Crews unable to spare iconic ‘W’ artwork in New Westminster’s Pier Park following fire

NEW WESTMINISTER (NEWS 1130) — The iconic ‘W’ artwork that once stood at the waterfront at New Westminster’s Pier Park has not been saved due to a fire that first sparked Sunday evening.

Speaking to Todd this afternoon I could hear how upset he was that the ‘W’ installation couldn’t be saved. “It is a very, much-loved part of the community, and has become a real landmark on the waterfront in #NewWestminster, so it was very heartbreaking.” 2/x

— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) September 17, 2020

The art installation has been a beloved landmark to the city, but despite crews’ attempts to salvage the piece, the City of New Westminster’s Todd Ayotte says it just could not be preserved safely.

“My understanding is from the emergency response team was that in the end, the timber wharf was just completely too unstable the connections between the installation and the wharf were degraded to the point where it was really not possible to move it in a safe way,” he tells NEWS 1130.

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Ayotte adds that when the fire started, there was immediately a plan in place to save it.

“I feel confident that everything was done that could have been done and it’s just an unfortunate situation. But it just was not able to be avoided. And that’s just an unfortunate reality of the situation and the community is definitely going to be missing that iconic piece from our waterfront.”

The ‘W’ was removed Wednesday and it’s unclear what will happen to the installation, which is made from four shipping containers.

“We’re really just trying to deal with the current situation and the city’s just trying to manage the fire at this point and just making sure that we can move beyond the immediate crisis.”

Back to Todd, and this is where it kind of wraps up: he says they haven’t even started discussing what could potentially go in that spot. The city is still trying to manage the fire. “I’m sure there will be discussions but I don’t have any info on that.” /end #newwest

— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) September 17, 2020

Ayotte says he predicts that in the coming days, community members will be coming forward to express their “concern and sense of loss.”

“I know that the park itself and the installation were much beloved by the community.”

The piece was created by a Brazilian artist who is aware of its destruction.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation and a man has been arrested for arson following the blaze.