Edmonton Mayor Speaks in Harbin
- overseascd
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
【CMHnews Post】Building New Opportunities for Canada–China City Cooperation Through Ice and Snow
On January 6, 2026, Andrew Knack, Mayor of Edmonton, delivered a keynote address at the Global Mayors Dialogue · Harbin in Harbin, China. The visit coincided with the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Edmonton and Harbin, marking a significant milestone for advancing political trust, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange at the municipal level amid evolving global dynamics.
Held under the theme “Ice and Snow Connecting the World,” the dialogue highlighted the shared identity of both cities as winter capitals. Mayor Knack emphasized that Edmonton and Harbin not only experience similar climates, but have also built a strong, practical, and enduring partnership over the past four decades.
“ On that day in 1985, Edmonton Mayor Laurence Decore and Harbin’s Mayor Gong Benyan, planted a seed of friendship. Over four decades, through careful nurturing by citizens, officials, artists, and business leaders from both cities. ”
Forty Years of Partnership:
From Symbolism to Substance
Mayor Knack reflected on key milestones in the sister-city relationship, including Edmonton’s Chinatown Gate, streets named after each other’s cities, and the Chinese Garden located in Edmonton’s river valley. These initiatives, he noted, represent not only cultural symbols but also long-standing institutional cooperation.
He announced that, through continued collaboration between Harbin and Edmonton’s Chinese Canadian community, the design of a new Harbin Gate in Edmonton’s Chinatown has been finalized, with construction scheduled to begin later this year. The project signals strong municipal support for the Chinese community and the future of Canada–China friendship at the local level.
“Today, I wish to speak not just of the past forty years of friendship, but of the next forty years of continued collaborative prosperity. ”
Winter Cities as Engines of Economic Growth
Mayor Knack outlined Edmonton’s Winter City Economic Strategy, built on three pillars: winter livability, winter culture, and winter innovation. Traditionally, cold climates have been viewed as constraints. Edmonton, however, is repositioning winter as a competitive advantage.
“But the modern winter city must shift its mindset from one of defence to one of offence. We must see our climate not as a barrier to be overcome, but as a platform for innovation, a catalyst for culture, and a competitive advantage in a globalized world ”
Anchored by the University of Alberta, Edmonton is advancing a Winter City Research Hub focused on urban design, energy efficiency, sustainable construction, clean energy and hydrogen technologies, and carbon capture. Extreme cold conditions also make the city an ideal testing ground for autonomous vehicles, robotics, advanced materials, and smart grid technologies, attracting international investment.
Winter Culture and Diversity: Soft Power in Action
Mayor Knack praised the global influence of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival as a model for culture-driven economic development. He noted that Edmonton hosts more than 100 winter festivals annually, spanning ice art, multicultural celebrations, and international sporting events.
Among them, the Deep Freeze Festival (January 17–18, 2026) showcases the city’s diverse communities, including Chinese, Indigenous, Ukrainian, African, and Latin American cultures—reinforcing Edmonton’s image as an inclusive, multicultural, and Chinese-friendly North American city.
Diplomatic Context and Future Cooperation
Observers note that in today’s geopolitical climate, municipal diplomacy and local-level cooperation are increasingly vital stabilizers in Canada–China relations. Edmonton’s high-profile participation in the Harbin dialogue sends a positive political signal and opens practical pathways for Chinese enterprises, research institutions, and cultural and educational initiatives to explore opportunities in Alberta.
The three-day mission, hosted by Harbin authorities, also launched celebrations for the 42nd Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival and reaffirmed commitments to revive exchanges paused since the last mayoral visit in 2015. Plans include linking Edmonton’s Ice Castles and Silver Skate Festival with Harbin’s iconic ice sculptures to create trans-Pacific winter tourism routes benefiting Alberta and Heilongjiang Province alike.
Concluding his remarks, Mayor Knack expressed hope that the Edmonton–Harbin partnership could serve as a model for a broader global network of winter cities.
“Let’s ensure that the connection forged by ice and snow leads to a future of shared warmth, prosperity and win-win collaboration. ”
《天时周刊》官网站
我们一起看世界！
