Media Release - Walkerton's Fish Art Walking Tour Makes a Splash

Brockton, ON – October 14, 2026 – Walkerton’s Fish Art Walking Tour made a splash this summer, with 269 participants completing the full 12-sculpture tour as part of the Municipality of Brockton’s Find the Fish Walking Adventure.

Launched in July 2026, the revitalized tour invited residents and visitors to re-discover Walkerton’s collection of individually painted fish sculptures, take photos at each location and submit a completed collage for a chance to win $250 in Brockton Dollars. The 90-day contest ran until September 30, attracting 110 completed entries in July, 98 in August and 61 in September.

Grady and Rylee Pennington-Bull of Kincardine were presented with their grand prize from Mayor Chris Peabody at last night’s Council meeting. Beyond the contest entries, countless other residents and visitors explored some of the sculptures throughout the summer.

The response demonstrated the appeal of the tour as a free, accessible activity for people of all ages. Families, couples, individuals, seniors and young children took part, exploring the community on foot, by bicycle and with strollers and wagons.

“It's wonderful to see an initiative like this bring people together and encourage them to discover something new in their own community,” said Mayor Chris Peabody. “The Fish Art Walking Tour celebrates the creativity of our local artists, showcases the unique character of Walkerton and gives families and visitors another reason to get out and explore everything our community has to offer.”

One of the most encouraging outcomes was seeing long-time Brockton residents discover sculptures they had never taken the time to visit before. Participants expressed appreciation for the artwork and enjoyed learning more about the artists and the stories behind the individual fish.

The initiative also attracted visitors from surrounding communities. Some participants shared that they had come specifically to complete the tour and stayed to enjoy shopping and dining in Walkerton, creating opportunities to support local businesses along the way.

Originally developed to celebrate Walkerton’s connection to the Saugeen River, the Fish Art Walking Tour received a refresh in 2026, including an updated brochure, a new fish sculpture installed in the Market Garden and the relocation of an existing sculpture to improve its visibility.

The tour also shines a spotlight on the creativity of the artists who painted the sculptures, many of whom are from the local area, as well as the local businesses that sponsored the collection.

The 2026 initiative was supported through Brockton’s Economic Development budget, contributions from two new business sponsors, Holst Office Pro and Vine Eye Care, and two Spruce the Bruce grants supporting Community Marketing and Streetscape Beautification.

Although the Find the Fish contest has ended, the Fish Art Walking Tour remains available for residents and visitors to enjoy at their own pace. Brochures provide a guide to the 12 sculptures, making it easy to plan a self-guided adventure around Walkerton.

Following this summer’s positive response, the Municipality may explore opportunities to promote the tour again in future years, including social media features highlighting individual sculptures and artists, new participation incentives and connections with other community events.

The Fish Art Walking Tour brochure is available free of charge at numerous locations in Walkerton and includes a map to help participants locate each sculpture throughout Walkerton. A digital version is also available on our Fish Art Walking Tour webpage.

For more information please contact:

Christine Brandt, Community Development Coordinator
Municipality of Brockton
Email the Community Development Coordinator or Call 519-881-2223 Ext. 131