Ribbon-cutting for Nodwell Service at Etzikom Museum

Photo by Jamie Rieger - An official ribbon-cutting for Nodwell Service at the Etzikom Museum was held on July 1.

By Jamie Rieger
With a tent to shelter the guests from the hot sun, friends and family gathered on July 1 to help June Mitzel and the staff at the Etzikom Museum celebrate the unveiling of Nodwell Services, a vintage garage adjacent to the main building of the museum that will house two donated vintage cars.
Several dozen guests attended the event on Canada Day and heard from a number of guests, including family members of those who donated the cars to the Etzikom museum, who told stories of their growing up with the vehicles in the family. Nodwell Services, complete with vintage pumps in front, is named for one of those families.
Building the garage was Len Mitzel’s final project at the museum prior to his passing earlier this year, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony paid tribute to all of the long hours Len put into the museum.
“Len was so passionate about this museum and in getting this garage built,” said Garry Hobbs, reading a written statement. “He would be proud of it and that all the work is continuing.”
Foremost mayor Ken Kultgen also paid tribute to all of the work done by volunteers to keep the Etzikom Museum thriving.
“This facility has been a great addition to the area,” said Kultgen. “It really helps put our area on the map and hats off to the people who have helped Len and June. This community really pitches in.”
Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes also gave a few words of congratulations and talked of the tenacity of the early settlers to the prairies.
“This is a remembrance of what built Alberta. I am always amazed of how the pioneers got off the train and walked for hours to where they would settle and help build this great province,” said Barnes.
County of Forty Mile reeve Bryne Lengyel also congratulated the people of Etzikom and the many volunteers of the museum. He also talked about his friend, Len.
“What that man did, he did with a vengeance. He told me he had a plan for this building. He had a plan and we all need to have a plan in place,” said Lengyel. “Rural Alberta is the roots of the province and just see all of the people here today to help the Etzikom museum celebrate. This is what it is all about.”

Photo by Jamie Rieger – An official ribbon-cutting for Nodwell Service at the Etzikom Museum was held on July 1.

Photo by Jamie Rieger

Photo by Jamie Rieger

Photo by Jamie Rieger – June Mitzel does the ceremonial first cut of the Grand Opening cake.