Mr. Speaker, 1996 marks the 150th birthday of my hometown, Hamilton, Ontario.
Today in honour of Hamilton's sesquicentennial, His Worship Robert M. Morrow, mayor of the great city of Hamilton, and son honneur Lise Landry, mayor of the right honourable Prime Minister's hometown of Shawinigan, Quebec, announced the official launch of the Hamilton-Shawinigan sesquicentennial weekend initiative.
From June 29 to July 1, 150 families from Shawinigan will be invited to stay and visit with families in Hamilton, to renew and strengthen the cultural and social bonds between my hometown and its first twinned city, Shawinigan. The event will foster understanding, communication and mutual respect on a grassroots personal level between the proud Canadians living in Hamilton and Shawinigan.
It is my hope that this display of good natured Canadian fellowship will inspire similar projects throughout our great country.
It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I say long live Hamilton and vive Shawinigan.