Page 20 - FF USA Exchange Diary September 2016

DATE: Tuesday August 2 FROM: Geoff Hutterites, Etzicom and Potluck Dinner Welcome

Our first day started with some confusion and a long queue of cars roaming the Canadian prairie unsuccessfully
looking for our first stop, which was supposed to be the Hutterite colony of Silver Sage. In the end we gave up the
search and retreated to the Museum at Etzicom.
There we were treated to a magnificent display of historical objects ranging from animal skins through to a couple
of vintage petrol pumps displayed in an authentic setting. One notable exhibit was a series of player pianos which
our guide “played” including a rendition of “Hotel California”. Other displays included a wonderful display of dolls,
a hairdresser’s salon complete with an authentic barber’s chair, a replication of a 1900’s general store and a
period bedroom. The museum had also collected an amazing number of windmills ranging back over 100 years.

After a nice communal lunch we set off for the Hutterite colony, this time armed with more accurate
th
directions. The Hutterites can trace their way of life back to the 16 century and arrived in Canada about 100
years ago from Europe. They have a tenet of pacifism and live in structured communities that they call
colonies. We were met by Barbara and two young cousins in traditional costume who introduced us to one of the
“bosses” who then took us on a tour. We saw their workshops, gardens, school, dining hall and food storage. As
the tour progressed more ladies and children joined our group eager to show off their way of life and
achievements.
The main impression of the colony was of an efficient and well managed group of families that were both self
contained and at the same time also able to mix with the rest of Canada. This colony was founded 1999 as a
division from another colony and today consisted of about 17 families. However their facilities were designed for
the future with a capacity for about 80 families - at which time the colony will be expected to split again to found a
new daughter colony. This forward thinking was evident in the farming equipment that they purchased, the
capacity of their infrastructure and the area of land that they own.

From there my hosts took me on a side trip to the Red Rock Coulee. A coulee is a small valley or gully and this
one was populated with large round red rocks of 2 meters or so in diameter. These rocks had been ground to
their round shape by a glacier thousands of years ago then exposed by natural erosion. The result was an
unusual sight in the middle of the Canadian prairie.
The day was completed with a welcome dinner (or “pot luck” supper in Canadian terminology) that was put on by
the Medicine Hat Friendship Force club. As part of the ceremony Margaret Walsh read out a letter from the Perth
Lord Mayor to the Mayor of Medicine Hat and his reply. Both clubs sang a stirring rendition of their national
anthems with our contingent helped by the powerful voice of Glen Green.