The Wawa Goose

History Of The Wawa Goose

Since 1963, the Wawa Goose has welcomed visitors worldwide to the town of Wawa. The goose monument was the idea of local entrepreneur Al Turcott. Although not originally from Wawa, Al first came to the town in 1939 for work and became so fascinated by the area that he sent for his wife and children to join him. By the 1940s, Al began operating Turcott's Dry Goods and Clothing store and became very involved in the community. So much so, Al played an essential role in securing the Lake Superior route of the then-proposed Trans Canada Highway through Wawa. Concerned because the final plans had the highway bypassing Wawa, Al and other local businessmen created the idea of the Goose Monument to stop tourists on their TransCanada trips.

Below are some fun facts about the famous goose monument:

1. Did you know the Wawa Goose Monument is one of the most photographed landmarks in North America?

2. It's the largest of its kind in Canada.

3. It's located at the junction of the last link of the Trans-Canada Highway.

4. The goose was developed to attract tourists to Wawa after the highway bypassed the downtown core.

5. The first goose was made of plaster and didn't stand up to the weather.

6. The goose is now made of steel.

7. The name Wawa is derived from the Ojibwe name Wawungonk - the original name for Wawa Lake translating to "place of clear water"

8. The new goose monument was unveiled in 2017. This is thanks to the fundraising efforts of the town and its residents.

9. Stompin' Tom Connors sang the song "Little Wawa" about a goose that stayed behind when her lover Gander Goo got shot down with an arrow! We bet you didn't know that one!

10. The goose is 28 feet tall, 22 feet long, and has a wingspan of 20 feet.

11. The Wawa Goose has a children's book: Wawa Goose Meeting at Fort Friendship written by Raymond MacDonnell. The Wawa Goose books have been read all over Canada, the United States, and many countries worldwide.

12. The Canada Goose is not an official symbol of Canada. Only the beaver and the maple tree have this cultural status.

If you have any fun facts about the Wawa Goose that are not on this list, please send them to info@algomacountry.com

Annual Events in Wawa

• Wawa Salmon Derby - www.wawasalmonderby.com/default.html
• Wawa Ice Fishing Derby - www.wawaicefishingderby.com
• Wawa Music Festival - wawamusicfestival.ca

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