Re: 鈥淎 modest soul who flourished in the art world, and gave back,鈥� obituary, March 22.
The intriguing description of the totem pole carved by Tony Hunt, Sr. and John Livingston as 鈥淭he Pole With Nowhere to Go鈥� has an interesting history.
The pole was commissioned by the Victoria Real Estate Board as a gift, for display in the new Victoria Conference Centre. However, the pole was completed before the centre had even begun construction, and the carvers required the pole鈥檚 removal from their space so they could begin other carving commissions. A space had to be found to either store or display the completed pole.
An approach was made to then-lieutenant-governor Henry (鈥淏udge鈥�) Bell-Irving, himself an honorary member of the Nisga鈥檃 First Nation on the Na鈥檃s River, and he agreed to display it on the grounds of Government House until the conference centre was completed and ready to receive the pole. He and I walked the grounds of Government House and found the ideal location, one that could be enjoyed by the many visitors to the gardens, and it was proudly displayed there for several years, its installation overseen by Hunt and Livingston.
Upon completion of the conference centre, the pole was moved to the centre in time for its grand opening. The pole now had 鈥渟omewhere to go,鈥� and has doubtless been enjoyed by many thousands of visitors 鈥� and locals 鈥� ever since.
J. Michael Roberts
Private Secretary, Government House
1979-1998
