Barrie in Simcoe County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

"Spirit Catcher"

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2024

1. "Spirit Catcher" Marker (left/east panel)

Inscription. by Ron Baird
• • •
Donated to
The Barrie Gallery Project
October of 1986
as an inspiration for
the establishment of
an art gallery in the city of Barrie
• • •
In memory of Ken and Helen Peacock
donated by
The Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation

The donation of the Sprit Catcher in 1986 inspired the establishment of a public art gallery in Barrie. The Barrie Gallery Project opened to the public in 1988 and in 1992 became the MacLauren Art Centre. The Spirit Catcher became the first work in the permanent collection of the MacLauren.

Artist Ron Baird created the 70’ x 65’ Corten steel sculpture for EXPO ’86 in Vancouver, B.C. Baird responded to EXPO’s theme of communications with an image of the Thunderbird, the messenger for carrying people’s dreams and desires to the Creator.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1986.

Location. 44° 23.199′ N, 79° 41.356′ W. Marker is in Barrie, Ontario, in Simcoe County. It is on Lakeshore Drive just south of Simcoe Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker(s) and sculpture are located on the south side of the Simcoe Street parking

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lot at Lakeshore Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15 Lakeshore Drive, Barrie ON L4N 6T4, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Ontario Cottage Country

and specifically in Georgian Bay Country.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Willard Kinzie (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Hewitt Bernard 1825-1893 (about 90 meters away); Five Points (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Memorial Square (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Railway Watercraft (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Nine Mile Portage (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Wharfs & Boatworks (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Birth of Barrie (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barrie.

Also see . . . Spirit Catcher (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Nine sculptors were asked to submit proposals for Expo 86, and two were chosen to be commissioned. The sculpture took six months to sculpt using COR-TEN steel; this alloy develops a non-corrosive oxide and retains its structural integrity.
After the end of the exposition the sculpture was purchased by the Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation in Toronto for CA$230,000. The foundation then donated the sculpture to the 'Barrie Gallery Project' as an inspiration to create an art gallery in the city of Barrie. The twenty ton, 25 m (70 ft) wide by 21 m (65
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2024

2. "Spirit Catcher" Marker (right/west panel)
ft) tall sculpture was transported to Barrie using two flatbed trucks, and was installed by volunteers and two cranes. It took two days during the weekend of 12 June and 13 June 1987, and was dedicated on 12 September 1987.
The sculpture has 16 kinetic quills, which rock back and forth when the wind blows. Several months after it was erected on the site in Barrie, the unpredictable winds coming onshore from Kempenfelt Bay caused concern that the quills might fall off. The quills were redesigned by the artist with the assistance of Mike Davies, the recently retired vice president of advanced engineering at de Havilland aircraft.
The sculpture is a focal point on the Barrie waterfront, and serves as both a meeting place and navigational aid to travelers and citizens of the city alike. The installation of the sculpture initiated a drive to place numerous pieces of art around the city which continues to this day.

(Submitted on May 30, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

"Spirit Catcher" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2024

3. "Spirit Catcher"

Looking south from the Simcoe Street parking lot. The markers are in front of the sculpture, one on each side.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 28, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 85 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 30, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.