Amateur model creator Don Cheff of Cochrane is playing the role of detective right now. He wants to know what happened to the model of Sixth Ave. – the main business street – that he built in 1979.
It was at the Hunta Museum for about ten years early this century, then moved to the Heritage Village at the Polar Bear Habitat. About a year-and-a-half ago, Cheff brought someone there to see it, but it was gone.
“I went to the Town Hall. I went to everywhere I could possibly think of,” he says, “and nobody’s got an answer for me.”
Cheff was 19 when he built the model of landmarks on the main business street.
“The old Scotiabank; I’ve got the Imperial Bank; where Giant Tiger is now, that used to be Carriere’s Supermarket, that was a grocery store; the old gas station, I’ve got the (water) tower…”
A woman told him the model is still at the Heritage Village, so he hopes Habitat staff will let him look. He says it might have been stored away, or removed by someone who wanted it.
“I can’t accuse anyone of doing it,” Cheff admits, “but so far, it kind of looks that’s what happened or somebody just wanted to trash it.”
If you have useful information, Cheff’s phone number is 705-271-0818.
