It is 22 feet high, with Kimberly’s name at the bottom. If you put on a loonie, an animatronic version of the city mascot, Happy Hans, emerges from the watch and the yodel. The clock, an element of the Bavarian theme embedded throughout Kimberley, has been the focus of the city’s name for 40 years – even though the city itself has never had strong immigrant ties with Germany or Austria. “It was a time when people were doing things like the biggest sausage in the world and the biggest blue ox in the world,” said Matt Thompson, owner of Kimberley’s Story & Co., which led the community into a renaming exercise before decade. Kimberley city center was designed to have a Bavarian feel, with the largest standing cuckoo clock in the world. (Justin McElroy / CBC News)
“And they said, if we can do that, let’s make the biggest cuckoo clock in the world and see if people want to come and take a look.” People wanted to take a look. As Kimberley developed a tourism industry to complement mining in the 1970s and 1980s, the city’s accordion festivals and Bavarian-inspired architecture and events attracted visitors who would not otherwise know about the small community outside. the main highway.
But times are changing.

‘A good place to be’

While the Bavarian theme attracted visitors to Kimberley, it did not necessarily attract new residents: in the 1980s and 1990s, the town’s population declined along with the decline and eventual closure of the Sullivan mine. As the city became better known for its leisure opportunities in the 21st century, more and more young families began to move – and what defined Kimberley began to evolve. “The community may have begun to feel that the Bavarian issue was not genuine,” said Scott Sommerville, Kimberley’s CEO. “He really put Kimberley on the tourism map. Over time, however, he got a little tired.” While most of the buildings in Platzl are still likely to have distinctive architecture, their offerings are much different than they were several decades ago. (Justin McElroy / CBC News)
The city partnered with Thompson’s company in a renaming exercise, culminating in the slogan “A Good Place To Be”, emphasizing lifestyle opportunities in the city and less on older branding and architecture. “Kimberly was an interesting community because she was very purposeful in the way she appeared,” Thompson said. “But the community was interested in celebrating what it was and celebrating what it aspired to be.”

Mixing young and old

Today, Platzl is still a place with Happy Hans and buildings that look like shops in a German fairy tale. But the former bakery with a giant bun logo on its façade is covered, while next to it there is a bright yellow building with the words “wellness” and “mason bees” on the windows. “I do not know how important it is to necessarily move away from things, as it is important to embrace new ideas,” said Randy Moody, co-owner of Moody Bee, who moved to Kimberley 12 years ago. “I do not think it would have worked when we first moved here. But the city has evolved somewhat … we are one of the many who contribute to the revitalization of the city center and our business suits us. “Believe it or not, people just love to come and taste the lip balm and the different products we make.” One of the last shops in Platzl with a complete Bavarian feel is the Yodelling Woodcarver Shop, which houses linen, porcelain and carvings from all over Europe. The Yodelling Woodcarver Shop continues to sell authentic items from all over Europe, but it is one of the last stores in Platzl to fully embrace the authentic Bavarian theme of the region. (Justin McElroy / CBC News)
Erika Unterberger ran it with her husband, Adi, for decades until she died last year. He says he still has a lot of loyal customers, but the rest of the Kimberley gift shops that contributed to the city in the ’70s and’ 80s either transferred or sold their businesses. But when people put a loonie on Happy Hans, she listens to her husband once again – as Adi’s voice does the yodeling for Hans. “For me, it’s fine, because I understand,” he said. “You have to put yourself in the other person’s shoes, right?” UPDATE: the mayor is happy to get out of the cuckoo’s clock.
So long Kimberley. We may be back next week, maybe not, but you are a wonderful community and I really enjoyed talking about your charm. pic.twitter.com/oWenTYDMx0 – @ j_mcelroy