ELORA – Council got a glimpse of Mo the Moose Fawn at its June 30 meeting and soon everyone can get a close up look – and selfies – once it’s sited in the Elora Green Space.
The statue, by Orillia artist Frank Ripley, comes from a donation from the Stephanie Minarovich Fund that was set up by Minarovich before she died.
The $25,000 fund has been used to construct the pond currently in the Green Space and paid to refurbish the iconic Tall Man statue that also resides in the space.
Marty Van Vliet and Resa Lent now oversee the fund and Van Vliet delegated to council making his pitch for the statue.
At one time the Green Space was a gas station and Minarovich grew up across the street from it.
She left Elora for a period, returning in 2007, “and she watched the space transform into a green space,” Van Vliet said. “It touched her heart.”
She left the fund to help improve the Green Space.
The pond was installed in 2017 but had issues with stagnant water and has to be removed.
Council approved its removal and improvements to lighting and some replanting in the Green Space in September.
The Minarovich Fund will pay for the statue and its installation. The Elora Sculpture Project is donating a base for the statue and the township will pay the $6,000 to address the pond and will take ownership of the statue.
The statue will be placed at the site of the pond.
Mo the Moose Fawn is a statue made of reclaimed metal and found objects welded together in the shape of a fawn. It stands about five feet high and is a rusty colour.
It was an entry in the 2024 Elora Sculpture Project and might be familiar with residents.
“I think it will become one of those iconic things that will be photographed,” much like the Tall Man is, Van Vliet said.
“It’s been transformational for the town.”
Council approved installation of the statue.
