How a totem pole gifted as a symbol of unity came to represent crumbling Chinese-Canadian relations
- A totem pole sent in 1996 by Vancouver Port Corporation to its Guangzhou counterpart as a unity symbol has since deteriorated, much like China-Canada relations
Far from its place of origin, on the Pacific coast of Canada, a damaged and weatherworn totem pole gazes out upon the mighty, murky Pearl River as it meanders its way through the Chinese megacity of Guangzhou on its way to the South China Sea.
The zoomorphic cedar pole and an accompanying plaque outlining its history are situated in front of a complex of reclaimed warehouses and docks originally constructed by British firm Butterfield & Swire in the 1930s.
The area is now home to bars, restaurants, galleries, a cinema and moorage for luxury yachts, with thousands of shoppers and diners wandering past the carving daily.
Unnoticed by many, but deserving of a quick look or photo from others, the pole stands as a symbol of China-Canada engagement at a time when relations between the two nations are increasingly sour.
It arrived in China as a gift from the Vancouver Port Corporation to the Guangzhou Port Group on April 11, 1996, to mark the signing of a sister port agreement.