Lishman remembered in Hastings for big fish sculpture
HASTINGS - Bill Lishman was best known as the inspiration for the movie Fly Away Home, but in Hastings he is known as the creator of Pisces Pete.
Lishman was diagnosed with leukemia on Dec. 20 and died on Dec. 30 at the age of 78 at his underground home near Blackstock, 55 kilometres southwest of Peterborough. Lishman was an artist, naturalist, filmmaker and inventor.
In 2012 Hastings won the title of Ultimate Fishing Town in Canada, sponsored by the World Fishing Network.
Part of the winnings were earmarked for a feature to represent Hastings and fishing.
Roger Warren, then president of the Hastings Revitalization Association, suggested Lishman be contacted to see what he could do for the village. His 8.5-meter high Atlantic salmon art piece was what sparked interest in Lishman’s work.
The partnership between Lishman and a small group of dedicated volunteers was set in motion. The project began with a 12-foot sculpture of a pickerel named Pisces Pete. Lishman also had a plan for a school of various species of fish surrounding Pisces Pete, swimming through beds of native flowers and plants and representing the Trent River. He made a video presentation of what the completed park could look like in the end.
The first fish, Pisces Pete, was erected in Pisces Park on June 30, 2016. Lishman was proud of the project and was eager to see the completion of his vision.
“Pisces Pete fish sculpture is an enduring icon representing the fishing culture and heritage of the Hastings community,” said Doug Sims in his address to the group gathered at the unveiling.
The initial group of volunteers have disbanded and the project has been taken over by the Hastings Revitalization Association, Parks and Trails Committee. The committee will be looking into whether or not it is feasible to complete the vision Lishman had for Pisces Park.
The majority of people will know Lishman from the movie Fly Away Home. Lishman raised geese and was able to fly them south for the winter using an ultralight plane. His flight was documented in the movie starring Jeff Daniels.
In the spring of 2017, Lishman spoke at the Campbellford Seymour Community Foundation’s annual general meeting.
When telling the story of his life you could see a man who had lived it well. Not just from a monetary perspective, but a man who loved nature and had an inquisitive mind about the world and how it worked.