On August 5th, Consul-General Wajima traveled to Stettler, AB to attend the opening of Okoppe Way, which was originally planned to open in 2025 to commemorate the 35
th Anniversary of the twinning between Stettler, AB and Okoppe, Hokkaido Japan. Due to unforeseen delays, the opening could not take place in 2025 and was instead successfully held this year on the 36
th Anniversary.
At the outset of the ceremony, Consul-General Wajima warmly congratulated the creation of this new commemorative place in the history of friendship between Stettler and Okoppe, and expressed his hope that the bond between the two municipalities will grow even stronger in the years ahead.
The ceremony was attended by Mayor Gord Lawlor, Town Councillors Kurt Baker, Cheryl Barros, Sharon Fischer, Dusty Myshrall, and CAO Leann Graham, among many others who have worked tirelessly on this project. Also in attendance were Rob and Marg Granfield, who were heavily involved in the original twinning activities 36 years ago. The ceremony was observed by many townspeople. Okoppe Way was adorned with attractive photographs provided by Okoppe for the ceremony. Comments from residents expressed gratitude for recognizing this important twinning project.
The day began with a guided tour of Stettler Town and Country Museum, where the Consul-General visited historical landmarks including the original 1902 School House, and the Court House where a notable killer was tried sixty years ago.
Afterwards, the tour proceeded to West Stettler Park to see Okoppe Trail, which is home to Okoppe Rock, featuring a plaque dedicated in the year 2000 that commemorated the 10
th Anniversary of the relationship.
On the final leg of the tour, the Consul-General visited the historic Parrish & Heimbecker grain elevator, which has been undergoing painstaking renovations for over 20 years to preserve this important economic relic from the past, and to educate about the advancements in grain storage and distribution technology over the years.
Thank you to Mayor Lawlor and the Town of Stettler for your hospitality, and we wish you the best of luck in your continued relationship with Okoppe.
