Mac the Moose
{{short description|Sculpture in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan}}
{{Infobox artwork
| title = Mac the Moose Statue
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| image = MacTheMouseAugust2018.jpg
| image_upright =
| alt = Mac the Moose sculpture in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
| caption = Mac the Moose in its current location, August 2018
| artist = Don Foulds, Rion White (replacement antlers)
| year = {{start date|1984}}
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| medium = Steel and concrete sculpture
| subject = Moose
| height_metric = 10.36
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| metric_unit = m
| imperial_unit = ft
| weight = {{convert|10000|kg|lb}}
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| city = Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
| owner = City of Moose Jaw
| website =
| pushpin_map = Saskatchewan#Canada
| pushpin_label =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Canada
| coordinates = {{coord|50.41312|-105.51015|region:CA|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
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Mac the Moose is a steel and concrete sculpture of a moose in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. It is on the grounds of Moose Jaw's visitors' centre, on the corner of E Thatcher Drive and the Trans-Canada Highway.{{cite web |title=MAC the Moose & the Snowbird Tutor Jet |url=https://www.tourismmoosejaw.com/#/mac/tutorjet/ |website=Tourism Moose Jaw |accessdate=6 August 2018}} It is claimed to be the world's largest moose at {{convert|10.36|m|ft}} tall{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/mac-moose-tallest-moose-jaw-1.5314141 |title=Mac the Moose reclaims world's tallest moose title after getting new rack |publisher=CBC News |agency=The Canadian Press |date=8 October 2019 |access-date=9 October 2019}} and a weight of approximately {{convert|10|LT|kg}}.{{cite web|title=Vandals target 'Mac" the moose|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/vandals-target-mac-the-moose-1.271055|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104061809/http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2001/09/02/macmoose010902.html|url-status=live|archive-date=November 4, 2012|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Company|access-date=10 July 2012|date=September 2, 2001}}{{cite web |last1=Raquel |first1=Fletcher |title=Mac the Moose has Norwegian Rival |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2034997/mac-the-moose-has-norwegian-rival/ |website=Global News |accessdate=8 August 2018}}
History
Mac the Moose was built in 1984 by Saskatoon artist Don Foulds with the goal of attracting visitors to the city. The construction process involved a steel frame covered with metal mesh and four coats of cement. A contest was held to name the moose, with the name "Mac" being chosen after Les MacKenzie. The giant moose was one of the city's first tourist attractions. The project was completed in May 1984.{{cite web|title=Moose Jaw's moose gets its jaw back|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/moose-jaw-s-moose-gets-its-jaw-back-1.668233|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Company|access-date=10 July 2012|date=August 8, 2007}}
In 2004, Mac was moved {{convert|2|km|mi}} by H.C.L Construction Ltd. using a flatbed truck and is now just off of the Trans-Canada highway next to the Moose Jaw visitors' centre. Although Mac has been vandalized many times (once being painted blue and other physical damage was done, including losing his jaw), he still stands, although surrounded by a fence in 2009. In 2013, Mac was honoured by the Moose Jaw Times Herald as Moose Jaw's Best Celebrity.
On Friday, August 16th 2024 the city of Moose Jaw celebrated Mac's 40th birthday. Many from the town and outside of the town came together to celebrate the occasion.{{cite news |last1=Moody |first1=Tracey |title=Mac's 40th birthday bash a success |url=https://discovermoosejaw.com/articles/macs-40th-birthday-bash-a-success |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=Discover Moose Jaw |date=19 August 2024}}
Rivalry
After 31 years of holding the title of the world's largest moose, in 2015 Mac the Moose was surpassed by another moose statue in Stor-Elvdal Municipality in Norway, called The Big Elk (moose (Alces alces) are called elk in Europe).{{cite web |title=World’s biggest elk statue arrives in Oslo |url=https://www.thelocal.no/20150526/worlds-highest-elk-statue-arrives-in-norway |website=The Local No |accessdate=8 August 2018}} Conceived by Norwegian artist Linda Bakke, The Big Elk was erected in China and stood about {{convert|30|cm|in}} taller.{{cite web |title=The Word's Biggest Elk Statue - In Norway|url=https://www.dailyscandinavian.com/the-worlds-biggest-elk-statue-in-norway/}} In an interview with Global News on the subject, Moose Jaw's mayor Deb Higgins wasn't bothered, stating that "I think we’ve won the battle, first and foremost that Mac's reputation has spread to Norway and beyond." Subsequently, Mac the Moose was billed as North America's largest moose, with Tourism Moose Jaw referring to it as the "World's Second Largest Moose".
In January 2019, two Canadian comedians urged Moose Jaw residents to add {{cvt|31|cm}} to Mac{{'}}s height (likely by extending his antlers or giving him a helmet), so that the moose statue would once again win the title of the world's largest moose.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jan/18/worlds-tallest-moose-statue-canada-norway-battle|title=‘An egregious offence’: Canada battles Norway for tallest moose statue|last=Cecco|first=Leyland|date=2019-01-18|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-01-24|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}
In October 2019, Mac regained the title of the world's tallest moose when a new set of antlers was installed, raising its height to {{convert|10.36|m|ft}}, making it taller than the Norwegian sculpture.
References
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External links
- https://web.archive.org/web/20090228185615/http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/sask/mac.html
- http://www.roadsideattractions.ca/mjmoose.htm
- https://web.archive.org/web/20081121141539/http://tourism.sasktelwebhosting.com/mac.php
- https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/prisen-pa-ny-20-meter-hoy-elg-i-gull-er-klar/70686330
Category:Buildings and structures in Moose Jaw
Category:Roadside attractions in Canada
Category:Concrete sculptures in Canada
Category:Animal sculptures in Canada