Roadkill crow sculpture on Ottawa pathway ‘taking off' Thursday

CTV News

3 days ago

The National Capital Commission says the 'When the Rubber Meets the Road' art piece will be along the LeBreton Flats Pathway for a year.
A sculpture of a dead crow along Ottawa's LeBreton Flats pathway will be flying away Thursday.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) says on social media the five-metre-long sculpture is being removed when its rental with the federal agency concludes.
The NCC is inviting the public to 'say goodbye before he goes.'
'Bye buddy, thank you for visiting! After two years along the LeBreton Flats pathway, the capital's favourite crow is taking off to its next perch,' the NCC said on Instagram.
'Its departure is a reminder to reflect on how we move, and what we leave behind.'
The 'When the Rubber Meets the Road' sculpture, made entirely of recycled rubber tires, became a subject of heavy discussion and criticism from residents when it was installed near the Pimisi LRT station in 2023.
The piece created by Prince Edward Island-based artist Gerald Beaulieu uses 50 to 60 tires. The sculpture is meant to symbolize roadkill and 'the collision between humans and the natural world.'
The NCC previously told CTV News Ottawa that it rented artwork at a cost of $14,022 in its first year. It later extended its rental at a cost of $7,253 for one more year with rates recommended by CARFAC (Canadian Artists' Representation) for fair compensation of artists.
It's unclear where the bird will land next.