After 11 years, numerous failed attempts, and the use of heavy-duty equipment, an excavator that had become a quirky landmark in east-central Saskatchewan was finally removed from the icy grip of Quill Lakes.
The machine originally broke through the frozen surface of the lake in March 2014 during the Highway 6 Highway project, when the operator attempted to cross the ice. Despite its dramatic descent, no environmental damage was reported at the time, and the province’s Environment Ministry did not participate in recovery efforts.
Over the years, the partially submerged excavator transformed from construction equipment into a local oddity and unofficial monument. Listed on Google Maps as a former historical landmark, it attracted visitors and humorous online tributes, with people stopping along the highway just to catch a glimpse.
Despite the public's fascination, the machine remained embedded in the lake for over a decade. Multiple recovery attempts failed to extract it. The remote location, combined with the challenging lakebed conditions, made the operation complex.
A renewed effort began in June after the Water Security Agency granted a permit for the machine’s removal. By July, a team from Raptor Picker Services and Hotshots, equipped with specialized machinery, including bed trucks, pickers, track hoes, and a pulley system, succeeded in lifting the excavator onto mats and hauling it out of the lake.
During the extraction, some oil leaked from the excavator, but it was contained and cleaned. The rest of the machine remained largely intact.
The excavator now sits at a facility in Lloydminster, while decisions about its future, and whether it can be kept, are still being finalized. The terms of its removal remain confidential.
Although some locals expressed disappointment over losing a roadside attraction, others noted that removing the machine benefits the surrounding ecosystem. The Quill Lakes are a vital habitat for shorebirds, and sightings of fish washing up near the extraction site underscored the environmental significance of the effort.
- with files from the Canada Press