Now you see it, now you don’t
Ab oVo The Fertile Nest, a piece of public art that was unveiled in Hyack Square since in June 2009, recently moved as the city makes way for the Wait for Me Daddy installation. Sculptor Carlos Basanta worked on the piece in partnership with the New Westminster Qayqayt First Nation.
Rob McCullough, the city’s manager of cultural services, said Ab oVo can now be found at the foot of Glenbrook Ravine Park. He said a lot of thought went into an appropriate location of Ab oVo, as there once was a First Nations village at the foot of Glenbrook Ravine, where it let out to the Fraser River.
“Placing that art piece within proximity of that original village seemed to be a nice sentiment that could relate to that aspect of our heritage,” McCullough said. “It tied in both esthetic and location for the selection of this piece.”
McCullough believes Ab oVo will be more noticeable bin its new location at Glenbrook Ravine Park, where it will be framed by a backdrop of greenery.
“You really didn’t notice that piece. It was lost because the background was somewhat of more industrial backdrop with bricks and metal and stone and those sorts of things. When you had the white in front of that, you really didn’t notice it. In the ravine park it’s quite noticeable and is framed quite nicely by the trees in that area.”
McCullough worked closely with city horticultural manager to select a new location for Ob oVo.
“If you go over the bridge past the amenities building, you will be seeing it,” McCullough. “The trails all merge together at a point before they head further up the ravine. It’s right at the point where they meet up. It’s kind of a meadowed area.”
The city will be unveiling the new Wait for Me, Daddy installation in Hyack Square on Oct. 4.
Province newspaper photographer Claude P. Dettloff took the famous Wait for Me, Daddy photo on Oct. 1, 1940, as soldiers marched down Eighth Street toward Columbia Street. Five-year-old Warren "Whitey" Bernard broke free from his mother to reach out to his father who was marching by. The City of New Westminster commissioned artists Veronica and Edwin Dam de Nogales to create the public art installation that will immortalize the iconic photo, one of the most famous images from the Second World War.
New West firefighters set to shred
New Westminster firefighters will be shredding paper for charity in July.
The New Westminster Firefighters Charitable Society is holding its fourth annual shred-athon on Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Canada Games Pool parking lot. People are welcome to collect their paperwork and bring it to the fundraiser for the charitable society.
“Like years past we will have a barbecue, we will have some popcorn and drinks, a live band,” said firefighter Trevor Tougas. “We try and make it an event where people can not only drive by but actually stick around. We will have face painters. It’s something we try and encourage people to bring the kids to as well.”
Individuals and small businesses will be able to bring confidential paperwork to the shred-athon and have it shredded for a donation to the charitable society. Papers to be shredded should be placed in a box or bag that’s easily transferred to the Shred-It shredder.
“I know some people are a little leery about having their stuff shipped off, so they will actually shred it right on site,” Tougas said. “They can watch it be shredded.”
All proceeds from the shred-athon will go to the New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society, which funds a variety of programs in New Westminster.
Reporting to residents
Royal City residents are invited to offer their thoughts about life in the city in 2013.
The City of New Westminster has completed the 2013 annual report, which provides a range of information and budget details about the city. Cope of the report will be available at city hall starting June 9.
On June 23, city council will provide an opportunity for community members to make presentations about the report at the council meeting that gets underway at 5:45 p.m. in council chambers.
