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Chippewa carousel campaign wants you to ‘adopt a horse’

A new capital campaign has been launched to reach the $900,000 goal for the restoration of the Chippewa Park Carousel.

THUNDER BAY - Kateri Banning’s grandfather, Frank Banning, worked for the city of Thunder Bay for 34 years and retired as the manager of the Parks and Recreation Department. Banning has many fond memories of Chippewa Park, both as a child and now with her own children riding the carousel, which is why she decided to adopt a horse and name it after her grandfather.  

“It just seems like the most perfect, fitting way to have a memorial to pay tribute to him,” Banning said. “I can’t really think of anywhere else more appropriate for it.”

Banning was the first to adopt a horse as part of a new capital campaign launched on Tuesday by the Friends of Chippewa Park Carousel Restoration Committee to raise money for the restoration of the Chippewa Park carousel.

The cost of restoring the 103-year-old carousel is approximately $900,000 and the project has already received $200,000 from the city of Thunder Bay, and an additional $100,000 through FedNor.

Jules Tupker, capital campaign chair, said he is confident the campaign will raise the remaining funds to bring one of only three historic carousels in the world back to its former glory.

“Based on the people I’ve talked to, everybody seems to be in favour,” he said. “I hope that translates into donations to adopt a horse and to help with the adoption of horses and the restoration. I’m very confident we can make this work.”

At the centre of the capital campaign is the option to adopt a horse, which allows individuals or businesses to sponsor a horse for $20,000 to $25,000 to cover the cost of its restoration. Adopting a horse will allow the adopter to name it and have their business or name included on the horse.

“And the horse will be there forever with their name on that horse,” Tupker said. “People 100 years from now will still be riding that horse and know that their business was able to restore that horse for those people to ride on it.”

There are 28 horses on the carousel and the cost of restoring them all is approximately $600,000. A remaining $300,000 is required to restore two chariots, the centre column, the organ, rounding boards, and mechanical and electrical work.

“It is a large amount of money, but at the end of the day, when people see the end result they are going to be very impressed and very happy,” Tupker said. “The thing was built over 100 years ago and we’ve had since 1934 here in Thunder Bay. So many people have ridden that and enjoyed that carousel so to be able to restore it and have another 100 years of service out of it will be amazing.”

Banning hopes other people and organizations in Thunder Bay will take her lead, because for her and her family, who have spent so much time at the park and on the carousel, it is definitely something worth saving.

“Chippewa is definitely a family place,” she said. “My grandpa was very much into supporting families and helping families. I remember going to Chippewa as a kid, my kids go to Chippewa. It is an important part of our community.”

“I can’t see why anyone in our community would want to see Chippewa or the carousel diminished and fade away,” Banning continued. “I hope me being crazy and adopting a horse inspires other families and organizations who have ties and fond memories and love for that area, I hope they follow suit.”

For more information on the restoration project or to donate, visit the capital campaign website.



Doug Diaczuk

About the Author: Doug Diaczuk

Doug Diaczuk is a reporter and award-winning author from Thunder Bay. He has a master’s degree in English from Lakehead University
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