Kobzar Park is a unique park located on the southeast corner of Mountjoy Street South and Second Avenue in Timmins.
It’s dedicated to Ukrainian pioneers in Timmins and is named after a famous book of poetry written my Taras Shevchenko.
On Saturday August 22, 2015 at 11 a.m. the park will be re-dedicated after the completion of several upgrades and renovations.
A reception will also be held following the dedication at 12 noon at the Timmins Museum
However one of its key artifacts, the dancing Ukrainian musician is still missing.
Noella Rinaldo, Councillor for Ward Five and also the Executive Director of the Downtown Business Improvement Association is making a final plea for the return of the red-painted iron crest
“The artifact means a lot to the Ukrainian community in Timmins, but other than that doesn’t have any economic value,” Rinaldo said. “If someone has the artifact that we would appreciate its return, no questions asked.”
Kobzar Park was officially established in 1981 and dedicated in 1984 to recognize the contributions of pioneer settlers to Canada and the Porcupine Camp.
The rejuvenated park will have new flower gardens and a new statute to replace a damaged statue of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.
Taras Shevchenko was a significant contributor to the literary arts during the mid-1800 in Ukraine.
He is the national poet of Ukraine, equivalent to William Shakespeare in England, Robert Burns in Scotland, and Victor Hugo in France.
Translations of Kobzar into various worldwide languages attest to Shevchenko’s poems impact on world culture.
The new bronze statue of Shevchenko has been sculpted by Tyler Fauvelle an Ontario sculptor based in Lively, Ontario.
A professional sculptor inspired by history and nature, and especially interested in exploring the human heroic impulse, Tyler Fauvelle sculpts in clay, and casts his work in bronze.
He created three seven-foot bronze statues, located at the Timmins Museum, for the Timmins Centennial in 2012.
The statue is four feet tall and depicts Shevchenko standing in traditional winter dress with a Persian lamb skin hat, holding a collection of poetry close to his heart.
The revitalization of Kobzar Park has been coordinated by the Ukrainian Cultural Group of Timmins who have raised funds for the project.
Timmins will join the ranks of Winnipeg, Oakville, Ottawa, New York, and Washington as cities in North America that have statues dedicated to Shevchenko.
Fundraising efforts were used to upgrade the flower beds, sandblasting and painting the metal entrance gate, installing two plaques, installing a story board about the history of Timmins pioneers.
A concrete monument in the park will be pressure washed and sealed.
Rain barrels will be placed in the park.
Donations can be mailed or dropped off at the Timmins Museum – 325 Second Avenue, Timmins, and ON P4N or by emailing [email protected].
Donors will receive a tax deductible receipt.
Significant donors making this project possible have included: the Temerty Family Foundation, The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian Credit Union, Ukrainian Seniors Centre (Sudbury), Ukrainian Cultural Group of Timmins, as well as local businesses including: NISG-Heritage Paving, Kidd Operations, Goldcorp, IAMGOLD, Porcupine Insurance, and local individuals.
(PHOTO: Provided by by The Downtown Business Improvement Association and the Ukrainian Cultural Group in Timmins shows the missing dancing musician taken from the iron entry gate to Kobzar Park.)
