The Community Steps Up
In a time when we all seem to be attracted to things that are new, plastic, and disposable, it’s odd to see a lot of money and time being invested into something that’s old, wooden, and .priceless.
But that’s exactly what’s happening with Chippewa Park’s Carousel, thanks to a wide array of Thunder Bay residents who have decided it’s worth the effort.
Why? Because they value heritage, they value artisanship, and they value community, and Chippewa’s Carousel embodies all three.
The Carousel Restoration Committee created by The Friends of Chippewa Park has spearheaded the drive to restore the 106 year-old ride. Its first priority was to develop a plan of community engagement. SHOUT Media donated its services to create a community awareness campaign and the rest is history. A website (www.saveourcarousel.ca) became a key way for donors and volunteers to offer help.
The following list of people, organizations, and businesses came forward and is a testament to the strength of our community. They include:
· Thunder Bay Woodcarvers have recreated the 16 carved mirror frames, 32 carved dragons, 16 sets of branches and 16 flowers found on the upper rounding boards as well as carvings on the side of the chariots.
· The Carpenter’s Union Local 1669 assigned their third-year apprenticeship program to build 16 replacement rounding board frames.
· Westgate High School’s metal shop fabricated the metal panels for both the rounding boards and centre column panels.
· Students and staff from Westgate and LaVerendrye High Schools and the Matawa Learning Centre cleaned and polished all of the brass on the Carousel.
· LaVerendrye High School’s shop is restoring the original Eli Gas Engine that came with the Carousel in 1934. They are being helped by Pelletier’s Auto Body. The engine has not run for over 50 years.
· Students and staff from the art program at Superior Collegiate are painting iconic images on the 16 rounding board panels. These large images of local scenes such as the Pagoda and the Sleeping Giant will be an outstanding feature of the finished carousel.
· Students and staff at Hammarskjold High are constructing two new chariots for the carousel, with both being wheelchair accessible. The specialized design work is overseen by a representative of the City’s Accessibility Advisory Committee.
· All of the solid colour painting of the various parts of the Carousel has been performed by a Job Creation Partnership crew provided through the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development and City staff.
· The specialty embellishment of all the carved features is being done by Linda Siczkar, a local preservation artist and Board member of the USA based National Carousel Association.
· Local artist Biljana Baker is acting as an Artistic Consultant, providing technical and aesthetic advice.
· Mahon Electric is providing all of the electrical upgrading required in lieu of the financial adoption of one of the horses.
· The Artizan-Wurlitzer Band Organ, which is a significant stand-alone feature of the carousel, required special attention. Local artisan Libor Tezky has completed the first phase of the restoration of its façade, while another local artist, Eugene Vandal, is painting two scenes of Chippewa Park for it.
· Superior Coating, the supplier of the sign paint specified by restoration consultant Lisa Parr, went above and beyond by mixing the One-Shot sign paints to create the unique colours required.
The value of all these in-kind contributions is approximately $500,000. Clearly, it’s local hands and hearts that are bringing this heritage treasure back to life.
