A new illuminated public art installation in Qualicum Beach was inspired by a totem pole that once stood at the waterfront.
It was installed last week as the centrepiece for the town’s new waterfront walkway and roundabout. It’s illuminated at night and different colours can be displayed, including orange and blue.
Town residents took to social media to praise it, calling it “fabulous,” “gorgeous,” “beautiful,” “stunning” and “amazing.”
“This project is a culmination of art, history, and community, and we’re pleased to have it in place ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” Mayor Teunis Westbroek said in a statement.
The artwork pays tribute to the totem pole carved by Simon Charlie in 1966 and erected at the waterfront, now in the Qualicum Beach Museum.
Jesse Recalma, a Qualicum First Nation artist, designed the new artwork. “I decided on the eagle and bear for this reason as Simon Charlie’s style has really influenced how I do my work,” Recalma said.
It was fabricated by the nearby Wellington Foundry. Youngberg Concrete Finishings installed the concrete base.
The artwork will stand as a lasting symbol of the town’s Indigenous heritage and its shared connection to the waterfront, the statement said.
The cost of the artwork was largely covered by B.C.’s Destination Development Fund, which contributed $61,500, the town said.
Now that the artwork is up, the town is planning an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new waterfront viewing platform and walkway on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
The walkway, located at the intersection Memorial Avenue and Highway 19A, includes an elevated walkway, a separate bike lane and a public bicycle repair stand.
A new viewing platform connected to the walkway features street furniture and interpretive signs.
Many native plants have been planted to create a habitat of an upland meadow.
“This planting will enhance the area’s beauty, stabilize the shoreline, and create valuable habitats for wildlife, thus preserving the area’s ecological integrity,” the town said.
The overall project cost $3.02 million. Combined federal and provincial grants total $2.03 million.
