ELORA – It may still be a question of who’s in charge, but there’s no longer a question of who owns it.
With unanimous approval from council, Centre Wellington now owns the sculpture that towers over the parkette in downtown Elora.
Known as “the Tall Man”, the correct name of the sculpture is It’s a Question of Who’s in Charge, councillor Kirk McEwain told council at the July 19 committee of the whole meeting.
The statue was purchased for $1,800 in 2007 by a local group of artists who called themselves the Village Idiots and was positioned on a private residence on Mill Street East.
It was relocated in 2012 to the Elora Green Space and has become one of the most photographed things in the village, said Dorothy Smith, manager of community development, festivals, culture and tourism.
Since the Village Idiots have disbanded, the last two remaining members, Gwen Swick and Randall Coryell, have decided to gift it to the township.
Smith said the artists did clean-up and maintenance on the statue this spring so it is in good condition and should cost just a few hundred dollars a year to keep it that way.
“It will continue to be a hot item in town,” Smith said as council voted in favour of assuming ownership and liability for the statue.
“We now own the Tall Man,” added Mayor Kelly Linton.
The “It’s a Question of Who’s in Charge” sculpture in the Elora Green Space. Advertiser file photo
