Photo sent to the station by Daryl Granger
A new design for the gate at the Port Dover pier has been approved, with the proposed concept drawing heavily on the community’s long-standing connection to the fishing industry.
Daryl Granger of Rosele Studios says he was approached in June by Rick Misner and Keith Milner to develop a new concept to replace the existing jail-bar style gate at the pier.
Granger announced today (Thursday) that the design has been approved, calling it an honour to contribute something lasting that pays tribute to Port Dover’s fishermen and fishing industry.
The proposed gate is inspired by Granger’s documentary Netting the Waters and is designed to resemble a fishing net.
The concept uses expanded metal to create the appearance of a suspended net, complete with net floats, buoys and flags marking either end.
Granger is also proposing silhouettes of perch and pickerel incorporated into the design. He says those silhouettes would cast shadows onto the ground around sunset, adding another visual element for people visiting the pier.
Above the gate, a silhouette of a fishing tug would allow the sky to show through, while seagull silhouettes would be incorporated above it.
The imagery is intended to represent Port Dover’s fishing heritage, abundance and the hope of a good catch.
Granger says he envisions the gate being painted blue to complement its surroundings and provide a more inviting appearance than the current black fencing.
The new concept comes nearly a year after fencing at the entrance to the pier became the subject of considerable discussion in Port Dover.
The fencing was installed by the Port Dover Harbour Authority as a safety measure, with Ward 6 Councillor Adam Veri explaining at the time that the barrier was intended to allow the pier to be closed during dangerous conditions such as heavy icing, high winds or high waves.
The pier otherwise remains open to the public.
The fencing sparked online debate and a petition calling for its removal, with some residents criticizing its appearance and arguing it interfered with public access to a long-standing community space.
Veri, meanwhile, defended the safety rationale for the barrier and pushed back against misinformation surrounding why it had been installed.
The newly approved design does not eliminate the gate’s safety function, but instead proposes replacing the existing look with one that reflects Port Dover’s identity.
Granger says the goal is to beautify the pier while strengthening the community’s connection to its fishing legacy.
The final timing for installation and further details about the project have not yet been announced.
More information can be found here.
