Fountains new attraction

The City of Timmins will install two large fountains in Gillies Lake after receiving a donation from several partners in the community.

Each fountain will provide aeration for the lake and will shoot water as high as 25-metres into the air.

The water from each fountain will be lit by a few different coloured lights.

The fountains will be installed in roughly six weeks, in time for visitors coming to the area in spring and summer, then removed during the fall and winter.

The project was spearheaded by Xtrata Copper manager of administration services Lorenzo Melchiorre, along with Ken Rivers from Porcupine Air Tools, who are both on the Timmins Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Xtrata Copper, Porcupine Air Tools, Technosub, Poly-Fusion and Wesco all worked together to make this project a reality.

"Each fountain is worth between $25,000 and $30,000," Melchiorre said. "Although all of the required parts were donated by the companies involved in the project."

"One will be on the southside near the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority and one on the eastside," said Mayor Tom Laughren.

He said the city is responsible for ensuring there is power once the fountains are installed.

"It isn't going to cost the city very much at all," Melchiorre added. "It's just mainly for the wiring."

He said the fountains will also serve as an attraction for the park. Melchiorre believes they will beautify the area.

"Those fountains will become a focal point when you walk around Gillies Lake. For me it really is a dream come true."