Scaffolding rose last week around the iconic decades-old fish sculpture, Husky the Muskie, in the city of Kenora in northwestern Ontario.
But before the panic set in, city officials notified the public of a “broad” face wash planned for the city’s de facto pet.
Next week, a team of experts from Drumheller’s Dinosaur Valley Studios will arrive from Alberta to begin work on the 12-foot-tall sculpture.
“We’ve done similar projects like this across Canada … so our reputation has been built over the years to do that kind of work,” said Frank Hadfield, president of the company.
Hadfield, who has a background in paleontology, has worked on everything from skeletal reconstructions to museum and scenery exhibits.
Over the years, he has also worked on road attractions, such as an eight-foot-long replica of a northern pike in Rochon Sands, Alta., And the Gimli Viking in Manitoba.
Hadfield, who grew up in Manitoba, said Husky the Muskie will be a special project because sculpture is so popular in the Ontario region.
Frank Hadfield of Dinosaur Valley Studios, right, leading the makeover of Husky the Muskie, is shown lifting a dinosaur bone replica with CBC Edmonton host Tara McCarthy. (CBC News)
“I remember when I was a kid I used to drive to Kenora and expect to see Husky the Muskie, the giant monument. So it has sentimental value,” he said, adding that most people who have been told about this project have heard to talk about the sculpture or have seen it.
“This thing is so well known in Ontario and even in Canada.”
Hadfield said most of his business is focused on creating exhibitions for natural history museums, but has recently worked more with the film industry and to restore monuments.
Like Husky the Muskie, the Gimli Viking in Manitoba was created as a Canadian centennial project. (Jeff Stapleton / CBC)
“I am contacted by a lot of family, friends and sometimes even the people who hear about us,” he said, adding that many people who approach him do not realize that there are many companies that do this. type of work.
Hadfield said it was his brother who launched the project to give Husky the Muskie a facelift.
When his brother sent him a photo, Hadfield said he noticed the sculpture needed some tweaking, so he contacted Kenora City Hall for help.
Dinosaur Valley Studios will begin restoring the fish sculpture next week, and will primarily consist of painting and retouching damaged parts of its surface, Hadfield said.
He is quite trapped. Husky the Muskie reflects Kenora’s identity as a fishing and lake town. (Roadtripamerica.com)
Husky the Muskie was built in 1967 as a Canadian centennial project by the city’s Chamber of Commerce. It is seen as a symbol for raising awareness in Ontario’s lakes and preventing water pollution.
It was originally built with materials such as almost a ton of steel, 36 sheets of plywood and 3,500 bolts, and has been restored twice: in the eighties and nineties.
“Husky the Muskie is an icon in the city of Kenora for residents and visitors,” Mayor Dan Reynard said in a statement. “The city is excited to start working on this project to restore this important attraction to our community.”
The city said the project is a component of the 2019 Harbourfront Business Development Plan and is supported by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, FedNor and the City of Kenora Municipal Accommodation Tax.
Up North7: 00Kenora’s Musky the Huskie gets a facelift
Husky the Muskie turns 55 this year and needs some attention. Fortunately, Frank Hadfield specializes in just that. His company, Dinosaur Valley Studios, is known for its designs and display enhancements. Hadfield spoke with CBC’s Olivia Levesque to explain how she plans to refresh Kenora’s milestone.