‘We are Canada’: Artist envisions this 150ft Canadian symbol on Windsor’s waterfront

A local artist shows the angst between two countries in artistic form. CTV Windsor’s Stefanie Masotti reports.

A world-renowned artist says that the trade war between Canada and the United States is an opportunity for Canadians to come together, and demand respect.

Italian-Canadian international artist and designer Silvio Russo has a concrete vision on how to achieve that, “We have to scream loud. As loud as we can that... We are Canada.”

Russo has sold paintings, furniture and 3d sculptures to businesses around the world.

A concept model produced by Russo leans heavily on the symbolism of the Canadian flag, and he hopes that it will be constructed on Windsor’s riverfront, in a place clearly visible from the U.S.

“[It’s] like declaring how big we are - they have buildings, we have the spirit,” joked Russo. “Canada is not for the taking, have dignity, we have pride and we have a destiny which is our own.”

The site called “Canada Meeting Place” is a cathedral like maple leaf design which consists of 233 steel posts representing 233 Canadian cities from coast to coast. The proposed construction is a massive 150 feet across, and from the side it mimics a Canadian flag waving in the wind.

Russo envisions this structure as a way to elevate Canadians in challenging times, “[the] very soul of this country, [is] the people,” he said.