History

The Fremont County/Valdai Sister City Association was founded in 1992 by Vaughn McClain and his wife Taan.  The Association was established after the end of the Cold War to promote world friendship and global understanding though people to people diplomacy and private citizen exchanges.

The first Board of Director included the Mayor of Canon City, the Canon City Chief of Police, a District Court Judge, the Superintendent of the RE-1 School District, the Editor of the Canon City Daily Record, the Fremont County Clerk and Recorder as well as other prominent civic leaders. Vaughn served as the first President of Association.

The first delegation from Valdai arrived in Fremont County in December of 1992. A Sister City Affiliation Agreement was signed on December 14, 1992 between officials of Canon City and the Valdai District. The Association sent its first delegation to the Valdai in August of 1993.

In 1994 a new Sister City Affiliation Agreement was signed between Fremont County and the Valdai District.

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From the Canon City Daily Record, June 4th, 1992

Local man, sons head for Valdai
John Lemons – Record Staff Writer

Canon City resident Chuck Walser and his two teen-age sons are on their way to Valdai, Russia, to discuss a sister city relationship with officials there, said Vaughn McClain, president of the Canon City-Russian Sister City Association Inc.

“The purpose of Mr.Walser’s trip to Valdai is to begin the process of establishing contact and exchanging information which will hopefully culminate in formal sister city affiliation between Valdai and Canon City,” McClain said.

The idea of a sister-city relationship between Canon City and Valdai has apparently been received with some enthusiasm, according to Megan Donnelly of Sister Cities International.

Donnelly notified McClain that the Valdai Regional Council of People’s Deputies and Valdai City Council had invited Walser as the official representative of Canon City Mayor Roger Jensen.

Walser, who is vice president of the Sister City Association, has already left with his sons, Nickolas and Alex, McClain said. The Sister City invitation cut through the red tape and shortened the Visa and other requirements by months.

The current plans are for Walser and his sons to be in Valdai on June 15, 16 and 17. The invitation from the Valdai officials was issued on May 25, McClain said. The Canon City Council approved the concept of a Sister-City relationship with a Russian city at a meeting in May. The Canon City-Russian Sister City Association, Inc. and individuals will bear the costs of such a relationship, McClain said. In this case, part of the cost of the trip will be picked up by the Valdai officials. The official invitation stated that expenses in Valdai will be covered by the Valdai Regional Council.

“Valdai is a popular tourist community in Russia.” McClain said.

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Congressional Record

House of Representatives

CANON CITY RESOLUTION
HON. SCOTT McINNIS
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 14, 1993

Mr. McInnis. Mr. Speaker, last year, Canon City, CO, became the sister city to Valdai, Russia. The people of this American community merit recognition by the Congress for their efforts to establish a friendship and maintain a relationship with this Russian town in a time of conflict and change. Therefore, I request that the attached resolution of commendation be printed at this point in the RECORD. Thank you.

In the United States Congress, Resolution in Recognition of the contribution of Canon City, CO, and Valdai, Russia, to International Understanding through Global Friendships.

Whereas the people of Canon City, Colorado established the Canon City Russian Sister City Association in April 1992 to foster a continuing relationship between the people of Canon City and the people of a similar community in Russia to promote mutual understanding through cultural, political and economic exchange.

Whereas on May 18, 1992 the Council of Canon City extended a formal invitation to the City of Valdai, Russia to become the sister city of Canon City.

Whereas on December 14, 1992 official representative of the City of Valdai, Russia and Canon City, Colorado signed Sister City Affiliation Agreements pledging to promote international friendship, the observance of universal human rights, free market principles and an appreciation for international law through economic, political and cultural exchange programs.

Whereas the Canon City Russian Sister City Association is the first Colorado community to have established a sister city affiliation with a Russian community.

Whereas the accomplishments of the Canon City Russian Sister City Association have been officially recognized by the Governor of the Sate of Colorado and the Association received a Best First Year Program Award from Sister Cities International in 1993.

Now, therefore, in recognition of the contribution of Canon City, Colorado and Valdai, Russia to realization that we are all citizens of the world and members of one human community.

Be it hereby resolved that the Canon City, Colorado and Valdai, Russia are hereby commended and congratulated for their outstanding achievements and are encouraged to continue efforts to promote world peace through international understanding.

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Awards from the Sister Cities International:

1993 – Best First Year Program Award

1994 – Medical Assistance Program Award

2000 – Best Over All Program

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