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Public Art Profile

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Artist: ​Simon Charlie (Hwunumetse')
Category: Public Artworks
Address: Temporary Storage

Our Beloved Indigenous Sculpture, Welcome Figure, has moved!

The Welcome Figure has been relocated to a temperature and humidity-controlled environment for conservation. Cultural Services staff is collaborating with Indigenous consultants to identify a new and more suitable location for his long-term display. Please check in for conservation and restoration update.

We appreciate your patience as we locate a new home for the Welcome Figure.

​This statue was commissioned for the Township of Chinguacousy’s new municipal office​s and was unveiled on July 19th, 1972.

Aboriginal Canadian artist Simon Charlie was selected for the commission, informing this sculpture were two previous commissions including The India​​ns of Canada pavilion at Expo 67 which included a totem pole and "welcome figure" carved by Charlie and two Kwakwaka'wakw​ artists, as well as a sculpture created for the 1971 centennial of British Columbia.

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image of Welcome Figure, 1972

​Simon Charlie (Hwunumetse') was a renowned Coast Salish artist who was named a 2003 recipient of the Order of Canada for his contribution to education and preservation of his cultural heritage. In addition, Charlie received the National Centennial Medal in 1967 and the Order of British Columbia in 2001. He was prolific, and his totem poles stand in the Royal BC Museum, the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, New York, Chicago, Holland, New Zealand, and Australia. His artworks and masks are found in collections in North and South America, Europe and Japan. Charlie was passionately committed to the preservation and maintenance of the traditions, language, arts, and culture of his people. His dedication to passing on his knowledge to the younger generation by mentoring young Coast Salish artists in traditional methods and designs can not easily be matched.