ThereB次元官网网址檚 just something about the property at Royal Roads University.

When you turn off Sooke Road in Colwood onto the well-maintained grounds of the school, you feel as though youB次元官网网址檙e somewhere special. Somewhere old. Somewhere sacred, maybe.

With the school celebrating its B次元官网网址� 55 years as a military college and the last 20 as a full-fledged public university B次元官网网址� chancellor Wayne Strandlund knew he needed to do something to help recognize that atmosphere and add to it.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always loved the property, its heritage and its history,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a wonderful institution for Victoria. The fact that IB次元官网网址檓 now the chancellor and the chair of the board of governors is just kind of a culmination of my relationship with it.B次元官网网址�

That connection began in 1963 when it was still a military college. It seemed to him that the 75th anniversary was a good time to try and do something special for the property and institution that heB次元官网网址檚 loved for so long.

B次元官网网址淭he minute that I turn onto this property, something changes,B次元官网网址� Strandlund says solemnly. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know what it is about the place, but my mindset, my attitude, my health B次元官网网址� it all changes. And whatB次元官网网址檚 doing that? ItB次元官网网址檚 the spirit of the property. And what better commemoration of that spirit than a totem pole?

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e on heritage land here. ItB次元官网网址檚 heritage land in many ways. Not only are we on the historic land of the Songhees band, the Esquimalt band and the Becher Bay band, but itB次元官网网址檚 also DND land B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 also a national historic park. I think it deserves something special to recognize and celebrate all of that.B次元官网网址�

So he turned to local Coast Salish carver Tom LaFortune to produce a piece befitting both the land and institution. The artist scoured the property itself for the ideal fallen cedar. It was removed and placed down in the boat shed on the lagoon and LaFortune got to work on his vision.

He designed the pole to represent both the land itself and the nature of the propertyB次元官网网址檚 use, he says.

At the bottom of the pole will be a frog, which is traditionally a spirit guide and protector, LaFortune says. Above that will be a welcome figure, hands outstretched welcoming visitors to the land. Then comes a perched owl, representing knowledge and wisdom, like that which is shared and encouraged on the grounds of the school.

Three rings separate the owl and the eagle, which will be perched on top overseeing the land and people. Each ring represents 25 years of the schoolB次元官网网址檚 history.

Once the basic form of all the figures are in place, LaFortune says, it will take roughly a month to six weeks to complete the 25-foot carving.

B次元官网网址淭he wood came from the site, the carving is being done on the site, it will be erected at the top of the hill to welcome people to the site, and it is the first pole to be put up on the site,B次元官网网址� says Royal Roads president Allan Cahoon.

B次元官网网址淚 think finding the cedar here, and carving it here, and being here by the water is significant. ItB次元官网网址檚 a spiritual process, so creating the environment that is appropriate and supportive of that is important to us,B次元官网网址� he says, adding he thinks itB次元官网网址檚 important to the people of the area, as well.

Strandlund hopes this is the first of many totem poles to go up on the property, B次元官网网址渂ut thatB次元官网网址檚 up to the president and the university, and everyone else charged with caring for this place. You canB次元官网网址檛 just come in and start dropping totem poles all over the place,B次元官网网址� he says, laughing, looking over at Cahoon. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l do my best to encourage it, though.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淏ut what are we here?B次元官网网址� Strandlund asks, rhetorically.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e stewards. And there are many stewards. IB次元官网网址檓 just one steward. The bandB次元官网网址檚 a steward, the DND is a steward, Colwood is a steward,B次元官网网址� he says, noting itB次元官网网址檚 up to all of them together to take care of the land.

Another reason LaFortune is carving the pole on site is so the public can watch it take shape, he says. He welcomes visitors to swing by the shed anytime to see his work. Just stay on University Drive when you enter the property off Sooke Road and follow it right down to the water.

Watch for an announcement in the next month or so for when the totem pole will be installed at its permanent location on the property and begin officially welcoming visitors to the land.

mdavies@goldstreamgazette.com