Sister City Program

The City of Westlake has sister city alliances with the Town of Tralee, Ireland and the Town of Kingsville in Essex County/Ontario in Canada. Sister Cities International is a nonprofit organization that helps to create partnerships in an effort to exchange information and ideas, while building friendships and understanding cultural differences.

Mayors from the two towns have been guests in the city. Numerous contacts have also evolved with the city's schools, historical society, and other organizations and individuals.  Both cities have flower boxes on Hilliard Boulevard named in their honor. 


Our Sister City program is made possible through the generous support of Westlake World PartnersOpens a New Window.. 




Town of Tralee

In May 2009, the Town of Tralee, Ireland became Westlake’s sister city (known as "Twin Towns" in Ireland) through the Sister Cities International program.  Tralee is located in the southwest region of Ireland, on the northern side of the Dingle Peninsula. Tralee is the capital of Kerry County and is Ireland’s 8th largest town with a population of 23,691. 
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Mayor Dennis Clough, Deputy Mayor of Tralee Mairead Fernane and former Mayor Ted Fitzgerald

Features

The Town of Tralee has plenty to offer including:
  • Excellent shopping
  • Historic buildings
  • Hotels
  • Plenty of green space
  • Restaurants
  • Sporting facilities

Visitor Attractions

Visitor attractions include the:
  • Aqua Dome Waterworld
  • Blennerville Windmill
  • Kerry County Museum
  • National Folk Theatre of Ireland
  • Siamsa Tíre
  • Tralee Ship Canal

Tralee International Festival

Tralee is also home to the world famous Rose of Tralee International Festival held annually and in 2019 will be held August 23 - 27.  Westlake World Partners manages the Ohio Rose Center, one of 69 Rose Centers, each who select a Rose to participate in the the Tralee event.  The winner of the Ohio Rose participates in Westlake's 4th of July parade as one of her many public appearances during the course of the year. 
Read more about the Festival
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Town of Kingsville

The Town of Kingsville became a sister city in 2012. The town is located in Essex County in southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population of around 21,400. The town is a three and a half hour drive from Westlake. The town has a population of 21,552.


Westlake was initially approached by Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos regarding the possibility of a sister city relationship. The two cities share a bond of historical significance through the life and legacy of Jack Miner who was born in Dover Township (now Westlake) in 1865. He later moved with his family to present day Kingsville where he went on to become an internationally recognized conservationist. Kingsville offers a quaint downtown and rural atmosphere as compared with Westlake’s highly developed suburban mix of residential, commercial and retail establishments. 


Kingsville hosts the Jack Miner Park Homestead and the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary, which includes the Jack Miner Musuem. It holds the annual Migration Festival in October. The residents celebrate his birthday, April 10, 1865, as Jack MIner Day, and the week is known in Canada as National Wildlife Week.