
Media
Cedar, paint
Artists
John Edward Neel, Lloyd Wadhams Sr., and Robert Whonnock
Location
Poirier Community Centre, 630 Poirier Street
Date
Saturday, October 28, 1967
Statement of Significance
In 1967, to commemorate Canada’s 100th birthday, the Columbian Newspaper initiated The Centennial Totem Pole (PDF) project. The project is a tribute to the local First Nations, and reflects on the changing attitudes of the public, moving towards an inclusive vision of the community and its place in Canadian history.
The pole is carved in the Kwakwaka’wakw tradition of North West Coast First Nations art, as local Coast Salish First Nations art practice was not publicly prevalent at the time. The figures on the pole represent from top to bottom, Thunderbird (with bear depicted on his chest), Raven with Salmon and Killer Whale with man on his back.
Background
On December 1, 1991 the City added a fifty year time capsule adjacent to the totem pole in celebration of its 1891 to 1991 Centennial. The capsule honours the early pioneers of our community, and will be opened on December 1, 2041.
On May 15, 2007, the totem pole was relocated slightly northwest of its original location, as part of the City’s Dogwood Pavilion expansion and improvement project.
About the Artists