Header - Thunder Bird Park

Early Park Title

Thunderbird Park Name Post, 1940-45
Carvers: Mark Spence and Joseph St Pierre


Thunderbird Park Name PostThunderbird Park, 1952. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-21008.


This is the second version of the Thunderbird Park name post. In the initial version that was erected in 1941, the Thunderbird and Sisiyut? lintel was supported by uncarved posts. Joseph St Pierre, an employee of the Forest Branch of the Department of Lands in Victoria, carved the lintel in 1940. His participation was part of the contribution by various departments of the provincial government to the building of the park. St Pierre based his design on the Kwakwaka’wakw Sisiyut? carving attached to the front of the open-sided building that can be seen on the far left of the map, but his interpretation of Kwakwaka’wakw style is not accurate. By 1945, the uncarved posts had been replaced by carved ones made by Mark Spence, a Haida carver from Massett. Spence’s carvings portray the crests of the two social divisions (clans) of the Haida: Raven and Eagle.  These carvings combine Spence’s unique personal style with traditional Haida themes. Components of the original Thunderbird Park name post are currently on loan to the Royal Canadian Navy Officers’ Mess, CFB Esquimalt.
RBCM: 20152 (Thunderbird), 20150 (Bear), 20151 (Moon post).


Thunderbird Park Name PostThunderbird Park. BC Government photograph. RBCM PN 13942.
Thunderbird Park Name Post and mounted policeThunderbird Park, ca 1945. J. C. Sweeney photograph. RBCM PN 23028.

Carver Mark Spense and the two carved postsVictoria, B.C., Mark Spence, 1940 - 1945.
BC Government photograph. Photo Branch 549.

Thunderbird Park Name Post amongst other polesThunderbird Park, 1952. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-21008.

Thunderbird Park Name PostThunderbird Park, 1952. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-21008.
Thunderbird Park Name PostThunderbird Park, 1945. Boucher photograph. BC Archives I-20538.
Thunderbird Park Name Post highlightedThunderbird Park, 1950s. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-21005.
Thunderbird Park Name PostThunderbird Park, 1950s. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-21006.
Thunderbird Park Name Post highlightedThunderbird Park, 1952. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-21008.

Thunderbird Park Name PostThunderbird Park. RBCM PN 16693.
Back to Map