Two totem poles stolen from the former Malahat Mountain Inn have caused some aggravation to a Port Alberni couple.
A totem pole carved by Andrew Mack and erected a week ago at the home he shares with wife Karen Mack in a Port Alberni neighborhood has drawn the attention of Port Alberni police. Officers visited the home on March 5 and again March 8, Karen tells Ha-Shilth-Sa.
“We've had police come to our door a few times now, because people drive by and think ‘reward, totem’, said Karen. “They asked if the totem pole belonged to my husband, and he said ‘yes, I carved it.’ They said they received a phone call from someone who seen it on our street and called them right away.”
As soon as the first officer saw the pole he knew it wasn’t the one they were looking for, said Karen.
And then someone else called it in. A different officer showed up today. RCMP have flagged the address now for any other calls they receive.
The pole was stood up for Andrew’s birthday. It was raised March 1. It took 29 days to carve. And is a bear, salmon totem pole. Andrew has been carving for 14 years. He is from the Toquaht First Nation and has resided in Port Alberni for the past two-and-half-years.
There is an upside to the story, said Karen. The pole is for sale and Andrew has been in touch with a few galleries. He certainly now knows that his artwork is eye-catching.
