The drive between Creighton and Flin Flon just got a little more colourful - and for some, comfortable.
A new public art exhibit has been erected between the two communities, an oversize set of Adirondack chairs. The two chairs can fit two full-sized adults comfortably each and each is painted in a particular colour based off the provinces the area straddles - yellow for Saskatchewan and red for Manitoba, with both provinces’ flags flying over the chairs.
The chairs were erected last week south of Hapnot Lake, not far past the Manitoba/Saskatchewan border - they are visible from the Creighton freeway and from South Main Street.
The cost of the project, about $2,500 in total with in-kind support, was covered by a grant the City received from the Flin Flon Credit Union back in May. Once the money came in, construction was done locally and City crews installed the new seats last week.
The chairs are part of a new-look local tourism push, aiming to take on the same strengths previous campaigns have - natural beauty being at the forefront, according to the “Water and the Wild” local tourism slogan - while adding new ideas.
“We’ve had really positive feedback,” said Emily Roberts-Young, the new regional economic development officer for Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach. Roberts-Young and regional tourism officer Brooke White helped oversee the development of the project.
“All of the messages have been positive - people have reached out saying that they think they're beautiful, a great addition. They really loved seeing that green space used, because it wasn't really used before. It’s been really positive from the community response.”
The chairs may be big, but they’re meant to be sit in - and to be good photo bait for anyone curious, visitors and locals alike. The chairs are accompanied by wayfinding maps and signs, meant to give anyone new to the area a glimpse at different places to go or see, along with local businesses and restaurants. The signs have scannable QR codes where anyone can find out more information online and there are plans to add a parking lot, some greenery or planters to the site in the future.
“That’s exactly what we want to do. We want to encourage people to pull off - safely, of course, but to take that extra moment to stop, to take a look around and enjoy that view,” said Roberts-Young.
“Where those chairs are situated, we strategically place them to have the rock in the background, the lake in the background and the trees, to show all three of our big natural surrounding pieces. The chairs are situated to kind of capture that with whatever photos are taken on them or from the side.”
