A town crier frozen in a permanent pose of greeting is the latest symbol to welcome visitors to Victoria.
The friendly image comes in the form of a bronze statue, erected at Ogden Point through the efforts of the Victoria A.M. Association. Also newly unveiled is an information kiosk detailing key ecosystems on Vancouver Island.
The kiosk is the second one installed by the Ogden Point Enhancement Society, which has put close to $750,000 into Ogden Point beautification efforts since its formation in 1996.
Ogden Point, located on the James Bay waterfront, is a major transportation hub. It saw a record 210 cruise ships use its docks last year and bring in a combined total of almost 400,000 passengers.
The site is owned by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.
Louise Chabros, president of the volunteer-driven Victoria A.M. Association (so named because its meetings are in the morning), said the idea for the statue came up about a year ago through her acquaintance with artist Armando Barbon of Studio 37.
"We launched the project publicly last September and began our fundraising," she said, adding that the project marks the association's 25th anniversary.
Barbon donated the statue, but fundraising is needed to pay for the bronzing of the piece, Chabros said. About $15,000 of the $50,000 cost has been collected. Chabros said the town-crier statue is life-sized and based on the venerable Tommy Mayne, a town crier and longtime Victoria A.M. volunteer who has been with the group for 19 years.
"The statue is created in his likeness, but it's been dedicated to the tradition of town crying."
Seven local town criers were on hand for the dedication.
"Town criers have always been the heralders of news and readers of town proclamations, and many of our local municipalities still use the town crier," Chabros said. "We do, as well, when we can get them down to the ships. They give the passengers a welcome while they're pulling into the port."
She said it's all part of the association's mandate -- to promote and enhance tourism in Greater Victoria.
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