Rick Hansen Man in Motion Totem - Duncan, BC - Outside Wooden Display Carvings on Waymarking.com

This pole tells the story of Canada’s hero Rick Hansen. Corky Baines wanted to honour the work that Rick was doing. Corky had an accident and could relate to the difficulties people had with mobility. The idea of the pole was to tell the story of Rick’s journey around the world (Marilyn Baines, wife, Interview, Sep 2012).

The Eagle is a representation of the Great Spirit. The Eagle soars really high and it can see a huge distance. Corky was thinking of how Rick Hansen looks out and sees beyond. The Killer Whale is a symbol of transformation. On the whale fluke is a carved face, and that represents the Wolf. The Killer Whale will come up onto the land and it will change into the Wolf and hunt on the land as a Wolf. Rick transformed himself and made a huge difference in the world (Jane Baines Marston, sister, Interview, Nov 2012).

Rick Hansen and the Baines family attended a rededication ceremony for the pole in 2010.

About the Carver
Laverne Roy “Corky” Baines
Corky was born in Chemainus in 1949 and is of Coast Salish heritage, from Peggy Island (near Chemainus). He started carving at the age of thirty-four but passed away five years later. Corky’s wife and family believed he was a natural, self-taught artist who benefitted from the influence of master carver Simon Charlie. Phillip, his son, worked side-by-side with his dad to carve the two poles for the City.