The giant roadside attractions across Manitoba
It’s 1998.
Google was just born, and dial-up was the primary way to connect to the Internet. New sites were being developed daily on any number of topics, from recipes to shopping.
David Yanciw, however, was thinking big - big things, that is.
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Winnipeg newsletters
That year, the Saskatoon resident created 'Big Things of Canada' to catalog the large roadside attractions in towns across the Prairies. A road trip he took from Saskatoon to Edmonton inspired the site.
"A friend who lived in Edmonton mentioned the Glendon perogy on a fork, so we said we'd go take a look at that," he said, “We also stopped in St. Paul, which has the UFO landing pad.”
The pair took more road trips together in other provinces where they looked for local “big things.”
“We weren't in any hurry on our road trips,” he said, “So we went and looked for the ones in northwest Alberta."
The giant perogy in Glendon, Alberta is photographed in an undated image (BigThings.ca)The trips gave Yanciw the idea for the “Big Things” website. He taught himself HTML and hand-coding—after all, it was 1998—from a book he borrowed from the library.
What started as a slight mockery of the practice soon changed as he researched and visited communities, where he discovered passion, pride, and community spirit.
The site began to resonate with his newfound online audience as well.
People printed off lists of attractions for their road trips, and he connected with the artists who designed the giant monuments.
"I just created this fun website that was more for my education and entertainment,” Yanciw said, “Then I realized I became part of a community."
David Yanciw, creator of BigThings.ca, poses for a photo outside Happy Rock in Gladstone, Manitoba in June 2024. (David Yanciw)
In Manitoba, the featured attractions include Happy Rock in Gladstone, a popular tourist site since 1993 and one of Yanciw’s favourites, which he recently visited on a road trip, and Gilbert the Golf Ball in Gilbert Plains.
"It's a golf ball with legs, holding hockey skates and a hockey stick, having a curling tam on it - just not what you expected," he said. "And there's a great fun in this."
Gilbert the Golf Ball in Gilbert Plains, Man. (David Yanciw/BigThings.ca)
Selkirk is also on the site for its Chuck the Channel Cat statue, built in 1986. Named after local fisherman Chuck Norquay, the statue pays tribute to the abundant catfishing in the nearby lakes and rivers.
Duane Nichol, CAO for the City of Selkirk, said the statue has benefited the city by helping promote tourism outside of it and a sense of belonging inside of it.
"It gives people a sense of place and home, and when you see it, you just know that it's about Selkirk," he said.
Last month, the statue received a new coat of paint and cosmetic repairs to ensure it stays vibrant for decades.
Chuck the Channel Cat in Selkirk, Manitoba in September 2024. (City of Selkirk)
Another attraction is Arborg's giant curling stone. It was built in 2005, years after Yanciw's site was launched.
Tom Chwaliboga, the recreation manager with the Town of Arborg, said the statue pays tribute to the high school provincial curling champions for the 1947-48 and 1948-49 seasons.
Chwaliboga said it is a popular spot for visitors, noting he sees people taking pictures and selfies at the stone almost daily.
"At the end of the day, it's kind of neat that people with different license plates pull into the parking lot at the rec center and make Arborg a little stop among their travels," he said.
The World's Largest Curling Rock is located outside the curling rink and recreation centre in Arborg, Man. (Town of Arborg)
Although Yanciw no longer owns the website, it is still live on the Internet, allowing visitors to keep learning about big attractions in Manitoba.
"That made me extremely happy because I was definitely then part of something," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Auto theft probe leads to arrest of 59 suspects, recovery of more than 300 stolen vehicles: Toronto police
Toronto police say 59 suspects are facing a total of 300 charges in connection with an auto theft and re-vinning probe.
Ont. woman posed as registered nurse in Simcoe County for 4 years: OPP
An Ontario woman is facing serious charges after police allege she pretended to be a registered nurse at several Simcoe County facilities, despite being unqualified.
B.C. mayor's 'luxury' trip to Dubai climate conference was against ethics rules: commissioner
New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone's all-expenses-paid trip to Dubai for a climate conference last December violated the city's Code of Conduct for Council Members and the Community Charter, the city's ethics commissioner has ruled.
WATCH 'It's mind-boggling': Drought reveals U.S. town submerged in the 1940s
Hundreds of people are flocking to see a rare site in Pennsylvania: remnants of a historic town that is usually underwater.
Democrats Abroad Canada warns U.S. voters to take action ahead of possible Canada Post strike
Democrats Abroad Canada is warning Americans that a potential postal workers strike this weekend could affect the ability to vote in next week's election.
Caught on camera: Edmonton police run over woman during welfare call
An Edmonton Police Service officer was caught on camera running over a woman with a marked cruiser last month.
Orphaned squirrel who became social media star was euthanized after being seized from New York home
An orphaned squirrel that became a social media star called Peanut was euthanized after state authorities seized the beloved pet during a raid on his caretaker's home, authorities said Friday.
B.C. landlord who evicted longtime tenant, hiked rent and re-listed unit ordered to pay $16K
A landlord from B.C.’s Lower Mainland who evicted a longtime tenant only to rent out the same unit months later for more money has been ordered to compensate him $16,480.
Secret Service report offers new details on failures during Trump assassination attempt
A new Secret Service report into the July assassination attempt against former U.S. president Donald Trump said multiple staffers knew about clear line-of-sight risks but found them 'acceptable' and that farm equipment intended to obstruct the view from the nearby building where the gunman opened fire was never used.