Parks Canada 'hopeful' to reopen Point Pelee tower in time for Festival of Birds next spring

Jeremy Bensette says there's no other place he'd rather be than at Point Pelee National Park during the month of May.

The owner of Pelee Birding guide service says he loves the peak migration time coinciding with the annual Festival of Birds.

"It is good to be tied down here," said Bensette.

However, he added, he's been "disappointed" ever since the observation tower was shut down over safety concerns in May 2022.

"It is pretty nice for the guests, especially looking at the larger birds that might be flying over the park, like hawks and eagles birds of prey in the spring and the fall migration season."

The tower originally opened in 2019, giving visitors a bird's eye view of the wildlife and landscape. It cost around $1.2 million to build.

The issue involved its guard rail system, according to Parks Canada, after an engineering inspection.

Officials now say they've received a final report and the design and replacement process of the failing will begin "very shortly."

"We are hoping to be able to reopen the structure for next year's Festival of Birds," said Julia Grcevic, communications officer with Parks Canada, in an emailed statement.

"We will be able to provide more detail about reopening once the construction work is underway."

Last month, Leamington resident Jordan Kniaziew referred to the tower as "iconic" and said he was frustrated at the lack of answers surrounding its closure.

Now, he says it's "pretty awesome" to hear a timeline has been provided.

"It's great that they're able to hold themselves accountable, that it will be open in the springtime and that'll be great for families so they can plan, travel around it, and it'll be something for our community to look forward to," said Kniaziew.

By the time the anticipated reopening takes place, it will have been closed for roughly two years to the public.

"The reality is, I understand sometimes things move a little bit slower when it comes to the federal government. I'm just grateful that they were able to put a timeline on it."

WATCH | In search of birds with Jeremy Bensette [2017]:

Record Year

7 years ago

Duration 0:56

Jeremy Bensette, 27, has broken a provincial record for bird spotting in Ontario.

Bensette says seeing a lot of what Point Pelee has to offer from above the treeline is a unique view.

"It gives a pretty interesting perspective on songbirds that might be flying over the treetops low, heading to or from the tip."

Calling it ironic, Bensette recalls a rare bird of prey called the Mississippi Kite that was spotted from the tower either the same day or the day before it was shut down.

"They generally don't make it to Ontario maybe a few times a year. Like 50 or 100 birders went up on top of the tower, and many people were able to see the Mississippi Kite from up there, and then shortly after that, it closed."

WATCH | Point Pelee's Festival of Birds returns:

Point Pelee's Festival of Birds returns after two years

2 years ago

Duration 1:00

Avid birder Roy Barkhouse tells CBC News this is his tenth year enjoying the festival. He and his wife travelled from Kitchener, Ont. to do some bird watching.

The main advantage of looking at birds of prey flying over the park while being high up is the backdrop you get, he says.

According to Bensette, average park visitors have missed the observation tower the most, compared to hardcore birders who, as he says, are still more interested in looking through the habitat or at the lake from closer to ground level.

"It's a little bit easier to see the ducks flying over rather than having, like, a two-dimensional view from so high up, but yeah, quite a few birders definitely visited the tower as well."

"With the tower at the tip open or not, there is a lot to enjoy for anyone visiting Point Pelee," Bensette added.