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Selkirk’s most famous catfish is getting a makeover.
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“We’re thrilled to be giving Chuck some new life,” City of Selkirk culture coordinator Ellie Longbottom said Monday in a news release.
“He’s an icon in the city, something people come to see from near and far.”
Since 1986, the Chuck the Channel Cat statue has stood along Main Street in Selkirk, as both a tribute to the city’s “vibrant fishing community” and to the late Chuck Norquay, a well-known Selkirk fisherman whose work led to the city securing the title of the “Catfish Capital of North America.”
But after 38 years, the city said that Chuck is now showing his age, and they have embarked on a restoration project that will see the iconic statue receive repairs and a “splash of new colour.”
Workers have already started grinding off the statue’s existing paint and fixing any damage they discover and once that work is done the statue will receive a “vibrant” new coat of paint.
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The city added the project ties directly into their Community Strategic Plan and particularly into the city’s commitment to “maintaining vibrant, attractive public spaces that enhance community pride and attract visitors.”
“Chuck has been a favourite photo-op for residents and tourists alike for years,” Longbottom said. “A revitalized Chuck is representative of the revitalization we’re seeing everywhere in Selkirk.
“This investment not only helps bolster our brand and history, but also strengthens the bond between our residents and the stories that make Selkirk special.”
The restoration project is being led by Jen Mosienko Design, a company that Selkirk officials said has years of experience restoring landmarks, and that recently completed restoration of the well-known giant mosquito statue located in Komarno, Manitoba.
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