The old goose was coming loose...
July 18, 2017 10:59 AM Subscribe
People who have driven the Trans-Canada Highway through Northwestern Ontario are more than likely acquainted with the Wawa Goose, a roadside attraction located in the town of Wawa. But recently, it became apparent that the steel goose - which replaced a plaster version in 1963 - was deteriorating. After a successful fundraising campaign to help pay for the fabrication of a replacement, the town unveiled its new goose on Canada Day.
Video of the changing of the goose in Wawa, Ont.
Time lapse of the goose being replaced.
Drone footage of the old Wawa Goose and its surrounding environs.
Video of the changing of the goose in Wawa, Ont.
Time lapse of the goose being replaced.
Drone footage of the old Wawa Goose and its surrounding environs.
I was born in Wawa!
That is all. Just an interesting fact about me. Americans frequently think I was born in a Wawa, which leads to a very different conversation.
posted by Shepherd at 11:11 AM on July 18, 2017 [26 favorites]
That is all. Just an interesting fact about me. Americans frequently think I was born in a Wawa, which leads to a very different conversation.
posted by Shepherd at 11:11 AM on July 18, 2017 [26 favorites]
My mother was once given directions while traveling in western Pennsylvania that included something along the lines of "turn right at the giant eagle." She got hopelessly lost because she was looking for a Wawa Goose type statue, and not a supermarket.
posted by Rock Steady at 11:15 AM on July 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 11:15 AM on July 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
changing of the goose
I have broken up laughing at this three times in the last 15 minutes.
posted by Etrigan at 11:17 AM on July 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
I have broken up laughing at this three times in the last 15 minutes.
posted by Etrigan at 11:17 AM on July 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Americans frequently think I was born in a Wawa, which leads to a very different conversation.
And one where "no, the one with the goose" is of absolutely no help.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:20 AM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
And one where "no, the one with the goose" is of absolutely no help.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:20 AM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
How are the hoagies in Wawa?
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:23 AM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:23 AM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
For the Canadians and Americans outside of the Mid Atlantic region and Florida.
At least they originated in Wawa, PA.
posted by Badgermann at 11:26 AM on July 18, 2017
At least they originated in Wawa, PA.
posted by Badgermann at 11:26 AM on July 18, 2017
Video of the changing of the goose in Wawa, Ont.
Sometimes I think the country I live in and am a citizen of is entirely made up, this country, my Canada.
posted by Fizz at 11:29 AM on July 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Sometimes I think the country I live in and am a citizen of is entirely made up, this country, my Canada.
posted by Fizz at 11:29 AM on July 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Now that's a spruce goose!
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:30 AM on July 18, 2017
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:30 AM on July 18, 2017
I guess that would properly be called a Canadian Canada Goose.
posted by TedW at 11:35 AM on July 18, 2017
posted by TedW at 11:35 AM on July 18, 2017
Last summer I drove from Winnipeg back to Southern Ontario, and made sure to stop at the Wawa goose along the way. That whole drive was fascinating and beautiful and I'll hopefully never do it again.
posted by rocket88 at 12:16 PM on July 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by rocket88 at 12:16 PM on July 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
I first encountered the Wawa Goose when I was 18 and traveling around Ontario stopping at different places every day and camping in a different Ontario Park each night.
I had no previous knowledge of it, and I was completely mesmerized. I love that goose, and I am so glad they replaced it by what looks to be essentially the same goose (sounds like the paint job might be slightly different).
posted by Laura in Canada at 12:18 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
I had no previous knowledge of it, and I was completely mesmerized. I love that goose, and I am so glad they replaced it by what looks to be essentially the same goose (sounds like the paint job might be slightly different).
posted by Laura in Canada at 12:18 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is there a Sheetz Goose, too?
posted by lagomorphius at 12:49 PM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by lagomorphius at 12:49 PM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
I hope everyone involved with the new Goose got a ticket to the Dan Hill.
posted by chococat at 1:02 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by chococat at 1:02 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh man I made that same joke in the last post about Wawa. Sorry.
posted by chococat at 1:05 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by chococat at 1:05 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh man I made that same joke in the last post about Wawa. Sorry.
I wouldn't worry about it. I mean, how many times do you get to trot that out in context?
But. I cannot for the life of me find any clips of South of Wawa online. Dammit.
I really enjoy that part of Ontario, though. It's pretty spectacular. We'll be up there (even further northwest, actually) later this summer.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:09 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't worry about it. I mean, how many times do you get to trot that out in context?
But. I cannot for the life of me find any clips of South of Wawa online. Dammit.
