The City of Thunder Bay is pleased to announce the completed installation of Esox (Ginoozheg) by artist Simon Lacey as part of the North Core Streetscape Project.

Following a national Open Call to Artists in 2024, a jury comprised of Public Art Committee members, community representatives, and arts professionals selected this proposal, along with two others, for their creativity, cultural significance, and strong connection to place.

The installations support the City’s Smart Growth Action Plan, specifically the Attraction Pillar, which focuses on creating vibrant, welcoming spaces that enhance quality of life, support tourism, and strengthen Thunder Bay’s identity. The project advances key Attraction Pillar actions, including North Core Revitalization, City-wide Beautification, and Recreation & Tourism Attractions.

Artist Simon Lacey's public artwork, Esox (Ginoozheg), which means pike in Latin and Ojibwe, is located at Mall Street Plaza between Red River Road and Park Street. The installation contributes to the revitalization of Thunder Bay's North Core by enhancing public space through meaningful and engaging visual storytelling. Selected for its strong connection to local identity, the artwork promotes community inclusion and enriches the experience of the area for both residents and visitors.

"Esox (Ginoozheg) draws inspiration from the Kaministiquia River, capturing the river’s organic shapes and movements. Addressing the unique long and narrow characteristics of Mall Street, the sculpture is designed to convey a sense of motion and continuity. While they appear solid from the front, they are open on the sides. This design allows the sculpture to create the illusion of a dynamic, moving school of fish as viewers walk or drive by,” said artist, Simon Lacey.

Esox (Ginoozheg) joins Thunder Bay Particles – Medicine Wheel by Scott Eunson and Shelby Gagnon, located in the St. Paul Street to Cumberland Street Plaza. The third and final installation, All Together by boyRoland, will be installed at the Court Street Plaza later this year. 

The North Core Streetscape Project aims to transform the area into a flexible, dynamic, and people-first urban environment that supports community gathering, economic vitality, and cultural expression.

A total of $500,000 has been allocated for all three public art installations, with funding support from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation’s Community Enhancement Program. 

For more information about the North Core Streetscape Project and public art initiatives, visit www.thunderbay.ca/publicart.

 

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Contact: Brayden Cassidy, Community Program Developer at Brayden.cassidy@thunderbay.ca 807-630-5360