Mayor Copeland and councillors attend German festival in Cold Lake’s sister city

Mayor Craig Copeland in Hügelsheim celebrating Spargelfest last week. Image credit: Craig Copeland.

Over 7000 kilometres away from Cold Lake, the city has a German relative in Hügelsheim.

Mayor Craig Copeland and councillors Bob Buckle and Jurgen Grau attended one of Hügelsheim’s major events last week: Spargelfest, which celebrates the white asparagus that grows there.

Cold Lake and Hügelsheim are sister cities thanks to the Canadian government’s 4 Wing air base stationed there CFB Baden-Söllingen.

Mayor Craig Copeland said it was the first trip back since 2013.

“We had a great time visiting the Burgermeister, which is the name of the mayor in Germany. It’s a big Spargelfest celebration. The white asparagus grows there and that’s what they’re known for. It’s a rich soil area, lot of good farming, it’s a big festival there. We were there to celebrate on Saturday and Sunday.

“The beauty of the area and the relationship between Canada and Germany is what we wanted to foster,” said Copeland.

4 Wing Cold Lake celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2018 with Operation Hockey Heroes but does community projects that occasionally support their sister cities.

Hügelsheim was originally the sister city of Grand Centre.

“The Canadian government had many air bases in Germany and this one is particular is associated with 4 Wing Cold Lake. A lot of people in Cold Lake were born actually in Baden-Baden and have real ties with Hügelsheim, so that’s right beside Hügelsheim,” said Copeland.

In the 1990s, the air base was converted into a civilian airport.

“That airport the Canadian government put in back in the day is now servicing 50-60 flights a day commercially out of Baden-Baden airport. It’s really developed economic-wise in Hügelsheim. About 20 years ago they had 3000 people in their community and now they’re up to 5000.

“The people at Spargelfest recognized me from my trip in 2013. They were appreciative their sister community came back to celebrate Spargelfest and keeping the relationship going.”

Copeland said the last time the Burgermeister and fellow representatives from Hügelsheim have been in Cold Lake was in 2009.