The Town of Innisfil had big plans to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “the events we hoped to bring to the community, we had to put on hold,” said Mayor Lynn Dollin.
Instead, the town has been looking at other ways to celebrate – some of them virtual, and some involving innovation, like the unveiling of a series of commemorative utility boxes, decorated with "rich and vibrant historical photos" of Innisfil taken from the archives of the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library.
On Wednesday, the first of five decorated utility boxes was unveiled on Innisfil Beach Road, across from the Lakeshore Library.
Mayor Dollin, members of town council and ideaLAB staff officially unveiled the box, wrapped in vinyl by Mario Design using historic images selected by library staff.
In all, five boxes have been decorated to date – including the location on Innisfil Beach Road across from the library; at the corner of Victoria and Yonge Street in Stroud; in front of the Cookstown post office; and in front of the Sandycove Plaza. Another five will be unveiled in 2021.
The images selected for each box are unique to that particular area, and span the decades. The box on Innisfil Beach Road features images that date from 1907 to 1950 – and hopefully, says Acting Library CEO Susan Baues, will inspire residents to ask questions, and share their memories.
“It’s really tough to celebrate an anniversary in a time of COVID,” said Baues; it is definitely a time for the ideas and images that can bring cheer to residents, and help build a sense of community.
The mayor thanked InnPower, Mario Design, and the federal government’s Building Vibrant Communities grant program, which provided the funding for the project. She also thanked council and staff for coming out for the launch.
“It’s the first time we’ve seen each other in a long time,” said Mayor Dollin, as she and councillors stood on the sidewalk, social distancing. “I really wish we could have celebrated Innisfil’s bicentennial in a different way.”
