GEORGETOWN — It comes with no guarantee, but a fountain of youth is now shimmering night and day in the Kings County capital.
And the gentle spray on a windy Canada Day drew people from far and wide to enjoy the latest addition to the A.A. MacDonald Memorial Gardens in the centre of town.
The fountain launch was all part of Canada Day activities in eastern P.E.I., starting with the cake-cutting in Souris, the Cardigan parade through the village and supper-hour events at the waterfront in Montague.
"Wade came up with the idea and it was a good one,'' said town maintenance foreman Joe Clory, who commandeered the construction of the pond-size fountain that has taken shape over the past few months.
Set on an automatic timer, the new fountain dominates the town square with its 10-metre spray. It was an idea approved by the town council after a presentation by Coun. Wade Williams.
"That part of the town square was boggy,'' he said Sunday. "So rather than fight with nature, we thought it would be better to join forces."
The bog was altered to become an open pond with the fountain sprayer set in the centre. It will be operated on a seasonal basis.
"We don't pump any water into the pond,'' said Clory. "It's all natural drainage and rainfall."
The fountain marks another contribution to the town square that also boasts a memorial garden, festival gazebos, walking paths and the Kings Playhouse.
"We've always wanted to see the square become our version of the Public Gardens in Halifax,'' said Williams.
And while the fountain looks great during the day, it's even better at night since lights were installed in the pond bottom to reflect off the spray.
