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Pagoda honoured as historically significant building

The Government of Canada is honouring the 108-year-old building as a part of Canada 150.
Pagoda Plaque Unveil
Keith Hobbes (left), Paul Pepe, and Patty Hajdu unveil a plaque at the Thunder Bay Tourist Pagoda on Tuesday. (Michael Charlebois, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY -- "Honestly, I miss the polka dots,” said MP Patty Hajdu standing in front of one of Thunder Bay’s most historic buildings.

Hajdu wasn’t the only polka dot advocate on hand on Tuesday at the unveiling of a plaque at the Thunder Bay Pagoda.

She and many other political figures were present to declare the pagoda as a building of historical significance.

“It was a real honour to talk about the contribution of the pagoda to the region, and the history of the pagoda itself,” Hajdu said.

The building is being honoured by the federal government as part of its Canada 150 program.

“When we recognize a site like this, we allow for the interpretation of history to be transmitted to other generations,” Hajdu said.

At 108 years old, it is the oldest continuously operating information building in Canada.

“It was designed in an era when the city was growing leaps and bounds,” said Tory Tronrud, the director and curator of Thunder Bay Museum.

The early 20th century was, according to Tronrud, a boom period for Port Arthur and Fort William.

“They were doubling their population every five years… It looked like there would be no end to it. They had ambitions to be a city of a million or more people.”
Although the ambitious feat was never reached, Tronrud says it’s still an honour to be recognized.

“The federal government is very picky about what it chooses,” Tronrud said. “It’s a small building, it’s on a small piece of land, but it has real significance beyond the building itself.”

As for the polka-dots, Tronrud said painting them back on would be OK, as long as it is done well.
“I suppose some people would be upset,” said Tronrud. “But for the building itself, it probably wouldn’t hurt it.”



Michael Charlebois

About the Author: Michael Charlebois

Michael Charlebois was born and raised in Thunder Bay, where he attended St. Patrick High School and graduated in 2015. He attends Carleton University in Ottawa where he studies journalism.
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