Wendy and Charlie Thomlinson designed and created this very large stained glass window for a recently constructed community hall at the Garden River Reserve. The stained glass window represents the centre of the community with each colour having its own meaning and significance.
White is the colour of the North Wind, representing caring. Everything on our Mother Earth is moved by the North wind. The dark side of caring is when man has stopped caring for himself and the earth. White is also the colour of winter and represents the white race of man.
The black of the window represents the colour of the West Wind, symbolizing water and respect. In the dark, one must look twice. We learn to respect by looking twice. The opposite or dark side of respect is resentment. Associated with black is the fall and it represents the black race.
The colour of the East Wind is red, bringing with it springtime. In the springtime game is plentiful and food is plentiful and we all feel good. In contrast to the good feelings is their dark side, inferior feelings. Red represents the red race.
The yellow of the window is the colour of the warm South Wind and is symbolic of the sun. A good relationship with oneself and others takes time and patience. Envy is the dark side of relationships. Yellow is the season of summer and representative of the yellow race.
As the sun rises over the window, it rises over the centre of community, symbolic of the continual renewal of the community.

The Spirit of the North

The "Spirit of the North" was designed and created by Charlie and Wendy Thomlinson. They have been in the stained glass business for almost 20 years and have been commissioned to do many projects throughout Northern Ontario. The creation of this piece could not have happened without the assistance of many local businesses and individuals. The community spirits are alive and strong in Sault ste. Marie. Each wheel contains a small triangular shaped piece of glass from the Bishop Fauguier Chapel located on Queen Street by Algoma University. This church was built in 1883 as part of the Shingwauk School. Glassworks was part of a restoration project back in 1985 when some of the damaged stained glass windows were repaired. The pieces of broken glass were saved and are now being reused as part of the "Spirit of the North's" coloured wheel. All the coloured mirror was also donated by Glassworks.Charlie Thomlinson unveiled his Spirit of the North sculpture at a wine and cheese reception at the Art Gallery of Algoma. Thomlinson, a local artist and owner of Glassworks, was asked to design an icon that would signify the Sault and HomeComing and serve as a fond reminder to its recipients. The sculpture features a series of wheels containing stained glass salvaged from the Bishop Fauguier Chapel on Queen Street during a 1985 renovation project. The artist says the circle of steel symbolizes the strength that holds the community together, and the pieces of mirror represent the circle of family, friends, business, labour, vision and variety.