A walking tour celebrating Walkerton's connection to the Saugeen River and public art is back, with a new community sculpture.
The Municipality of Brockton has re-launched the Fish Art Walking Tour, an initiative inviting residents and visitors to explore the community by finding all 12 colourful fish sculptures. A Community Fish was added to the display this year. It is located in the Market Garden and features photographs submitted by residents of family outings and local events.
“The Fish Art Walking Tour is a wonderful example of how public art can tell our story and bring people together,” Mayor Chris Peabody said in a statement. “These sculptures have become a unique part of Walkerton’s identity, celebrating our connection to the Saugeen River, the creativity of local artists, and now, through the Community Fish, the people who make our community such a special place. We invite everyone to explore the tour, learn about its history, and create some new memories along the way.”
A free walking tour brochure can be picked up at the Brockton Municipal Office, the Walkerton Library, or downloaded online.
To mark the re-launch, the municipality is holding a "find the fish walking adventure. Participants can submit selfies of themselves with all 12 sculptures to be entered for a chance to win $250 in Brockton Dollars. The draw will be held at the end of September. Additionally, until the end of August, $25 Brockton Dollars prizes will be handed out for submissions in categories such as most creative selfie, best family photo, and youngest explorer. Adventurers are encouraged to share their photos on social media using #FindTheFishWalkerton and #VisitWalkerton.
The Fish Art Walking Tour originally launched in 2002 throughout the Saugeen River watershed. In 2012, many of the sculptures were moved to Walkerton to highlight the community's growing reputation as a destination for outdoor recreation and fly fishing.
