The City of Delta is honoured to be commissioning two Coast Salish Welcome Poles from Indigenous artists to be installed at Delta City Hall.
These Poles will represent the City’s commitment to relationship-building with Delta’s host nations—Tsawwassen First Nation and Musqueam Indian Band—and will serve the dual purpose of welcoming guests to the City, while bringing awareness to and honouring the land on which they stand.
Tsawwassen First Nation Members Bryce Williams and Karl Morgan will collaborate to carve one of the two poles, with Musqueam Indian Band Member Thomas Cannell creating the second.
“Haycxqa to Mayor George Harvie and all of Delta Council for this opportunity, and the people of Delta,” said Bryce Williams and Karl Morgan. “As artists, we are glad to be part of this project and the relationship building that it represents. This house post will signify the positive relationship that is being built up between the City of Delta and Tsawwassen First Nation, and our shared history.”
Both Poles will feature designs that will represent the land in which Delta is situated on, and the cultural connection to our Host Nations.
“Thank you to the City of Delta staff for their thoughtful efforts to bring forward two upcoming Indigenous welcome artworks at City Hall, for which I am fortunate to have been chosen as one of the artists,” said Thomas Cannell. “Creating a sculpture for this city feels like sharing a conversation with the earth, the water, and the wind. I’m inspired by the unique stories that shape our homeland, by the stories each of us is part of, and by the natural beauty all around us. Through my work, I hope to celebrate what makes this place special and invite everyone to feel a part of it.”
The Welcome Poles will serve as a powerful symbol of Delta’s commitment to reconciliation and will be featured prominently at the entrance to City Hall. The artists will design and create the poles over the next several months, with the finished structures set to be installed in mid-2026.
“The City of Delta is honoured to be working with artists from Tsawwassen First Nation and Musqueam Indian Band on this exciting project. Welcome Poles carry a special cultural significance, and to be able to install two such poles at City Hall is a clear symbol to everyone who enters of our commitment to reconciliation and our continued work towards building strong, respectful relationships with Indigenous communities. I look forward to seeing this project come to fruition and extend my thanks to the artists for their time and skill in crafting these pieces.” – Mayor George V. Harvie.
“This project represents an important step in our shared journey toward understanding and respect. The welcome poles will not only honour the deep history of our people on this land, but also stand as a symbol of reconciliation and the growing relationship between Tsawwassen First Nation and the City of Delta. I raise my hands to Bryce and Karl for carrying forward our stories through their artistry.” – Chief Laura Cassidy, Tsawwassen First Nation
“It will be exciting to see Cannell's artwork come to life in the territory. It’s a meaningful way to honour our culture and strengthen our connection with the City of Delta—and to stand proudly alongside our Tsawwassen relatives.” – Chief Wayne Sparrow, Musqueam Indian Band
The Coast Salish Welcome Pole Project was approved by Delta Council at the Regular Meeting on September 23, 2024. The full council report is available here.
For more information on this news release, please contact media@delta.ca.
Artist Biographies
Bryce Williams:
Bryce is a Coast Salish and Haida artist from Tsawwassen. He is a singer, a carver, and painter. He lives in Tsawwassen with his partner Charlene and son Remo. He loves to create his art in various mediums and recently started engraving silver. Bryce has completed many public art projects as well as many private commissions. Bryce and Karl have collaborated on and completed many projects together for TFN and are working on a project for a company that is building on TFN industrial lands.
Karl Morgan:
Karl is a carver, painter, and designer from Tsawwassen. He lives at home with his family. He has a studio at home and is a full-time artist. He has been carving for 35 years and has had his wife working with him on many projects over the years. His son Vincent is also a young up-incoming respected carver in his own right. Karl loves to teach and provide opportunities through the arts for the youth in the community. He loves to pass on his knowledge and teachings.
Thomas Cannell:
Thomas Cannell's influential award-winning artworks are deeply rooted in the natural environment of the places he's experienced and the traditional values he inherited from his ancestors and teachers. His connection to his family and friends in their traditional xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) homeland is a constant source of inspiration and influence in his art.
Thomas's journey in art is a testament to his dedication and passion. He explored graphic design and photography at Langara College and graduated from Capilano University's Outdoor Recreation Management program in 2005. However, his true artistry was honed under the guidance of his mother, renowned artist Susan A. Point, and the late John Livingston, a Kwakwaka'wakw artist. Thomas has taken the ancient Coast Salish visual language, which evolves from generation to generation, and adapted it into his modern-day xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Art.
Thomas's artistic influence extends beyond galleries and exhibitions. He has created nearly 30 public artworks throughout southwestern BC since 2009, each a testament to his creativity and skill. His works are prominently displayed in galleries in Vancouver, Victoria, and Seattle, as well as in tours in Canadian and American exhibitions and catalogue publications. BC Ferry travellers are greeted by his elegant design, Salish Raven, which links the Gulf Islands. Thomas's service on the British Columbia Arts Council and the Vancouver Arts and Culture Council during the twenty-tens, and his numerous awards, including the British Columbia Creative Achievement Award (2014) and the City of Richmond Artistic Innovation Award (2022) are a testament to his artistic innovation and leadership. In 2019, Thomas was a City of Richmond Cultural Leadership Award Finalist. Thomas is proud to be a recipient of His Majesty King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025.