The Canada Winter Games monument outside Revolution Place has been taken down as a safety precaution. Manager of Strategic Communications for the City of Grande Prairie Shane Bourke says facilities maintenance staff noticed the spire swaying more than usual during the high winds last week and an inspection was ordered.
“The result of that inspection was to call in the original manufacturer of this piece of art, and they determined that to have a complete and thorough inspection would require the dismantling and movement to their facility.”
The structure was first installed in 1994, ahead of Grande Prairie hosting the 1995 Canada Winter Games. At that time, it was the smallest city to ever put on the national sporting event.
“We know this monument was a significant piece of history for Grande Prairie, signifying a really important event the city participated in,” says Bourke. “It was important for us to focus on safety today, get it inspected by the proper experts… but our goal is to return this to its rightful place.”
The monument is routinely inspected every year. It was taken down Wednesday morning and taken to LSM for a closer look at its structural integrity.