Restored Totem Pole Finds New Home at Canada Games Park

The City of St. Catharines is proud to announce the re-installation of its historic Centennial Totem Pole inside Canada Games Park, where the treasured artwork will be preserved and showcased for generations to come.

Commissioned in 1966 for Canada’s Centennial and originally carved by the late Doug Cranmer, renowned Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw artist of the ʼNa̱mǥis Nation, the 42-foot totem pole has long been a symbol of Indigenous artistry and cultural legacy in St. Catharines. In 2019, after more than 50 years of exposure to the elements at Richard Pierpoint Park (formerly Centennial Park), the totem pole was removed for assessment and restoration.

Bruce Alfred, an accomplished Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw artist and apprentice of Cranmer, was selected by the Cranmer family to lead the restoration efforts alongside fellow Indigenous artists, Dominique Wells and Cole Speck. During this process Alfred strongly advised that the pole be relocated indoors to prevent further deterioration. The City, in close consultation with the Niagara Regional Native Centre (NRNC) and Indigenous partners, supported this recommendation.

“Relocating the St. Catharines Centennial Totem Pole indoors is what is best for the pole and for the community,” said Alfred. “By keeping it inside it will be preserved for future generations. In my experience, moving totem poles indoors is not uncommon and a lot of communities have done this.”

The new location at Canada Games Park offers a climate-controlled, secure, and accessible indoor setting that honours the pole’s cultural and artistic importance. It is prominently displayed in the Ceremonial Entrance of the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre, viewable from both the main lobby and upper-level walking track.

“This relocation is about more than preservation,” said Olivia Hope, Culture Coordinator. “It’s about respect. We worked closely with our Indigenous partners to ensure the process honoured both the artwork and the traditions that surround it.”

Among those present for the reinstallation was Phil Davis, a respected local Indigenous community member who has supported the project from its inception. Davis, selected by Bruce Alfred, attended the installation as a witness. The presence of a witness is vital during a totem pole raising to uphold the oral history and cultural significance of the moment.

The City will host a public rededication celebration to honour the totem pole’s legacy, its creators, and the community collaboration behind its renewal. Details about the event will be shared in the coming weeks.

This project aligns with the City’s Strategic Plan to celebrate cultural vibrancy and deepen relationships with Indigenous communities. It also honours the goals of the City’s Memorandum of Understanding with the NRNC and supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

More information on the Totem Pole and its history can be found at stcatharines.ca/TotemPole.