Worlds Apart: Rossland’s Unlikely Partnership with Nyanga, Zimbabwe: New Outreach Exhibit at the Prestige!
Our outreach program is back with a brand new exciting exhibit at the Prestige Mountain Resort! Focusing on one of the most unique partnerships in Rossland’s history, Worlds Apart: Rossland’s Unlikely Partnership with Nyanga, Zimbabwe explores how two rural municipalities on opposite sides of the world worked together to help improve the Nyanga District.
A connection to Zimbabwe probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Rossland in the 1990s; however, thanks to a Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) project, a relationship between Rossland and Nyanga, Zimbabwe was formed in 1992. This relationship would last almost a decade. Focusing primarily on governance support for infrastructure development, this unlikely partnership bridged the gap between the two rural localities.
Rossland Mayor, Bill Profili, posing for a picture with two girls in the Nyanga District, circa 1993
Alex Eccles (White Council), Bill Profili, Philip (Black Council), Alfie Albo, Edgar (District Governor), Andre Carrol, and Todd in Nyanga, circa 1990s
Rossland entered the FCM’s Municipal Partnerships Program in 1992, partnering with the Nyanga District in Zimbabwe. Rossland got involved in the project after hearing that Nelson would be working with the Makoni District. FCM provided the funding for travel and the City of Rossland provided the expertise and hands-on training. Rossland aimed to assist another municipality and pay it forward, while Nyanga sought collaborative problem-solving rather than just receiving aid.
The partnership was all about trust and mutual learning. It took time, but both sides got there in the end. Over the course of eight years, City of Rossland staff made nine trips to Nyanga to lead training sessions on governance and help to simplify municipal infrastructure projects. When asked about the project's proudest moment, Bill Profili, Rossland's Mayor at the time, recalled the moment when the visions of the two Zimbabwean councils came together to become one. In that space, there was no longer the vision of the White Council and the Black Council— just the vision for the future of Nyanga. While the partnership ended abruptly in 2000, due to local Zimbabwean politics, it had lasting impacts on the region. By the end of the partnership, friendships were formed, mutual trust cemented in the work that was done, and suddenly Rossland and Nyanga no longer seemed worlds apart.
Bill Profili presenting a photo of Rossland to be hung in the Nyanga Rural District Office, circa late-1990s
Featuring artifacts gifted to the City of Rossland by the Nyanga District and photographs from Bill Profili, Worlds Apart: Rossland’s Unlikely Partnership with Nyanga Zimbabwe will be on display at the Prestige Mountain Resort in downtown Rossland until the end of September. After this time, the artifacts and a condensed version of the exhibit will be added to the permanent City of Rossland display at the Rossland Museum.
A huge thank you goes out to Bill Profili! We couldn’t have done this exhibit without his insight, advice, and photographs.
As always, thank you to Jesse and the team at the Rossland Prestige for giving us a space to explore some of Rossland’s most interesting stories!
