Noticed anything new at McGuire Lake?
The fountain dancing on the water is the result of months of local craftsmanship and community effort.
Shuswap Makerspace, a non-profit based in the Innovation Centre, recently led a complete restoration of the fountain. The group said this was not a quick fix. The unit was fully disassembled, including hours of cleaning to remove years of scale and deposits.
Under the leadership of Mike Melin, Greg Anderson and a team of volunteers, the project involved a significant technical rebuild:
- Precision motor replacement: Installation of a new motor to replace the original, which had burned out.
- Global sourcing: New seals, impellers, bearings and nozzles were sourced from suppliers worldwide to ensure quality.
- Custom protection: New suction screens were added to protect the system and support long-term operation.
In a statement, Shuswap Makerspace said the initiative was completed at no cost to the City of Salmon Arm for labour.
“While replacement estimates for the fountain were in the range of $100,000, the Makerspace team successfully restored the “Gem of Salmon Arm” for approximately 15 per cent of that cost,” the statement said.
By using the “Repair Café” philosophy of refurbishing rather than replacing, the group said the community has saved tax dollars and avoided delays.
Shuswap Makerspace is asking the community to help raise nearly $15,000 to cover rebuild costs and ongoing maintenance.
