This pole was created in honour of Dorothy Maquabeak Francis. Francis was originally from the WayWaySeeCappo reserve in Manitoba. She dedicated her life to volunteering and helping Indigenous people, including volunteering with individuals who had been incarcerated. The 7-foot carved pole features a bear holding a shield, symbolic of her name, Maquabeak, which means “Sitting Bear Woman”. 

 

The proposal for the City of New Westminster to honour Francis first came from Ella Bendorf, a friend and fellow volunteer of Francis. Bendorf first approached the then Mayor, Betty Toporowski, about commemorating Francis in some way, in 1993. A pole was then proposed and Bendorf retained Courville as the artist. On August 25, 1993, the Parks Director, Paul Daminato, recommended that Council accept the responsibility of installing the pole and paying for an accompanying plaque. 

 

Harrison Mills donated the cedar log for the pole and the City of New Westminster donated $100 for tools and materials. The pole was officially given to the City on October 12, 1994 and was installed on October 22, 1994 in Queen’s Park.