Rehabilitation Work Commences on Barry’s Bay’s Water Tower

Barry’s Bay’s iconic wooden water tower, the last of its kind in the province, will receive rehabilitation work this summer. Work commenced on Monday July 27 and is expected to wrap up in September. The tower was purchased by the Town of Barry's Bay once it was no longer in use by CN in the 1970s, and underwent significant rehabilitation in the 1980s. The Township is now investing in further repairs to insure the longevity of this landmark.

The Township has been working towards this project for a number of years. In 2023, the Township contracted an engineering firm to complete a structural assessment of the tower, which found that the timber support structure of the tower requires replacement. The following year, the Township completed a cultural heritage assessment report that detailed the history of the tower and its cultural significance to our community and the province at large. Last year, the Township had engineered drawings completed to allow us to get where we are today with shovels in the ground.

Over the course of the following weeks, the tower will be completely framed in scaffolding while beams, joists and braces are replaced. The repairs that are being completed will guarantee the structural integrity of the Tower, as well as maintain its heritage value. All interventions and replacements are being completed with identical or similar materials to the original, and all accessories on the tower will be maintained in their current locations and arrangement.

Stay tuned to the Township's Facebook page for regular photo updates of this project!

Project Contact:
Hannah Gutoskie
Recreation & Community Services Manager
recreation@madawaskavalley.ca / 613-756-2747 x220