WESTLOCK – Westlock’s Canadian Tractor Museum has a new secretary-treasurer following the resignation of Annette Schwab.
A call for a new person to fill the position was put out by the museum board, and Karthiga (pronounced Kar-teega) Manickam was selected.
After going through the resumes and seeing her extensive financial background and interviewing her, board president Art Purdy said she was a perfect fit.
“She’s fitting in very well as far as public relations go, although there’s not much for people coming to visit at the present time. But I’m sure we have the right person here for meeting people,” said Purdy.
“I’m excited about working here,” Manickam said, adding she’s enthusiastic about learning more of the museum’s collection.
Manickam and her husband came to Westlock from the southern part of India nine years ago. They have two sons, ages three and seven, and he is a chef for Homeland Housing at the Pembina Lodge in Westlock. He had previously worked on cruise ships as a chef, she says, and was working in Westlock for about six months before she came to Canada in early 2012. She came directly to Westlock and had never been in Canada before — so far, she hasn’t had the opportunity to see that much of the country beyond portions of Alberta.
But she certainly recalls her arrival. It was 35 C when she left India, and when she arrived at the Edmonton International Airport it was -52 C with the windchill.
“I just had my usual dress on and I started outside through the revolving door and seeing my breath go away, I just came right back in, and my husband said, ‘Who told you to go outside? It’s -52.’ After nine years of winter, I’m still like a baby when winter comes — especially snow shoveling.”
Back home her parents farmed, raising Jersey cows and water buffalo, both of which were milked, plus some other crops. The land they farmed has been taken up for other purposes, and they are now retired.
