.

The bond is Edmonton’s longest-standing international relationship. In fact, the original Chinatown gate in Edmonton was a gift from the city of Harbin.

Knack, one other member of his staff, and two Explore Edmonton employees invited on winter tourism opportunities will travel to China in the new year.

The city of Harbin is set to cover accommodations, meals and local transportation, meaning Edmonton’s only expense will be the flights for Knack and his one staff member.

Both plan to fly economy, bringing the total cost for this trip to $4,818.94, according to a media release from the city.

The Global Mayors Dialogue theme this year is Ice and Snow Connecting the World, Collaboration for a Win-Win Future.

Knack will represent as the Mayor of Edmonton as well as the Vice President for North and South American in the World Winter Cities Association for Mayors.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Galen McDougall