FERGUS – After nearly 20 years of standing guard in downtown Fergus, the “Breadalbane Giant” has finally retired from his post.
“It’s definitely a sadness,” Breadalbane Inn manager Andreas Egger told the Advertiser. “It’s a loss, losing him, for sure.”
The sculpture, carved from an old Norwegian maple stump in 2006 by Sean Kosonic and his father Nick, was titled Blairgowrie Ferguson, affectionately named after Blairgowrie, Scotland.
The sculpture was set to be removed by Centre Wellington Township in 2023 due to safety concerns.
But it was not removed until Sept. 8 of this year.
“As far as I know the township just didn’t have the time available for it,” said Egger.
“I guess it wasn’t on the top priorities [list] to remove it.”
The township offered minimal comment on the statue’s removal.
“We do not have a comment; the statue has been slated for removal due to structural concerns,” said Centre Wellington spokesperson Kendra Martin.
The sculpture was erected as part of a fundraiser for Groves Memorial Community Hospital.
Patrons and community members were able to pay money to have their names etched into the back of the sculpture, which ultimately raised around $10,000 for the hospital.
Despite the removal of the sculpture, Egger and his family are hopeful the space will be filled once again.
“It would be cool to have like a replica done,” he said, “maybe not quite as large.”
