Bernard Alphonse (Al) Turcott

Bernard Alphonse (Al) Turcott. . , Born in 1907, Al Turcott came to Wawa in 1939 with the idea that he would be employed for 6 months assisting with the construction of the crushing plant at the New Helen Mine. Deeply attracted to the area, Al soon sent for his wife Agnes and two sons to join him. , In 1944, the Turcott family began operating Turcott's Dry Goods and Clothing Store at 33 Broadway Avenue, across from the Lakeview Hotel. Both Agnes and Al were community minded people and actively promoted the town and supported the creation of crucial community services. , Al Turcott played an integral role in securing the Lake Superior route of the proposed Trans-Canada Highway through Wawa. Concerned that the final plans for the highway meant it would not be built through the community, Al and a group of businessmen came up with the idea of the Wawa Goose statue to stop tourists on their Trans-Canada travels. On September 17, 1960 the first Wawa Goose statue was unveiled at the opening of the last link of the Ontario and Lake Superior section of the Trans-Canada Highway. , In 1969, the Turcott's proudly opened the doors of his latest venture, Fort Friendship. Known locally as "the Turcott Project", Al's imitation fort was constructed on the banks of the Michipicoten River, not far upstream from the original location of the 200 year old Hudson's Bay Co. Post. This popular tourist attraction came complete with log palisade walls, a museum, gift shop, wishing well, tower of Prime Ministers, and a small church made out of glass bottles. , Al Turcott died suddenly of a heart attack in 1974 and was buried next to his Fort overlooking the meandering Michipicoten River. , Story written by Johanna Rowe www.wawahistory.com