News release
For immediate release
ESQUIMALT, BC—Visitors to Esquimalt Gorge Park will see new banners lining the roadway starting this week.
In early 2025, a public art call invited artists to submit designs for a series of street banners for the park. The initiative was part of the Township’s broader commitment to public art to enhance public spaces, foster community identity, and honour Esquimalt’s diverse cultural heritage.
Artist Marlene Janice Howell (née Seki) was selected as the artist for the 2025 banner installation.
“The Township of Esquimalt has provided an opportunity to acknowledge the Japanese Canadian culture and history through the street banners for Gorge Park where the original Japanese Teahouse first stood,” said Howell. “Our collaboration on this project has been an unforgettable experience.”
Artists were invited to respond to the theme “Reflecting Our Heritage and Landscape” and explore one or more elements such as:
- The natural beauty and biodiversity of the Gorge Waterway.
- The cultural diversity of Esquimalt’s community.
- The initiative aims to enhance awareness in our community surrounding inclusion, diversity, and equity
- The traditions and contributions of the Lək̓ʷəŋən People, including the Kosapsum Nation and Songhees Nation.
“Marlene’s banner designs reflect themes and inspiration from Japanese communities who have shaped the Gorge Park area,” said Mayor Barbara Desjardins. “The art is a nod to the natural beauty of the waterway and celebrates it as a space where family and friends can gather.”
The initiative supports goals outlined in Esquimalt’s 2023–2025 Economic Development Action Plan, particularly in the areas of placemaking, wayfinding, and place branding. It also reflects the objectives of Esquimalt’s Public Art Plan by fostering community identity, celebrating local heritage, and enhancing public spaces through art. The project was funded by the Township of Esquimalt through allocated funds for the revitalization of street pole banners.
Japanese traditions will be further celebrated at Esquimalt Gorge Park during the upcoming Japanese Cultural Fair on August 23, organized by the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society. More information at www.vncs.ca
More information
About the artist
Marlene brings a global perspective and deep personal connection to Japanese Canadian heritage and West Coast landscapes. Her artistic journey spans several continents, with exhibitions in Sudan, Cambodia, and across Canada. Her work has been featured by the Canadian Embassy in Phnom Penh and the Federation of Canadian Artists, among other notable organizations. Marlene’s approach blends photographic inspiration with mixed media, including graphite, charcoal, pastels, acrylics, and watercolour.
A current project, To See is to Remember, commemorates the lives and artifacts of Japanese Canadians in the 1940s–50s. Selections from this work will be exhibited at the Nikkei National Museum in 2025.
In July 2026, Marlene’s solo show will be exhibiting 12 artworks at the Arts and Cultural Society of Colwood with support from the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Centre.
About the banners
Each of the four banners is inspired by a Japanese idiom. The illustrations are thoughtfully composed to reflect the meanings behind the expressions. Full descriptions and images can be found on the township website.
About Esquimalt Gorge Park
Esquimalt Gorge Park, first established as BC Electric Gorge Park in 1905, occupies a site with a much deeper history. For thousands of years, the Gorge Waterway has been a place of cultural and spiritual significance for the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples, a connection that continues today. In 1907, BC Electric introduced the Japanese Tea Gardens along the shore near the Gorge Bridge, complemented by an amusement park and a floating sampan tearoom. These celebrated gardens became a cherished local attraction until 1941, when they were destroyed amid anti-Japanese sentiment during the Second World War.
In 2022, the township opened the Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion. The Japanese-inspired architecture and water views have made the venue a popular place for recreation and events. The park features a playground, the Gorge Waterway Nature House and various natural restoration sites aimed at promoting native ecosystems.
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Media contact
Tara Zajac
Manager of Communications
tara.zajac@esquimalt.ca
