CANADA GOOSE -- Wawa, Ontario
N 47° 58.416 W 084° 46.980
16T E 665458 N 5315744
One of the most famous roadside attractions in Canada. Canada Post has even issued a stamp with the Wawa Goose. This is the 50th anniversary of the Wawa Goose.
Waymark Code: WMA00A
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 10/24/2010
Views: 34
YES! It's the largest of its kind in Canada and one of the most photographed landmarks in North America. Why is this huge monument of a Canada Goose standing poised over the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 101? Well, way back in 1960, the last link of the Trans-Canada Highway was finally completed linking Wawa to Sault Ste. Marie and Western Canada. The folks in Wawa fought long and hard to see the road completed and although they were glad to see it reach their front doors, local businessmen were a bit disappointed that the highway actually by-passed the downtown core of the community.
So one of Wawa's local entrepreneurs of the day, Mr. Al Turcott, a very creative and ingenious man, felt that Wawa needed something that would stop highway travelers and invite them to come into town. You can imagine the reaction of some of the townsfolk to his idea of a huge statue of a Canada Goose made of plaster. Well, the fact is that this has become Wawa's "Claim to Fame" and our famous goose has welcomed millions of visitors.
The original plaster sculpture did not stand up to local weather and in 1963, a new monument was constructed with steel which was more representative of Wawa and its large iron ore mine. With Wawa meaning "Wild Goose or Land of the Big Goose" in Ojibway, it makes perfect sense to have a goose welcoming visitors at the entrance of town.
Price of Admission: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
Weekday Hours: From: 12:00 AM To: 12:00 AM
Weekend Hours: From: 12:00 AM To: 12:00 AM
Roadside Attractions Website: [Web Link]
Location Website: [Web Link]
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