St. Catharines enlists three Indigenous artists to restore 55-year-old totem pole

St. Catharines says it is enlisting the help of three Indigenous artists to restore a 55-year-old totem pole which normally stands in the middle of Richard Pierpoint Park.

The city, along with the three artists, Bruce Alfred, Cole Speck and Dominique Wells, had asked members of the community to come and meet the artists yesterday to ask questions and watch some of the latest moments of the month-long restoration process.

The totem pole was commissioned in 1966 by the late Kwakwaka’wakw artist, Doug Cranmer from Alert Bay, B.C. who was renowned for his unique style of west coast Indigenous art.

The 40-foot totem pole was installed the following year in celebration of Canada’s centennial. Now, due to weather and seasonal effects, the natural material of the totem pole were showing signs of stress after being on display for over 50 years.

The city says the totem pole was carefully removed from the park in 2019 and brought indoors until it could be brought back to life.

Bruce Alfred is one of the three artists commissioned to undertake the restoration process. He is a Kwakwaka’wakw artists of the ‘Namgis band. He was born in August 1950 in Alert Bay, B.C.

Dominique Wells is a prominent Tmsyen artist from Lax Kw’ alaams, B.C. She created bentwood boxes with traditional motifs in acrylic in addition to works on canvas.

Cole Speck was is another Kwakwaka’wakw arist who was born in 1991 and raised on the ‘Namgis reserve in Alert Bay.