Canoe makes way to Bastion Square

Illarion Gallant grew up canoeing Lake Algonquin, Ont., where the waters narrowed and the reeds brushed against the thin hull of his canoe.

This was what the Victoria artist remembered when he designed Commerce Canoe for Downtown Victoria Business Association. The sculpture will be placed in Bastion Square.

Gallant is no stranger to high-profile art placement. He is best known for Bouquet of Memories at Victoria International Airport as well as pieces like the manhole cover bench on Douglas Street.

But just because he’s done it before doesn’t make this a small task.

Gallant was chosen from more than 70 artists to create Commerce Canoe. He designed the nine-metre aluminum canoe that resembles a traditional Haida canoe but with his own twist. The canoe is suspended nearly five meters off the ground and appears to be resting among five 10- to 12-metre-high steel reeds.

Huge fiberglass bulbs will be placed at the top of each reed, as well as a collection of fiberglass seeds piled in the canoe’s hull.

The seeds, Gallant said, represent commerce and trade as well as stored potential.

“I think about historic and geographic (references) and blend them all,” Gallant said describing the mix of meanings and ideas.

The art was a joint venture of both the business association and the City of Victoria, but it was the business association that came up with the $90,000 to make it happen.

Gallant doesn’t take all the credit for the creation though. Without a team of welders, woodworkers and engineers working with him, the large scale version would not happen.

Gallant said he organizes and manages more than anything in his part of the project.

But even with all his recognition around the South Island, Gallant is still just as proud to run his garden design and landscaping company Rusnak Gallant Ltd. in Saanich with his wife.

Commerce Canoe is expected to be placed in Bastion Square by late September.

editor@vicnews.com