Ever since the city of Port Moody built itself a new City Hall at the end of Burrard Inlet I’ve thought about a piece of art for the circle of grass in front of it. A fine design for its purpose i.e. city administration offices, Council Chambers which also function as a public theatre, and the library, the building was designed to resemble or at least reference a railway roundhouse. The curved atrium serves as a fine gathering place for all things civic.

So I’ve imagined a railway-themed piece of art in this very public space for a long time. Not having the technical know-how to fabricate a possible metal structure I stayed away from the call for artists but was hopeful that the railway history of our city would somehow be included in the final selection of Public Art for this important location in front of City Hall.

I popped down there when I read that the selected artwork was beginning to be installed and I photographed the steam engine on its steel pole, but it wasn’t until yesterday, at the official opening, that I saw the whole work.

Vancouver artist Bruce Voyce has designed a piece that I feel sure local residents will enjoy. His design is quite literal, using his signature industrial materials to make not only the engine, but also a deer  and swooping shapes which are recognizable as the ocean. So he wants us to remember Port Moody’s history, post-contact, with the depiction of the first train that travelled across the nation-forming railway line and finished its marathon journey right here, in Port Moody. For a year, 1886, this was the epic line’s terminus – then the line was continued westwards into Vancouver. But until the seventies passenger trains travelled through Port Moody every day.

Bruce also wants to make note of the fact that the city is not totally urban yet. We are luckily situated at the end of Burrard Inlet, which is only a couple of blocks west of City Hall, and we are surrounded by dense forest just beyond the houses that are creeping up the mountainsides. So we have somewhat unlikely ocean waves for the placid inlet waters and a deer to remind us of our blessed location.

The Call for Interest for artists to submit their qualifications for this competition asked for ‘Art in Motion’. This work offers the chance for anyone stopping to look at it to make the engine rotate on its pole. A large steering wheel in distinctive green can be easily turned. Although it is high up I do like the fact that at last we have an interesting sculpture that can be seen from a distance, from inside City Hall and from the tall buildings across Ioco road. Down below the engine visitors can touch (but not climb on) the deer and the waves.

At yesterday’s opening in the pouring rain the Mayor, Councillors and our MLA gathered and Bruce spoke about his largest piece of public art yet. I liked his comments and he has kindly allowed my to post his description  here. Thank you Bruce, and Congratulations on the completion and installation of your successful work.

Tidal Train description

On a personal note I’d like to include a drawing I made of the engine that may well have been the inspiration for the new one here. Shortly after we moved to Port Moody in 1971 my father-in-law retired from a lifelong career as a ‘road master’ for CPR on the prairies. For his Christmas gift I went down to Vancouver and sat in the Kitsilano beach parking lot and made a drawing of Engine 374. For many years this historically significant engine sat there in all weathers but I’m glad to report that when Yaletown’s Roundhouse became a community centre the old engine was moved inside. It can now be seen there just beside the remains of the historic railway turnaround spot. When we found ourselves again owners of said drawing I donated it to the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver.