Local business plans to restore iconic Timmins landmark

Timmins' MSN Contracting aims to restore a 50-year-old tower fountain on the Mattagami River. Lydia Chubak reports.

An iconic landmark in Timmins -- a tower and water fountain that’s around 50 years old and hasn’t worked in recent decades -- is going to flow with water again.

MSN Contracting owns the land where the foundation is situated. Owner Mark Norkum said he wants to make it a welcoming sight for those driving through the city.

“So we started off by getting a pump from across the river, which was donated by Gorge Rental (and) we just pumped some water into the tower to see what would happen -- and water came out of the top,” said Norkum.

“So we said, OK, that’s Step 1. Then we got people honking and going by and, we’re like, oh my God. Wow. So then we decided, okay, well, let’s refurbish this thing.”

Norkum said his company is committed to seeing this project completed as long as there are no issues or delays with any permits.

“Yeah, most likely is going to be a fountain again,” said Norkum.

“It may not look identical to what was there, but ... I promise it’s going to be a beautiful fountain for the City of Timmins. So we hope that everybody can appreciate what’s going on, what’s happening here for our community.”

The structure is located on the banks of the Mattagami River in a high-traffic area along Riverside Drive. Norkum said the pinnacle was a safety concern and had to be removed.

When the fountain’s flowing again, river water will cycle through it and back into the river.

Norkum said testing the fountain was a spur-of-the-moment idea and the positive reaction he’s received is encouraging enough to make him want to proceed with refurbishing it.

He added he would welcome support from any other business or organization to make this a community project.