City of Richmond
From Far & Wide: The Eppich Collection
4 February 2010A new exhibition of cultural and faith-based artifacts, collected from various countries around the world, opens Thursday, February 11, at 7 pm at the Richmond Museum. The exhibit showcases, for the first time, a selection from over 400 cultural artifacts donated to the City of Richmond’s museum artifact collection by local entrepreneur, Helmut Eppich. The objects range from life-sized stone Indian goddesses to Serbian religious iconography to ceramic vessels from Asia, South America and Europe.
“The cultural diversity of the general workforce in Richmond, with its immigration from around the world, has been evident since its formation – a significant story in the city’s history,” explains Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “The Eppich brothers have honoured that history by establishing strong multi-cultural corporate values at Ebco and by collecting cultural artifacts to reinforce those values.”
“As such, Ebco is a prime example of a company that reflects Richmond's rich cultural mosaic. Its history is one to treasure as a model of the Olympic Spirit, ‘to build a peaceful and better world’ as we play host to the world during the year of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”
Helmut and Hugo Eppich, two of Richmond’s notable industrial pioneers, co-founded the Richmond-based Ebco Group of Companies. In 1956, the twin brothers with the help of their friend Stefan Burger, opened a small tool and die shop called Ebco, developing it into a world-class manufacturing group of companies. For 53 years, the Ebco Group has been a leader of industry in Richmond with a workforce whose origins represent over 80 nationalities. In recognition of Ebco’s culturally diverse workforce, Helmut Eppich established a corporate collection, acquiring most of the artifacts in 1999, on a world tour that took him to Asia, South America and Europe. The collection exemplifies the company's corporate values in honouring the cultural origins of their workers.
In 1990, Ebco Industries Ltd. won the federal Minister’s Award for Excellence in Race Relations. That same year the Eppich brothers were named BC Business’ Entrepreneurs of the Year.
The exhibit runs from February 11 – October 17, 2010.
