City unveils new public art sculpture at the Fountain Street Soccer Complex

A new permanent, public art installation was officially unveiled at the Fountain Street Soccer Complex on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The City of Cambridge invited artist Pierre Poussin to join the Mayor and members of Council to celebrate Lumière, the latest addition to the City's public art collection.

“Public art like this enriches our public spaces and makes them more welcoming,” said Mayor Jan Liggett. “It allows us to engage with our surroundings in a new way. Our shared values and diversity are celebrated, and it helps build a stronger sense of community. Lumiere represents the spirit of Cambridge, creative, inclusive, and forward-looking.”

Commissioned as part of the City’s 50th anniversary, submissions were received in 2024, and Poussin’s sculpture was chosen from five finalists. The 10-metre-high sculpture made of weathered steel with LED lighting, pays tribute to the historic Sheave Tower in Blair – one of the last remaining wooden sheave towers in Ontario. The original tower was built in 1876 to as part of the Carlisle Grist Mill and was eventually retired in 1954. A report was approved by Council on Tuesday, June 17 to add additional heritage attributes to protect and acknowledge the tower’s historic significance.

"As an artist, I'm continually inspired by how history informs so much of what we are living today and guides us towards our shared future,” said Pierre Poussin. “The Sheave Tower so eloquently symbolizes the history of the land, the population and the innovations of Cambridge and the power of community. My hope is that Lumière pays homage to the Sheave Tower, and how it provides a light of a harmonious community coming together towards a better home for all."

To learn more about the City’s public art, please visit cambridge.ca/PublicArt