A public art installation at Meridian Place in downtown Barrie should soon serve as a lasting tribute to well-known local trumpeter and businessman, the late Bob Hunter.
Hunter's family donated $50,000 to the city to create something that could be enjoyed by local citizens for years to come. In line with the municipality's donation policy, those funds will be matched through fundraising efforts.
Without any discussion at Monday night's general committee meeting, councillors gave initial approval to the project after receiving a staff report about the winning submission. The matter still requires ratification at next week's council meeting.
The full cost of the design, fabrication and installation of the sculpture will not exceed $100,000 and to be funded solely through community donations. It also includes $5,000 to be held in reserve by the city for future maintenance of the piece.
Amanda Dyke, the city's culture officer, says $81,000 has already been raised toward the project.
Hillsdale resident John McEwen was selected last month by a third-party jury to create the downtown installation, from among 21 submissions from across Canada were reviewed by the five jury members.
In his proposal to the city, McEwen said it was clear his piece, entitled The Horn and the Heart, had to symbolize music, one of Hunter's lifelong passions.
Back in April, Hunter's son Marc explained how important music was to his father.
"From the time he was in high school, all the way through, he basically played a concert until a week before he passed away," he said. "We'd just like to have something to recognize Father. He would never do it himself. He wasn't one to, pardon the pun, toot his own horn. I'm quite excited about the whole idea."
McEwen will fabricate and install the sculpture, made according to the specifications documented in his design submission, at the recently revamped public space in the heart of the city.
Installation of the Bob Hunter memorial sculpture could occur as early as June 2020.
McEwen is internationally renowned for his work. His other installations include Searchlight, Starlight, Spotlight at Scotiabank Centre in Toronto, River as Thread, Canoe as Needle at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin, Germany, and Speaker’s Circle, an Australian centenary gift from Canada which was installed in Canberra, Australia.
In 2019, McEwen was awarded the Order of Canada in recognition of his significant contributions to Canada’s artistic and cultural sector.
Bob Hunter was born Feb. 2, 1929. He married Josephine (Josie) Tersigni on Aug. 2, 1947 and together they had three children.
While attending Barrie Central Collegiate, Hunter took up the trumpet and was part of the concert band led by W.A. Fisher, for whom the auditorium is named. This developed into a lasting passion for performing music. Over the years, he played in a number of bands, including the Barrie Concert Band, the Baytowne Big Band, and the Skyliners.
Hunter entered the world of broadcasting in 1952, and became the general manager at CKBB radio with the Barrie Broadcasting Company. He then joined the Cooper Tool Group in 1967; the Texas-based manufacturing company had operations in Barrie, Port Hope and Toronto. Hunter retired as Canadian president in 1994.
Hunter also served on the board with the Barrie Chamber of Commerce, including as president in 1968. He was also president of the Barrie Manufacturers' Association in 1975 and 1976, as well as a member of the Barrie industrial and development committee from 1982 until 1985. He was director of the Canadian Hardward and Housewares Manufacturing Association and a member of the Rotary Club of Barrie.
In 1999, shortly before his death, Hunter and architect/friend Millet Salter submitted a proposal to the Trillium Foundation in Ottawa to acquire funding for an outdoor music venue.
