That frame by the lake wasn’t so picture perfect after all, and as of last Wednesday, sits in storage.
The idea was well intended, a picture frame to highlight Callander’s picturesque beauty. Municipal council thought installing the frame near the shore in Centennial Park would be the perfect spot. People could take their picture – framed within the frame – and spread the beauty of Callander on social media.
The frame had Callander’s logos on the top corners, with “Callander, Ontario,” written along the bottom right-hand side. The picture frame was built using parts of the old “pirate ship” playground equipment, and on each side of the frame, the posts extend upward to highlight what appears to be a paddle wheel.
See: Callander’s pirate ship sails Monday, enjoy the final ride
Installed in late September of last year, the frame’s debut met with mixed reviews. Many residents were not fans and were not shy to express their distaste on social media. Some called it “cheesy,” others claimed “it ruins the view” of the lake. Others felt the idea was clever, but did not like the design, and felt losing the ship details would have helped.
Either way, the council heard the backlash against the placement and the look of the recently installed photo opportunity and heeded the call.
Council removed the frame.
The plan is to store it for now and consider some new options for its placement. Staff are also considering removing the masts from the picture frame and perhaps adding some more wording on the sign to better express what its purpose is.
The Implementation and Beautification Committee will dwell on what do to with the sign. One idea that’s been bandied about is to put the picture frame at the Look Out or at the end of Cranberry Trail. However, these locations have no connections to the old ship playground so the symbolism of the design and material will make less of an impact at those locations.
Time will tell where the frame will end up, but one thing is certain, for many residents, the view of the park has been restored to picture perfect.
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.
