Goderich tornado remembered

When you’re faced with a scene of destruction like residents in Angus are dealing with right now, it’s hard to image that a full recovery is possible. But even though Angus has a long way to go — as we’ve seen in other Ontario towns, restoration is possible. In 2011, a tornado devastated the town of Goderich. And it’s come a long way in just a few years.

Todays Goderich is full of new construction. New buildings, and new life. It’s full of reminders of the day the town was nearly torn apart.

Chip Wilson, head of public works: “We’re living proof that you can be resiliant.”

It was Sunday afternoon, August 21st, 2011. The EF-3 tornado ripped through town from west to east. It left one man dead, and caused over 100 million dollars in damage. As head of public works, Chip Wilson has overseen nearly all of the rebuilding: “This house was severely damaged and had to be completely rebuilt.”

He walks me through their progress to date. First is a memorial to Norman Leberge, the man killed while working at the Sifto mine on the shore of Lake Huron. Then to Park and St. Patrick streets — hit so hard more than 20 homes had to be completely rebuilt. Work isn’t done, but they take pride it what stands now.

One of the most crucial areas in Goderich to fix is this area known as Courthouse Square. It had been devastated by the tornado. Many trees were ripped out In fact, only 6 had survived. Since that time they put in 165 new trees, in an event they call the parade of trees.

Chip said: “The crowd and the people were just overly excited about it, there was tears of joy when they came in and it was greatly received.”

Just across from the courthouse steps sits “Pat and Kevin’s Diner. Owner Pat Morrison started the business out of a building that had nearly crumbled in the tornado.

Kevin Morrison: “This building was actually a disaster.”

Bricks had fallen off, and the structure was unsound, but kevin and his partner rebuilt and opened something new and today are thriving…

Kevin said: “It’s all about community, but once you believe in what you have, and take a look at what was an what can be, I guess that’s motivating, that’s moving forward.”

And their customers today are thinking about the people of Angus.

Joanne Hood: “It will get better, it does. But it’s emotional for a lot of people.”

Greg Hood: “The rebuild is a long process, but it does come to fruition that everything will in time heal.”

Chip Wilson said at first he was overwhelmed by the destruction that he was in his home town. But then he was overwhelmed at the amount of help that came over the following years. And he’s hoping that Angus will see the same.