Lumberjack statue gets new home in Iroquois Falls to boost tourism

Iroquois Falls is giving its landmark lumberjack statue a new home as part of a push to bring more visitors into town, according to the mayor

The fate of the statue located along Highway 11, known by some as the "Storyteller" or "Guy-Paul Treefall" hung in the balance, until town council voted recently to restore it and relocate it to the town's museum.

Since Highway 11 does not go through the community itself, Mayor Tory Delaurier hopes the move will entice more highway travellers to come into Iroquois Falls. 

"The museum is going to put out a tourism PR marketing campaign in the very near future, and that way, instead of people just stopping on the highway, taking a quick photo, they'd go into Iroquois Falls and look at the statue," said Delaurier.

He said the conversation about what to do with the 18-foot-tall statue began when the town's agreement with the property owner – where the 20-foot-tall statue has stood for over a decade on Highway 11 – expired. 

Preserving local history

Feedback from public surveys showed mixed opinion, with approximately 100 people against the relocation to the museum. A petition launched by local residents against the move cites things like limited space at the museum as a reason to prevent the relocation. 

But Delaurier said more than 400 people were in favour of the move. 

The statue represents the community's historical ties to the forestry industry. Iroquois Falls was once home to a paper mill that closed in 2014. 

"It represents the paper mill and the history of forestry in our community," Delaurier said.

"We're still open to forestry ideas, and it still could be a part of our future."

The cost of the relocation and refurbishment of the lumberjack statue is expected to be about $20,000, but Delaurier said the cost wasn't seen as a barrier, considering the tourism potential and the statue's role in preserving local history. 

The move is expected to take place sometime over the summer. The town is also considering putting up signage on the highway to direct visitors to the new location.