Lean In is an inaugural art installation that also serves a functional purpose as fence and guardrail in the redevelopment of the former Mill site in Fort Frances. The redevelopment is a monumental project for Aazhogan Renewal, Fort Frances and the surrounding district, and Anvil Tree is excited to contribute to the revitalization of this unique and beautiful regional centre. Ushering in a new, sustainable future for the region, the redevelopment aims to be a model for economic regeneration, urban revitalization, and inclusive community building that transforms the former Mill site and reopens the waterfront in particular. It will be a home for innovation, bold ideas, and experimentation in design and land use.

To that end, when BMI Group CEO Paul Veldman and Anvil Tree Principal Peter Hargraves were looking out over the site and discussing the elements for development, Veldman shared that his vision for the project was for the local community to really feel invested in this reenergized space and to be able to ‘lean in’ to its possibilities. From this idea was born the Lean In project, which is the replacement of a section of old chain-link fence with over 100 feet of weathering Corten steel pickets running along the parapet that overlooks the old Mill site, with Koochiching Falls and Rainy River as the backdrop behind it.