I really enjoy that part of Ontario, though. It's pretty spectacular. We'll be up there (even further northwest, actually) later this summer.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:09 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
I have to say, as a longtime fan of obscure/silly webcams, my favorite thing about this is the Live View of the Wawa Goose. (Updated every minute!)
posted by mykescipark at 2:39 PM on July 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by mykescipark at 2:39 PM on July 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Does it poop out classic hoagies?
posted by runcibleshaw at 3:05 PM on July 18, 2017
posted by runcibleshaw at 3:05 PM on July 18, 2017
Is there a Sheetz Goose, too?
There's a whole series of metal Sheetz birds, as documented in the video series Things I Wrought at Sheetz.
posted by knuckle tattoos at 3:14 PM on July 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
There's a whole series of metal Sheetz birds, as documented in the video series Things I Wrought at Sheetz.
posted by knuckle tattoos at 3:14 PM on July 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Do NOT drive across Canada without making a stop at the Wawa goose else your entire trip will have been in vain.
posted by kaymac at 4:24 PM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by kaymac at 4:24 PM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
If you are Canadian, DO drive across Canada at least once. It's unforgettable and you won't regret it.
posted by kaymac at 4:27 PM on July 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by kaymac at 4:27 PM on July 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Should you be travelling that stretch of highway, you can also hit up Winnie the Pooh in White River, approximately 80 km west of Wawa along the Trans-Canada.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:00 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:00 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Among my people, Wawa has a bit of a reputation of being a place where all cars seem to breakdown. Almost like a Bermuda Triangle for cars. It is also, at least when I was a kid, one of the few places where you could get more complex issues with your cars fixed. Its about halfway between the 2 major centres in the North, Thunder Bay and Sudbury (west & east respectively of Wawa) are both about nearly 500 kms away on either side (more or less).
It is also near the awesome Lake Superior Provincial Park, home to the Agawa Rock, a sacred indigenous site which features some very nice pictographs. Also a favoured spot of beloved filmmaker Bill Mason (who gave us Paddle to the Sea).
When I was little we lived for a time in Hornepayne, Ontario (about 2 hours or so north of Wawa). Wawa almost seemed like the big city to us kids. Up the road about an hour away from Wawa is the town of White River, where the bear that Winnie the Pooh is based on was caught. They have a little festival each year in the summer to celebrate it. They also had for the longest time a big thermometer sign advertising the town as a coldest spot in Canada (which apparently isn't true).
*oop jinx Mandolin Conspiracy*
posted by Ashwagandha at 5:04 PM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
It is also near the awesome Lake Superior Provincial Park, home to the Agawa Rock, a sacred indigenous site which features some very nice pictographs. Also a favoured spot of beloved filmmaker Bill Mason (who gave us Paddle to the Sea).
When I was little we lived for a time in Hornepayne, Ontario (about 2 hours or so north of Wawa). Wawa almost seemed like the big city to us kids. Up the road about an hour away from Wawa is the town of White River, where the bear that Winnie the Pooh is based on was caught. They have a little festival each year in the summer to celebrate it. They also had for the longest time a big thermometer sign advertising the town as a coldest spot in Canada (which apparently isn't true).
*oop jinx Mandolin Conspiracy*
posted by Ashwagandha at 5:04 PM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Among my people, Wawa has a bit of a reputation of being a place where all cars seem to breakdown. Almost like a Bermuda Triangle for cars.
Well, can you imagine the amount of goose poop on that road?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:53 PM on July 18, 2017
Well, can you imagine the amount of goose poop on that road?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:53 PM on July 18, 2017
You know I never saw an actual Canadian Goose in Wawa other than the big fake one.
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:05 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:05 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's the moose on the highway you have to watch out for. No joking.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:18 PM on July 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:18 PM on July 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
For example, near Wawa:
Truck carrying fireworks hits moose on Trans-Canada Highway, shuts down road for 5.5 hours and lights up the sky
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:24 PM on July 18, 2017
Truck carrying fireworks hits moose on Trans-Canada Highway, shuts down road for 5.5 hours and lights up the sky
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:24 PM on July 18, 2017
I worked 3 summers as an Interior Ranger at Lake Superior Park, and Wawa was the big city for us too. Grocery, mail and beer store runs, frivolous purchases at SAAN, fine 'Canadian-Chinese' dining, Stag & Doe dances at the curling club, Canada Day on the little lake... I go to know all the joys of Wawa but I never once stopped to check out the goose.
posted by Flashman at 6:25 PM on July 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Flashman at 6:25 PM on July 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've never been to Wawa, but on my way to the Bruce Peninsula for summer camping and such, I've driven through Varney, which has the world's largest Muskoka chair. About a kilometre down the road is (was? It's been a few years since I was out that way) another, slightly larger World's Largest Muskoka Chair. So I guess they have the largest and second largest...
posted by torisaur at 6:25 PM on July 18, 2017
posted by torisaur at 6:25 PM on July 18, 2017
For example, near Wawa
As my great uncle would say "It's always f---ing Wawa!"
