Callander will embark on historic stroll

History has a home in downtown Callander.

Council has agreed to undertake the Callander Heritage Walk, which means you can expect to see some historical photos strategically placed around the downtown. Councillor Mike Dell put the idea forward for consideration this past April, and now council has given the green light to history.

The plan is to install five large-scale murals and five historical photo placards that will announce a historic site. Dell said it was a good way “to bring history to life” and highlight the town’s heritage. For example, one photo for consideration depicts a steam engine, pulling into town in 1920.

“We’re working with the museum,” Dell noted, “and selecting photos” for consideration. The selection should be completed soon.

See: Callander, care to take a stroll through history?

The project will be rolled out in two phases, with the first phase beginning this year. Phase two will be drafted into next year’s budget, and the remainder of the project will be completed in 2025. Municipal staff have met with the Implementation and Beautification Committee, as well as the Culture, Heritage and Tourism Committee to discuss the project.

Together, a list was drawn identifying preferred locations for the murals. The list of locations included, Lulu’s, RBC, the LCBO, at the Commercial Plaza, and at the entrance to Foodland. Note the list has not been finalized yet, as staff must come to agreements with the property owners.

What’s a historic walk cost these days? The first phase, which will include five murals, has been given a maximum budget of $10,000. This comes from the Parks Budget, from savings achieved from other 2024 projects, staff detailed.

As for phase two, council plans to set aside a maximum of $5,000 in next year’s budget for that work. This phase will see the installation of the eight placards within parks and other popular locations.

David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.