A look at Metro Vancouver's latest SeaBus, and more on the Indigenous artwork that covers the ferry
Metro Vancouver's latest public transportation vehicle was unveiled Thursday in a ceremony that included arcs of water shooting over the vessel as it completed its maiden voyage.
The Burrard Chinook, TransLink's new SeaBus, is now in service – one of a fleet of passenger ferries that shuttle commuters across the Burrard Inlet between Vancouver and the North Shore.
While its profile is similar to other vessels that make the crossing, the Chinook has an upgraded look.
The new SeaBus is wrapped in art designed by local Indigenous artists.
According to TransLink, both the Chinook's name and design were meant as a tribute to one of the most iconic species in the waters of the Pacific.
"The chinook salmon has played a central role in life on the West Coast for generations and is a critical part of the ecosystem in the Burrard Inlet and the Pacific Ocean," TransLink said in a statement Thursday.
The artists behind the vessel's unique look are Kelly Cannell, Siobhan Joseph and Angela George. The commissioned artists are from local First Nations – Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh – and worked collaboratively on the piece that wraps the entire SeaBus.
Earlier this year, Cannell said the themes she'd chosen were meant to bring awareness to the fragility of the coastal ecosystem.
"I am showcasing chinook salmon as a link of vital importance to the Pacific Northwest waters. Once abundant but now endangered, resident orcas are dependent on these salmon for their survival. Chinook salmon are also an essential food source for other wildlife throughout the Pacific Northwest Coast and are fundamental to the culture of First Nations peoples. Keeping these waters healthy and thriving is crucial for our territory," she said in a statement issued by TransLink back in June.
She said she included male and female salmon on each side, as in Coast Salish culture, salmon shown in pairs signify good luck, vitality and wealth.
Young smolt can be seen swimming the currents depicted on the ferry, and chinook tails can be seen beneath the waves.
"My imagery is purposely symmetrical to symbolize the sacred balance we need to sustain these waters," she told TransLink in her proposal for the project.
Joseph's vision, according to TransLink, came from the shape of the ferry itself. She said the passenger cabin could be seen as a longhouse, and the bridge has a resemblance to a canoe.
From this, she proposed a school of salmon on the lower part, with orcas and sea lions higher up.
"I also thought of a canoe design because the SeaBus is like a canoe that travels across the inlet with Indigenous people in the canoe," she said of her proposal.
And George had planned to include the backbone of the salmon, which returns "to our lands and waters to provide nourishment and enrichment in life and in death.
"This reciprocal relationship ensures that all living beings and our lands and waters continue to thrive and are sustained for all times."
Additionally, she envisioned other imagery that would tie back to the Indigenous history of the area.
"This design represents the double-headed serpent that dwelled in the Burrard Inlet, bringing great strength and resiliency to the people. The Chinook vessel has two engines and possesses great strength like the ancient serpent from these waters. The design also represents the ripple effect of everything we do and say echoing out into the universe."
Her proposal included mountain trails meant to suggest the knowledge and ancient wisdom of the spiritual people and hunters who travelled along those paths.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.