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:34 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
As my great uncle would say "It's always f---ing Wawa!"
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:34 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Another giant thing by the side of road in the North worth a visit is closer to Thunder Bay. On the 11, there's a little town called Beardmore and they have a giant snowman you can gawk at. Author Jane Urquhart thought it particularly notable.
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:41 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:41 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Rock Steady: "My mother was once given directions while traveling in western Pennsylvania that included something along the lines of "turn right at the giant eagle." She got hopelessly lost because she was looking for a Wawa Goose type statue, and not a supermarket."
For real Western Pennsylvania style directions, it would have referenced something that closed 30 years ago.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:55 PM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
For real Western Pennsylvania style directions, it would have referenced something that closed 30 years ago.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:55 PM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Fizz: Sometimes I think the country I live in and am a citizen of is entirely made up, this country, my Canada.
I'm pretty sure the giant Easter egg in Vegreville is responsible for Canadian multiculturalism in one way or another. (Only half joking.)
posted by clawsoon at 7:00 PM on July 18, 2017
I'm pretty sure the giant Easter egg in Vegreville is responsible for Canadian multiculturalism in one way or another. (Only half joking.)
posted by clawsoon at 7:00 PM on July 18, 2017
Yay, new goose! They did a good job with the replacement.
When I think of Wawa and the big goose, I think of the movie Snow Cake with Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver. I am quite sure it's the only movie ever to have been filmed in Wawa, but what a cast!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 7:12 PM on July 18, 2017
When I think of Wawa and the big goose, I think of the movie Snow Cake with Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver. I am quite sure it's the only movie ever to have been filmed in Wawa, but what a cast!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 7:12 PM on July 18, 2017
"It's always f---ing Wawa!"
I gotta say...Wawa's 2017 Ladies Curling Bonspiel Parade is awesome.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:35 PM on July 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
I gotta say...Wawa's 2017 Ladies Curling Bonspiel Parade is awesome.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:35 PM on July 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
I gotta say...Wawa's 2017 Ladies Curling Bonspiel Parade is awesome.
14 rinks, and four of them dressed as Ghostbusters. KateMcKinnonWink.gif
And two dressed as 101 Dalmatians, but awkwardly, they're numbers 9 and 10, so they have to walk right after each other. Kudos to rink 4, who came dressed as a quartet of Johnnys Depp. Bonspiel must have had a movie theme.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 8:09 PM on July 18, 2017
14 rinks, and four of them dressed as Ghostbusters. KateMcKinnonWink.gif
And two dressed as 101 Dalmatians, but awkwardly, they're numbers 9 and 10, so they have to walk right after each other. Kudos to rink 4, who came dressed as a quartet of Johnnys Depp. Bonspiel must have had a movie theme.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 8:09 PM on July 18, 2017
For real Western Pennsylvania style directions, it would have referenced something that closed 30 years ago.
The A&P?
posted by lagomorphius at 8:29 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
The A&P?
posted by lagomorphius at 8:29 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
New goose
You saw me flying alone
Without a honk in my heart
Without a vee of my own
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:45 PM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
You saw me flying alone
Without a honk in my heart
Without a vee of my own
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:45 PM on July 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
they should put up a statue of a stranded hitchhiker next to the goose
posted by pyramid termite at 3:10 AM on July 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by pyramid termite at 3:10 AM on July 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Wawa's 2017 Ladies Curling Bonspiel
Speaking from experience, bonspiels and their respective parades in small Northern communities are always awesome.
The movie One Week, I believe, shows the Goose but it is part of a "Roadside attractions of the North" montage (which is a bit of a slight). When I was at the premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, I was the only one who cheered at that scene. And for all of you Northern NDPers out there, Avi Lewis & Naomi Klein, who sat a couple rows in front of me, did not. If the elite leftists of Toronto can't support the Big Nickel, unabashedly, then I think one must view them with suspicion.
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:27 AM on July 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Speaking from experience, bonspiels and their respective parades in small Northern communities are always awesome.
The movie One Week, I believe, shows the Goose but it is part of a "Roadside attractions of the North" montage (which is a bit of a slight). When I was at the premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, I was the only one who cheered at that scene. And for all of you Northern NDPers out there, Avi Lewis & Naomi Klein, who sat a couple rows in front of me, did not. If the elite leftists of Toronto can't support the Big Nickel, unabashedly, then I think one must view them with suspicion.
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:27 AM on July 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
If the elite leftists of Toronto can't support the Big Nickel, unabashedly, then I think one must view them with suspicion.
My acid test is asking them if they know what a "slag dump" is.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:30 AM on July 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
My acid test is asking them if they know what a "slag dump" is.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:30 AM on July 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ah many a summer did I spend watching a slag dump. I thought they closed it down though.
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:38 AM on July 19, 2017
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:38 AM on July 19, 2017
Vale is still doing it at Copper Cliff - but it's not readily visible from any public vantage point like in the old days.
Kudos to the Sudbury Star for this headline:
Lore of the pour
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:01 AM on July 19, 2017
Kudos to the Sudbury Star for this headline:
Lore of the pour
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:01 AM on July 19, 2017
From Mandolin Conspiracy's Lore of the Pour link:
"Jamie West, a worker safety representative for United Steelworkers Local 6500, grew up in the Donovan and recalls "someone's dad" piling as many children as he could in his truck for a trip to Dairy Queen and to see slag dumping."
That is the story of every kid from outside core of Sudbury (we're from the Valley and until my grandmother's dying day she never thought of herself as being from Sudbury). In my case usually the "someone's dad" was my great uncle who lived in Chelmsford who'd take us out to the Dairy Queen and the slag dump. I'll have to ask around next time I'm up if any one has a secret spot. But like blueberry picking spots, I'm sure they are a closely guarded secret.
posted by Ashwagandha at 11:36 AM on July 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Jamie West, a worker safety representative for United Steelworkers Local 6500, grew up in the Donovan and recalls "someone's dad" piling as many children as he could in his truck for a trip to Dairy Queen and to see slag dumping."
That is the story of every kid from outside core of Sudbury (we're from the Valley and until my grandmother's dying day she never thought of herself as being from Sudbury). In my case usually the "someone's dad" was my great uncle who lived in Chelmsford who'd take us out to the Dairy Queen and the slag dump. I'll have to ask around next time I'm up if any one has a secret spot. But like blueberry picking spots, I'm sure they are a closely guarded secret.
posted by Ashwagandha at 11:36 AM on July 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
You know I never saw an actual Canadian Goose in Wawa other than the big fake one.
Cough...cough...CANADA goose. #thingsmychildrentaughtme
posted by Ogre Lawless at 3:54 PM on July 20, 2017
Cough...cough...CANADA goose. #thingsmychildrentaughtme
posted by Ogre Lawless at 3:54 PM on July 20, 2017
I will blame autocorrect for that. It might be a lie but I'm sticking to it.
posted by Ashwagandha at 9:12 PM on July 20, 2017
posted by Ashwagandha at 9:12 PM on July 20, 2017
Among my people, Wawa has a bit of a reputation of being a place where all cars seem to breakdown. Almost like a Bermuda Triangle for cars. It is also, at least when I was a kid, one of the few places where you could get more complex issues with your cars fixed. Its about halfway between the 2 major centres in the North, Thunder Bay and Sudbury (west & east respectively of Wawa) are both about nearly 500 kms away on either side (more or less).
Oh hey I had to spend a night in a parking lot in Wawa because I thought there was something wrong with my car.
It was on one of my many cross country drives from BC to Ontario. At some point pre-Wawa it started making a bad noise. Was by myself and didn't want to take any chances. Not sure why I didn't find a motel but anyways it was raining and cold. Ended up being okay.
And then way in the past family did a trip in a volkswagon van from BC to Ontario and oh look we're stopping in Wawa because something is going wrong. Yay we get to stay near the big goose for two whole days!
They did something there to fix it but it didn't last. The starter died somewhere in the Northern US and we had a great time trying to get home. (daily push starts with the help of the locals and never turning it off the whole day)
I love the Wawa Goose. On every trip I did, no matter which way I was driving, getting to THE GOOSE was a goal.
posted by Jalliah at 9:37 PM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh hey I had to spend a night in a parking lot in Wawa because I thought there was something wrong with my car.
It was on one of my many cross country drives from BC to Ontario. At some point pre-Wawa it started making a bad noise. Was by myself and didn't want to take any chances. Not sure why I didn't find a motel but anyways it was raining and cold. Ended up being okay.
And then way in the past family did a trip in a volkswagon van from BC to Ontario and oh look we're stopping in Wawa because something is going wrong. Yay we get to stay near the big goose for two whole days!
They did something there to fix it but it didn't last. The starter died somewhere in the Northern US and we had a great time trying to get home. (daily push starts with the help of the locals and never turning it off the whole day)
I love the Wawa Goose. On every trip I did, no matter which way I was driving, getting to THE GOOSE was a goal.
posted by Jalliah at 9:37 PM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
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