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Everyone from Canada residing in the Basque Country is invited to the event.  This sister-city relationship, that was signed almost a year ago, will be celebrated in this endearing and festive way. The event will include a meeting and reception for Canadians, followed by a visit of the Town Hall and the Museum, as well as the planting of a red maple tree, the emblem of Canada, in front of the local Tree of Gernika in the Antonio Cuesta Plaza. The story comes from Terry Basterra in El Correo.

Terry Basterra/Plentzia, Bizkaia.   Some 4,100 kilometers separate Plentzia from its sister-city Placentia in Canada.  The two not only share the same name, but also a seafaring tradition and strong roots in Basque culture.  It is not a coincidence that both places have the same name.  Experts explain that it was sailors from the Bizkaian port who named the town. At the time Plentzia was Placentia de Butron, and they named Placentia their new home, where they arrived in search of whales.

Their ties go back hundreds of years in history, but each local government wants to keep it more alive than ever.  That is why last June the official sister-city alliance was singed in these coastal towns, and why steps are being taken now to strengthen those ties.

One of these events that will make the Atlantic ocean seem smaller, will take place on Saturday in Plentzia where a conference has been organized and to which all Canadians, residing in Bizkaia and the Basque Country, are invited.  It will begin at 11am with a welcome and a visit to the Town Hall and the Museum followed by a meal featuring cod.

However, before sitting down to eat, those in attendance will experience a special moment.  At 1:30pm a red maple tree, the emblem of Canada, will be planted in front of the Tree of Gernika in the Antonio Cuesta Plaza.

The chosen date for the day, organized by the Sister-City Committee of Plentzia, isn’t a coincidence.  Juan Goitia, commissioned by the Enkarterri Trustee, left written evidence in 1726 which details that the fishermen of Bizkaia were in Newfoundland hunting whales at this time.

 (Published in El Correo)