Le Griffon Ship

Le Griffon was a 17th-century, 45-ton, five-gun "barque" built by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, at Fort Frontenac, Kingston.  He built the ship in his quest to find the Northwest Passage to China and Japan.

On September 18, 1679, the ship loaded with furs sailed eastward but the 'magic' vessel vanished with no one knowing when, where, or why.  It has still not been discovered.

November 27, 2018: The 2014-2018 LaSalle Council Members hosted a “christening” of Le Griffon in the roundabout at Todd Lane and Malden Road. With the help of Rev. Canon Sue Paulton, Le Griffon was blessed, and former Mayor, Ken Antaya, broke a bottle of champagne on the bow of the ship, re-enacting when the original ship was christened in honour of Frontenac (Governor General of New France 1672-1682) whose coat-of-arms contained a griffon. Father Louis Hennepin, a bearded priest dressed in a hooded, brown-grey robe, gave the original blessing.

Corten Steel Art - French Voyageur’s Ship Le Griffon

Le Griffon, installed  in the roundabout at Malden Road and Todd Lane in June 2018, was crafted with corten steel. This specialty steel is intended to look aged and rusted. Corten steel made its first impressive appearance in the 1960s when the Finnish-American architect Saarinen used it to create a structure in Moline, Illinois.

It has since been used for award-winning buildings and art throughout the world. The medium is specific and chosen to tell a portion of the story that the art presents.

Artists have made spectacular use of corten steel, notably Picasso (The Picasso in Chicago) but also American sculptors Richard Serra (Fulcrum, Snake) and Robert Indiana (Love), French sculptor Bernar Venet (Arcs) and British sculptor Antony Gormley (Angel of the North). In Vancouver, there is Gateway to the Northwest Passage by Alan Chung-Hung at Vanier Park, and Tuning Fork by Gerhard Class in front of the music building at the University of B.C.

It was decided to create a rendition of Le Griffon the boat used by the French Explore Rene-Robert Cavelier de La Salle during the 1600’s, who had multiple voyages from New France, along the Detroit River and down into the United States. “Le Griffon” is also used in the brand for the town of LaSalle and assimilated into the Town logo.