'A complete overhaul': Iconic Transcona statue taken down to get a facelift
A popular landmark that welcomes people into the Transcona neighbourhood is getting a complete restoration.
The 'Hi Neighbour Sam' statue that has stood in the neighbourhood for years, has been taken down from his perch on Regent Avenue.
Ray Ulasy, chair of Transcona Hi Neighbour Festival Inc., said Sam was removed on Sunday.
“He’s getting a complete overhaul, aesthetically and structurally as well,” Ulasy said.
John Henry Creations Inc. is leading the restoration of the statue, which has stood in Transcona for 53 years
Matthew Friesen with John Henry Creations said the statue is in need of significant repairs including fresh paint, repairs to the cane and hand, and some other structural repairs.
“We just need to smooth him out, give him a bit of a facelift,” Friesen said.
Ulasy said Sam will return to its perch in May, before the Transcona Hi Neighbour Festival, which occurs the first weekend of June.
The restoration will cost approximately $15,000, which includes sponsorships and donations from the community and a $6,000 grant from the City of Winnipeg.
Ulasy said Sam is an important part of Transcona and makes the community special.
“Sam captures what the spirit of the community is really all about,” Ulasy said. “Welcoming, inviting, and friendly, and I think Sam represents that. When you drive into Transcona, that’s the first thing you see, Sam on his perch, and he’s waving to the community.”
-With files from CTV’s Danton Unger and Kenneth Gabel
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.