S10:E08 Cities4Cities: Exploring Ukrainian MunicipalitiesS10:E08 Cities4Cities: Exploring Ukrainian Municipalities
MuniCast
Conversation focusing on Cities4Cities and how Ukrainian and Saskatchewan municipalities can build mutual partnerships for learning, crisis resilience, and local problem‑solving. Guests share practical steps, wartime experience, and ideas for starting low‑cost, high‑impact international cooperation.
40:39•3 Jun 2026
Cities4Cities and Ukrainian Partnerships: Local Leaders Learning From Each Other
Episode Overview
- Municipal partnerships with Ukraine are framed as win‑win relationships, moving from pure solidarity to shared problem‑solving and knowledge exchange.
- Cities4Cities supports over 100 partnerships by profiling Ukrainian municipalities, matching based on priorities, and facilitating early meetings.
- Ukrainian municipalities share experience in crisis response, civil defence, volunteering, and digital services developed under wartime conditions.
- Collaboration can start with low‑cost steps such as online meetings, gradually involving staff, schools, NGOs, businesses, and community groups.
- SUMA sees these partnerships as an extension of its push for collaboration among Saskatchewan municipalities and a way to broaden learning beyond provincial borders.
“Don’t be afraid of taking the first step… sky is the limit. And we always have something to learn from each other.”
How do people find hope in the darkest times? This conversation on MuniCast looks at that question through the lens of Ukrainian and Saskatchewan municipalities teaming up under the Cities4Cities initiative. Aimed squarely at mayors, CAOs, councillors, and anyone who geeks out over local government, this episode keeps things practical and grounded.
Host Chris chats with Ukrainian mayor Bogdan Kalikavich, Cities4Cities international and local governance expert Maria (Marie) Tuzik, and SUMA CEO Jean‑Marc Nadeau about how municipal partnerships can move beyond symbolism into real, mutual benefit. Maria explains how Cities4Cities emerged in 2022 from a “we stand with you, we stand with Ukraine” solidarity effort into a growing network of more than 100 partnerships.
She stresses that cooperation doesn’t have to start with big budgets: “Sometimes it can just start with a few online meetings just to learn about each other.” From there, staff, schools, NGOs, and businesses can join in, turning a simple Zoom call into long‑term collaboration.
Bogdan shares how his municipality, under constant wartime pressure, still focuses on strategy, youth engagement, and development projects, saying, “Don’t be afraid of taking the first step… sky is the limit.” He highlights how Ukrainian cities offer hard‑earned experience in crisis response, volunteering, and resilience that partners in Sweden, Norway, Belgium and beyond are already learning from.
Jean‑Marc connects the dots for Saskatchewan’s urban leaders, pointing out that municipalities often live in their own bubble and miss chances to learn from others facing similar problems. For him, working with Ukrainian partners is “a normal progression” of Canada’s support for Ukraine and a fresh way for SUMA members to expand their learning.
If you’ve ever wondered what a truly equal, two‑way “sister city” relationship could look like in a time of war and reconstruction, this chat might spark your next idea. Could your municipality’s next big innovation start with a simple cross‑border conversation?
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