StettlerLocal.com July 23, 2021
In 1980 the economics and topography of the prefecture of Hokkaido Japan, and the province of Alberta, lead to the two being officially ‘twinned’ as part of a federal diplomatic gesture.
In June of 1990, to mark the 10th Anniversary, Stettler was twinned with a similar town in Japan, Okoppe. Unlike land-locked Stettler, Okoppe sits on the North end of the beautiful island of Japan.
Between 1991 and 2002, many students from Japan came to Stettler in the summer, and Stettler students traveled to Okoppe as part of the agreed upon student exchange program. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the relationship in 2000, the walking trails in West Stettler Park were re-named 'Okoppe Trail', and there is a street in Okoppe named after Stettler.
By 2003, SARS was sweeping the globe, and student exchanges from Okoppe were cancelled making the two communities more ceremonial in nature. People from Stettler still remember their trips there, and a room in the museum courthouse still has several items from the Okoppe days.
In November of 2018, Councillor Gord Lawlor was asked by Mayor Nolls to represent the town of Stettler as Deputy Mayor at a celebration for the Emperor of Japan’s birthday. Lawlor says he was also asked to present a toast at the event.
“I took the opportunity while I was there to mingle.” Councillor Gord Lawlor
Lawlor was fortunate to speak with two members of the Consulate's Office who would help him broach the subject of tourism. The office had been working on promoting Drumheller as a tourist destination for tourists who had already seen Banff, and Jasper and were wanting something different. Lawlor felt there was potential for Stettler to be part of their efforts, since the community is only a few minutes north of where they were already focused.
With Consulate-General Kobayashi’s recent retirement, Lawlor was able to arrange a brief visit to give him a small going away present.
Lawlor says there are several items from Okoppe at the town office that he hopes they are able to find a place to properly display.
Carson Ellis, Reporter