A recently installed 10-metre-long life-sized Humpback whale made out of driftwood at Willow Point in Campbell River is proving to be a splash.
“It sort of captures where our whales are right here on our sea walk here in Campbell River. I mean we have the Humpback whales out here all season long, they were out here this morning,” said Dean Parsonage of 50 North Adventures.
Parsonage is a member of the Campbell River Association of Tour Operators, which raised money to commission the driftwood art by well-known Quadra Island artist Alex Witcombe.
Witcombe is already known for many amazing pieces of driftwood art including a dinosaur on a beach close to the humpback, and a huge sasquatch on Quadra Island.
“We saw some photographs when he was doing it but when I actually went over there and saw it I thought the photos just didn’t do it justice, it’s so life-like.”
Whitcomb laboured over the Humpback for months screwing together hundreds of pieces of driftwood large and small.
Moving day was earlier this week.
A flatbed truck was used to carefully transport the whale by ferry to Campbell River, then down the Island Highway to a pre-made pedestal in Ken Forde Boat Ramp park in Willow Point.
It was all documented on video by DHT Productions in Campbell River.
“It’s beautiful, the best thing I’ve ever seen. This guy is fantastic,” said Doug Anderson who was admiring the driftwood whale Friday.
Now that it’s in place and getting lots of attention, the humpback needs a name and there’s a competition to find one.
Anyone can submit a name idea for the whale until Nov. 30 by visiting www.campbellrivertours.com.
Dean Stoltz
