Picture yourself in the park by the foreshore with green islands, snow-capped peaks, dark-blue ocean and rugged fishing boats as your background.
And now, you even get your own frame.
Thanks to the Downtown BIA, families, friends and visitors can pose in the “white space” of a 9x9-foot picture frame. The large dark bronze frame – scripted with “Campbell River” – was installed Tuesday afternoon in Robert Ostler Park and was celebrated with the opening pop of sparkling brut.
“This is great, cheers everyone!” said Jan Tees of the Downtown BIA as she raised a toast.
As concrete workers smoothed out the final pour to the cement pad surrounding the frame, Tees finished off her glass and then prepared to spend the night hunkered down by the installation.
“No one is going to spoil this. It’s taken too long to do!” she said, as others teased her about drawing their initials in the fresh concrete.
Tees explained the idea came from local resident Wendy Baker who saw a similar frame on a trip to Europe. Baker thought it was something the Downtown BIA could add to the community.
That was two years ago. Since then, Tees has been busy co-ordinating the project.
First, RBC and Royal LePage Advance Realty stepped up and agreed to help sponsor the construction. The city came next, granting permission for the frame and contributing by doing the concrete work and adding benches.
The “shadow box” bronze frame was made by South Harbour Marine and then Grant Signs took it to their shop to have it reinforced, sanded and painted, and then the crane truck brought it the park to be erected.
Other sponsors that contributed to the project included the Royal Court Businesses, the Foreshore building businesses, Granite Works, Upland Ready Mix, Island Fever Travel, Tangles Hair Salon & Day Spa, Olive Me Accessories and Jane Super.
“Talk about community effort!” said a super-happy Tees. “This will be an attraction not only for visitors to our city, but our residents as well. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, family and high school reunions are just a few of the special events that could be captured.”