A totem pole that was erected in April of this year and then removed after being damaged has been replaced.
A totem carved from Red cedar now stands on East Saanich in front of Polo Park and welcomes people into Central Saanich.
“There was a minor (vehicle) accident that damaged the first totem,” explained Jan Carroll of the Saanichton Village Association (SVA) who co-ordinated the project. “But we were able to recoup our losses because it was covered by insurance. Fortunately we were able to have Doug and Bear LaFortune carve another one which we have gifted to the municipality.”
The SVA plans on coordinating another three totems to place around the community to welcome people into Central Saanich.
“This is totem number two of five,” Carroll explained. “We have two business owners and an individual who are going be paying for the (other) three totems and the next one will go somewhere south of Saanichton. It will also be on East Saanich Road, probably around the intersection (of) Veyaness Drive,” she said.
The Saanichton Village Association is made up of about 15 business members and about 35 community members, said Carroll, and it has been around since 2007.