Thunder Bay has debuted a series of five steel pike sculptures titled Esox (Ginoozheg) in its Mall Street Plaza. Created by artist Simon Lacey, the installation is a centerpiece of the city's North Core Streetscape Project.
Simon Lacey's five steel pike in Mall Street Plaza
The new installation, located between Red River Road and Park Street, utilizes steel baffles to create an ambiguous visual effect. according to CBC journalist Nicky Shaw, artist Simon Lacey designed the sculptures to mimic the shifting, elusive motion of a fish swimming in a river, with the profiles changing based on the viewer's angle and the position of the sun.
To further the illusion of water, the surrounding paving stones in the Mall Street Plaza were arranged to evoke a sweeping river.. Lacey, who operates Ballast Design Studios, noted that while the physical placement of the pieces was straightforward, the project required extensive development, including complex linear welding and detailed production files to achieve the desired aesthetic.
The $500,000 Northern Ontario Heritage Fund investment
The Esox (Ginoozheg) sculptures are part of a larger $500,000 public art initiative funded by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation's Community Enhancement Program.. This investment is intended to drive urban beautification and increase tourism within the downtown core of Thunder Bay.
Laurie Abthorope, the city's supervisor of cultural development, community programming and events, stated that these projects are designed to foster social connectivity and transform ordinary urban spaces into destinations. As reported by CBC, Abthorope believes that such installations preserve local culture while promoting social inclusion by creating accessible shared spaces for all residents.
Bridging Latin and Ojibwe identities through 'Esox (Ginoozheg)'
The naming of the artwork reflects a deliberate attempt to acknowledge the dual linguistic and cultural landscape of the region. By combining the Latin term for pike, esox, with the Ojibwe word, ginoozheg, the city of Thunder Bay is integrating Indigenous heritage directly into its modern urban infrastructure.
This approach mirrors a growing trend across Canadian municipalities to move beyond symbolic gestures and embed Indigenous languages into the physical fabric of the city. By anchoring the North Core Streetscape Project in both scientific and Indigenous terminology, Thunder Bay is positioning its downtown as a space where colonial and Indigenous histories coexist visibly .
The three-part commission including Scott Eunson and Roland
The pike sculptures represent one of three major public art commissions selected for the North Core Streetscape Project. These works were chosen through a national call for submissions and vetted by a jury consisting of arts professionals, community representatives, and members of the city's Public Art Committee.
The city has already installed a piece by artists Scott Eunson and Shelby Gagnon prior to the previous winter. This phased approach to the revitalization ensures a steady rollout of cultural landmarks, intended to stimulate foot traffic and economic activity in the North Core area.
The timeline for Roland's Court Street Plaza installation
While the Simon Lacey installation is complete, the final piece of the trio remains pending. A work by the artist Roland is expected to be installed later this year near the Court Street Plaza area, marking the completion of this specific art cycle.
However, the reporting leaves a few details unclear. It remains unknown how the $500,000 fund was divided among the three separate commissions,and there is no mention of the long-term maintenance plan for the steel sculptures, which must withstand the harsh winter climate of Northern Ontario.
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