Organizers here are planning a spectacular show when they light up the Grand River and Templin Gardens on Feb. 24.
In fact, the show will begin before dark and has been dubbed “The Lightin’ of the Grand.”
BIA treasurer George Mochrie said in an interview people have been talking about this project for a long time and he is pleased it is finally being accomplished.
“It would be 20 years,” he said. “It’s something that’s been a long term vision of a lot of people.”
The timing certainly seems right. Wellington County is planning a major expansion of the Fergus library and Mochrie said, “I hope [the lighting project] dovetails well with the library and the riverscape.”
One of the benefits is, “People have been talking about lighting the falls. You’d be able to see Templin Gardens at night. I hope when the library is added, I am hoping for more lights. It’s part of a long-term vision that will come to fruition.”
BIA president Jackie Fraser is very enthusiastic about the project.
“We’ve been working on it for a long time,” she said. “We finally found the capability of getting it done.”
Part of that was permission and a loan from Centre Wellington council that got the project underway.
In November, Centre Wellington council approved a financing agreement with the Fergus BIA to install lights and sounds on the river behind Templin Gardens.
The lights are now mounted below the walking bridge and they will be seen by anyone who has a view of the river. The lights will shine upstream and downstream.
The township advanced an interest-free loan of $50,000 to the BIA to cover the cost. Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj will be at the opening ceremony on Feb. 24 to throw the switch to turn on the lights.
Fraser said she foresees a time when the entire area will be changing for the better and attracting families in the evenings.
“This is what I would call the cornerstone piece,” she said of the project.
The BIA is working with a landscape architect and she said the goal is not only to beautify the area, but also preserve parking spaces there. She added those spaces currently are not well placed and the goal is to create a place that will attract people from all over.
“How many towns would give their eyeteeth to have a river like this running through the downtown?” Fraser asked, adding, “Locally, we’ve taken it for granted.”
She added the BIA is working with Wellington County, which is expanding the library, and she said “They’re thrilled to have a supportive partner.”
She noted that with all the changes, some of the buildings off the main street might want to consider retail outlets. There Fraser said they generally come and go, but if the area attracts families at night, retail shops, like those along the boardwalk in Elora, might find lots of customers.
“Those spaces could become funky shops,” she said, adding, “I get excited bringing people back to the river.”
Fraser lives in the downtown and the bridge across the river is her personal “commute” every day.
Centre Wellington Hydro general manager Doug Sherwood noted the idea of lighting the river and Templin Gardens has been “on again, off again” several times, but he is pleased it is finally going to happen.
“The BIA really wanted to push this,” he said.
Sherwood added the lights will show off the rapids to the east side of the bridge, and the whirlpool to the west, as well as lighting Templin Gardens.
He said Denis Hollands of Triton Engineering was involved, and that made it a great partnership with Centre Wellington council, the BIA and his work for Centre Wellington Hydro.
Mochrie said the grand opening events will begin about 6:30pm with music, food and drink, and the turning on of the lights will take place at about 7pm. He said he expects the lighting to be terrific and noted the lights the BIA used are designed to last 30 years and take less electricity than one light on the main street.
“They’re very efficient,” Mochrie said.
The BIA is inviting everyone to bring their families, catch up with the community and enjoy the light and music show.
