Town twinning work started after the Second World War, aiming at developing friendly relationships between people in different countries. It was important then and it is important today. Piteå has tree sister towns, Kandalaksha in the Murmansk region in Russia, Grindavik in Iceland and St. Barts in the Caribbean.
Grindavik and St. Barts have been Piteå’s sister towns since 1977 and Kandalaksha since 1986. Visits have been frequent both ways during the years and common projects, especially with Kandalaksha have been carried out. There are also friendship associations which have close collaboration, both with Kandalaksha and with St. Barts.
Friendship park
Since 2006 there is a friendship park in Piteå, a park that has different areas which should associate to our tree sister towns.
Through the park you can stroll on walks named after St. Bart and Kandalaksha. In the park there are pieces of art from our sister-towns, a pelican from St. Barts, an eider from Kandalaksha and a sculpture, called Lifesaving, from Grindavik.
They were all presented to us from our respective sister town.
Friendship associations
Kandalaksha
There are two associations collaborating with our Russian sister city. Friends of Kandalaksha, is an association which has been working for many years with a focus on social issues. Support has been given to orphanages, projects for teenagers have been carried out and support has been given to old people. During the years visits to our sister city have been arranged twice a year.
Hundreds of Russian children have visited Piteå during the years, stayed in families and participated in summer activities. Also a number of cultural groups have been here through the association, entertained at several venues and participated at festivities arranged each August.
Contact person: Annie Persson, phone number +46911-127 82
The Cultural Association is an association with focus on culture exchange. The aim is through cultural exchange to strengthen the relationship between Sweden and Russia in general and with Kandalaksha in particular. Since both cities have a wide range of music and dance, different forms of these are on the program for the exchange but also chess, snow sculptures, ice fishing and cross country skiing have occurred. The association wants to further develop the cooperation in the area of dance, music and arts. To deepen the contacts the hosting association opens their homes and through that many close relationships are developing.
Contact person Lars Berglund, phone number + 46 73 062 58 15
St. Barts Friendship Society
In 2005 a friendship association was established in Piteå. The aim is to increase knowledge about St. Barts in Piteå and about Piteå on the island. The association is also arranging visits to the island and hosting visitors from St. Barts who visit Piteå through A.B.A.S, their sister organization on the island.
Contact person Tomas Wallsten, phone number +46 911 21 19 06 or +46 70 548 65 63
