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.
Black book containing "History of our Cabin up Clague Mt.," photocopies of the cabin's logbook from September 1960 to January 1969, several photocopied pictures from 1970, a typewritten logbook of local and regional excursions taken by the Mendel family from 1963 to 1968, and several newspaper articles.
This material relates to a cabin on Clague Mountain, originally begun by Robert 'Bob' Hesse in the late 1950s and completed by Gisela's husband Hans in 1960. It remained in the Mendel family for 15 years before being demolished in 1975.
Custodial History
Donated to the Museum by Mendel's daughter, Fredrika Lyne, on November 14th 2023.
Scope and Content
Black book containing "History of our Cabin up Clague Mt.," photocopies of the cabin's logbook from September 1960 to January 1969, several photocopied pictures from 1970, a typewritten logbook of local and regional excursions taken by the Mendel family from 1963 to 1968, and several newspaper articles.
