Large wooden plaque.
The plaque took over 5,000 hours to complete, from 1965 to 1967. Fifteen hardwood veneers were used including walnut, yew, maple, cherry, and mahogany.
The plaque depicts our ten provinces, each with a coat of arms that includes symbols of the provincial resources and manufacturing. Western provinces are on the left—when facing the plaque – and eastern provinces are on the right. All provincial coat of arms hang on a chain linking them together in the shape of an eagle watching over the provinces. Religion and government are represented with a church and the parliament buildings in Ottawa inside a face, representative of one—a complete nation with music, sport, industry and religion. On the maple leaf stalk there are two beavers.
The first Canadian house, a teepee, has two men seated inside—a First Nations man wearing a headdress and an RCMP officer in uniform, both smoking pipes, symbols of peace. A knot in the wood has been strategically placed by Mr. Dal Monte as the eye of the RCMP officer.
Large wooden plaque.
The plaque took over 5,000 hours to complete, from 1965 to 1967. Fifteen hardwood veneers were used including walnut, yew, maple, cherry, and mahogany.
The plaque depicts our ten provinces, each with a coat of arms that includes symbols of the provincial resources and manufacturing. Western provinces are on the left—when facing the plaque – and eastern provinces are on the right. All provincial coat of arms hang on a chain linking them together in the shape of an eagle watching over the provinces. Religion and government are represented with a church and the parliament buildings in Ottawa inside a face, representative of one—a complete nation with music, sport, industry and religion. On the maple leaf stalk there are two beavers.
The first Canadian house, a teepee, has two men seated inside—a First Nations man wearing a headdress and an RCMP officer in uniform, both smoking pipes, symbols of peace. A knot in the wood has been strategically placed by Mr. Dal Monte as the eye of the RCMP officer.
Physical Condition
Good
Material
Wood
Date Range
1965-1967
Accession Number
2016.3.1
Biographical Notes
This plaque was created by Mr. Dal Monte to celebrate and honour his new home, Canada. Mr. Dal Monte conducted extensive research to learn about the provinces. He had always wanted to create inlay and thought of this project to commemorate the Canadian centennial. The new flag was being planned at the time, and Kitimat was multi-ethnic with 60+ nationalities represented and all working together.
8 photos of Alcan Engineering. 1) Looking East From Centre Passageway Bldg 7B 2) Completed Roof Fan Walking on Potroom 8B West 3) Looking West in Potroom 8B West from Column Line 12 4) Potroom 8B East Looking East from Centre Passageway 5) General View of Progress of Work in Potline 8A East 6) Potroom 8B East Looking East from Centre Passageway 7) Looking East from Centre Passageway Bldg 8A 8) Looking West from Centre Passageway Bldg 8A
8 photos of Alcan Engineering. 1) Looking East From Centre Passageway Bldg 7B 2) Completed Roof Fan Walking on Potroom 8B West 3) Looking West in Potroom 8B West from Column Line 12 4) Potroom 8B East Looking East from Centre Passageway 5) General View of Progress of Work in Potline 8A East 6) Potroom 8B East Looking East from Centre Passageway 7) Looking East from Centre Passageway Bldg 8A 8) Looking West from Centre Passageway Bldg 8A
Photocopied documents relating to John McLachlan's employment with Alcan.
1) Letter of employment, G. W. Whitehead (Alcan) to John McLachlan, offering position as Draughtsman in Kitimat. April 10th 1953
2) Letter of acceptance, John McLachlan to G.W. Whitehead. April 11th 1953
3) Alcan Personnel Department introduction form, to Mr. G. T. Malby, Resident Engineer, May 13th 1953
4) Invitation to join Retirement Income and Life Insurance Plan, Ian Maclean to John McLachlan, June 23rd 1954.
5) Account of duties as Senior Draughtsman, John McLachlan to W. H. Sparks, September 11th 1956.
John McLachlan arrived in Kitimat in 1953 as a 23-year-old immigrant and went on to work at Alcan's Property Engineering Department for almost 40 years. He started out as a land surveyor and cartographer in the town's early years and ended his career as a Senior Legal Draftsmen.
Custodial History
Donated by Jean Lunny, January 12th 2018
Scope and Content
Photocopied documents relating to John McLachlan's employment with Alcan.
1) Letter of employment, G. W. Whitehead (Alcan) to John McLachlan, offering position as Draughtsman in Kitimat. April 10th 1953
2) Letter of acceptance, John McLachlan to G.W. Whitehead. April 11th 1953
3) Alcan Personnel Department introduction form, to Mr. G. T. Malby, Resident Engineer, May 13th 1953
4) Invitation to join Retirement Income and Life Insurance Plan, Ian Maclean to John McLachlan, June 23rd 1954.
5) Account of duties as Senior Draughtsman, John McLachlan to W. H. Sparks, September 11th 1956.
