Patrick Péloquin and Jérôme Baloge, Mayor of Niort, signed a charter ratifying mutual commitments to promote and strengthen cultural exchanges and bonds of friendship.These include promoting and strengthening cultural exchanges and ties of friendship, encouraging educational exchanges between schools, and promoting economic and commercial exchanges between companies and economic players.

In Niort, the Soreloise delegation received a warm welcome, as the fleurdelisé was displayed in the city center and atop historic monuments.

Niort initiated the twinning project in response to a request from the Pays niortais-Québec association. This request was quickly echoed in Sorel-Tracy, where the city council passed a resolution to this effect in December 2024.

Pointing out that the two towns share more than three centuries of history, Patrick Péloquin maintains that twinning is an act of memory and love. "Niort's roots run deep around the Richelieu River, and our family names bear witness to this. Further exchanges look extremely promising, in economic, educational, sporting, cultural and human terms", he says.

Jérôme Baloge is also delighted with the twinning, recalling that over 250 people, including 60 from Niort, left his region in the 17th century to emigrate to New France.

Source: les2rives.com/