Guy-Paul Treefall has stood as a Northern Ontario roadside attraction on Highway 11 for years, but is set to be relocated outside the museum on Devonshire Avenue IROQUOIS FALLS - Every day, Dakota Walcot looks out her bay window in Iroquois Falls hoping to see trees and tranquility. What she doesn’t want to see, she says, is a towering lumberjack statue. But that’s exactly what she’s bracing for now that the town’s council has approved relocating the iconic Highway 11 landmark to the Iroquois Falls Museum, directly across from her home. “The lumberjack is way too big. It'll be towering over the buildings,” she told TimminsToday. “It’s a small property at the museum and it’s less than ideal. We want to see trees and nature, not a statue blocking our view.” Walcot moved to Iroquois Falls from the Owen Sound area in 2019, drawn by the peacefulness of the northern community. But she says the town’s decision to move the statue into their neighbourhood changes that. “We moved here to get away from the traffic and buildings. We want to be able to enjoy our surroundings,” she said. “We look out our big bay window often and we don't really want to look out and see a lumberjack.” Though more than aesthetics are at stake. Walcot worries the statue could even lower her property value. “They took it upon themselves to decide what to do. I feel like they didn't take any perspective of anyone else that lives around the area,” she said. “I honestly think we’re going to lose money on the house if we go to sell it. No one’s going to want to look at that.” The statue, also known as Guy-Paul Treefall, has stood as a Northern Ontario roadside attraction on Highway 11 for years. Its future has been discussed by council since last fall, and on Monday (April 14), members voted to relocate it outside the museum on Devonshire Avenue. SEE: Iconic lumberjack statue finds a new home The site was not one of the four original locations listed in the town’s public survey, a change Walcot said has left many in the community blindsided. She said she has sent an email to the mayor and two staff members but has yet to receive a response. “I wish we got flyers or something for the people surrounding the area of the museum,” Walcot said. “We had no idea. I've had someone reach out to me saying that they only found out via the sharing of a Facebook post.” Walcot launched a petition on April 15 asking the municipality to reconsider the location. Nearly 20 people have signed so far. Walcot said the statue would be better placed along Highway 11, closer to where it originally stood. “I think even coming into town just before the Home Hardware, on the highway, where he’s pointing toward Iroquois Falls. Somewhere outside of town and not in anyone’s direct view,” she said. Walcot’s also concerned about potential impacts on nearby residents, including those living in the senior facility across the street. “If people have dementia, it’s going to cause them to be really confused over this,” she said. “It’s going to impact our daily lives … It’s a busy corner to begin with, and people are going to be constantly stopping to look at it.” The museum formally expressed interest in hosting the statue earlier this year. Its proposal received support from several community organizations, including the Iroquois Falls Public Library. The restoration and relocation project is expected to cost about $20,000, with $12,500 already approved in the town’s capital budget. Walcot hopes council will reconsider the decision. “I honestly hope that they're going to think about this thoroughly, and not just think about what the museum wants. If they think about other places where there are statues, they’re usually outside of town, like New Liskeard, the cow’s right on the highway,” she said. “People know the lumberjack as a landmark on the highway. It should be somewhere where everyone can see it.”