Introducing Alvin.

That’s the name the Alvinston Community Group has given the steel bee which has been attracting a lot of attention on Nauvoo Road near the Brooke-Alvinston-Inwood Community Centre.

The metal statue was commissioned by the Alvinston Community Group and created by Murray Watson. It has been standing at the entrance to the community for about a year and a half. It’s also listed on a website called Roadside Attractions. It shows community landmarks and officials from Sarnia Lambton Economic Partnership say people do come specifically to see the bee.

David Moody, project leader for business growth services, told town council last summer; “What I’m hearing from the community…is people are stopping and others are coming just to see the bee. The next step is to get them to stay for a while,” he says. “If there is now a reason for people to stop and or a reason to come here, there could be lots of reasons for to attract the businesses here.”

At the time, Moody suggested a “Name the Bee” contest so the community group set up a booth at the Brooke-Alvinston-Watford Fall Fair asking for suggestions.

Chair Ruth McCallum says 14 different names – everything from the obvious Buzz to Bubbles – were submitted. Alvin – which of course comes from the name Alvinston – was the most popular choice and the eventual pick of the committee.

Of the people who submitted the name, Hunter Blunt of Windsor won the $25 in Alvinston bucks. His mother grew up in Alvinston.

McCallum says the community group plans to put a small plaque on the statue with Alvin’s new name and Blunt’s as well.

The group also plans to put an information area near Alvin’s perch to help tourist find some of the other restaurants and businesses in the community when the stop to get a selfie with the famous bee.