A small ceremony was held to celebrate the placement of Bert DeVink's moose sculpture outside of Quesnel's Arena 2. The attendees included Mayor Ron Paull, former mayor Nate Bello and Bert DeVink himself as well as friends of DeVink.
DeVink said the moose was one of his first welded art projects. He created it during his post-secondary education at Camosun College on Vancouver Island. The moose stayed at the college until Paull personally went to pick it up with his friend John Matthews because he believes public art is essential to the community. The college donated the moose back to DeVink with the understanding he would gift it to Quesnel.
Quesnel city council approved up to $15,000 for the refurbishing of the moose in a four-two vote with Coun. Laurey-Anne Roodenburg and Coun. Tony Goulet opposed. Coun. Mitch Vik wasn't there for that final vote, but personally helped fund Paull's mission to pick up the moose. Director of Corporate and Financial Services Kari Bolton said the final cost of the refurbishment and placement of the moose are not available but she could confirm it was under the $15,000 approved by council.
Aaron Harder, a local artist who has created works including the miner near the Billy Barker hotel, refurbished the 50-year-old moose.
"I spent a lot of hours working on this guy and I got to see the time and effort you [Bert] put into each individual piece," Harder said. "How much thought process had to go into developing the idea, building this up from the toes up to the antlers. There's a ton of thought and a ton of love in this piece."
DeVink thanked Harder for his work to refurbish the statue, Bello, who he credited with getting the ball rolling on bringing the moose to Quesnel, and Paull for going to pick it up.
"I looked at it and I couldn't believe what I saw," DeVink said. "It is just like it was."
Bert's Moose 1974, as it will be officially titled, joins other pieces of art in Quesnel crafted by DeVink. This includes The Musicians located in the West Fraser Centre, the piece affixed to the City Furniture building and a piece at the Quesnel Women's Resource Centre.
"This is the culmination of many gifts that you have given to the city," Bello told DeVink. "You have contributed to this city for many, many years and here you are on your 92nd birthday contributing again. I know I'll come and see it many times, it is so beautiful."
The moose will continue to live outside of Arena 2 for the foreseeable future.
