Creating a Canadian Icon (Blog 13 of 30)

Raise your hand if you have been to the Statue of Liberty.

(If you just raised your hand, or even thought about it.... thanks for playing along!  Now, scratch your head or something so you do not look like a crazy person with your hand up for no reason!)

I have never been to NYC other than to fly through, but, for some reason, I woke up at 5:36 this morning and thought, "It is about time we had something like the Statue of Liberty in Western Canada!"

Here is my sleep deprived reasoning on this.....

Most people know that statue was given to the US by France.  It was dedicated in 1886.

The Eiffel Tower was then built for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris.

In other words, in the span of three years, the French had a hand in building and dedicating two of the most iconic, most photographed, most well-known structures on the planet!

But what have they done in the last 129 years?  Nothing, that is what!

As well, many people know that Gustave Eiffel built the iron structure for the statue and, of course, for the tower that bears his name.  Seems like that dude got stuff done!

Now, you can't tell me that there is not one energetic welder name Gustave in all of France anymore!  There just has to be!   Find him and let's get going!!!  Here is my plan.....

We need something like the Statue of Liberty here in Estevan!

Why Estevan?

Well.... we are situated near the border, so our statue could welcome people to the country just like Liberty does. 

Estevan has a waterway.... Long Creek flows into Boundary Dam not 10 miles south of town.... so our statue could stand on its own island, just like theirs.  Very majestic!

The only thing we would have to do is make a few changes so that ours more Canadian.

Maybe instead of a torch, ours holds up a coffee cup.

Instead of a tablet in her other hand, a box of Tim Bits.

Instead of a broken chain at her feet, a hockey bag.

Change the inscription to something shorter and easier to understand like "How's it goin', eh?"

Now, I am not saying that this is the final design..... in fact, I am not even saying that it is a good idea..... I am just telling you what went through my head at 5:37 this morning.

Ps.  If you happen to know anyone in France named Gustave, let me know!