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The Easter Egg
Construction of The Egg
"The Eighth Wonder of the World? “It will probably appear in the Guinness Book of World Records.”
Assembly was begun by piecing together the tip of the Egg with its
own internal strut system on the ground; then lifting it onto the steel
main axis; and securing it there, with assistance from John Sikoski, of
Twin Lake Construction.
The main axis is a steel cylinder having a
series of rings that accept bolts, fastening the internal struts to it;
which in turn connect to specific tabs on the interior surface of the
Egg's skin. To counteract any rotation of the Egg on its axis, an 18
ft. diameter steel plate was placed at the widest girth of the
structure, from which additional strut supports were connected to the
interior skin. The elaborate internal system of steel strut supports
was fabricated by Cessco International Ltd., and fit like clockwork.
During the six weeks of assembly, Chamber members Mr. Ralph Gorrie,
Vegreville's Supt. of Schools; Mr. A. J. Fedoruk, retired Principal;
Mrs. Kay McKenzie, Town Councilor; and Mr. P. M. Shavchook, Secretary
Treasurer, were enthusiastic and committed in assisting Prof. Resch
with construction of the Egg. Each spent some 10 to 14 hours daily at
the site, with Resch, and enlisted assistance, expertise, materials and
equipment of the townspeople. "Should we use a bucket truck? Maybe the
scaffolding won't help. Let's get the Co-op's forklift!" Lois Bienvenue
and Peter Humeniuk, working the summer for the Parks Department,
arrived to install construction fencing and stayed to help complete the
Egg.
Photographer Annette Del Zoppo came to Canada from Santa Monica,
California, to document assembly of the Egg and worked with local
television stations to capture on film the various stages of
construction; co-ordinating and overseeing a documentary which aired
nationally on Canada's ITV, an Access North production hosted by Mr.
Bob Chelmick. Daily visits from traveling vacationers and townspeople
alike, to monitor progress on the Egg, encouraged the workers. "The
Eighth Wonder of the World? “It will probably appear in the
Guinness Book of World Records.”