Canadian Book celebrates Wolverhampton Wolf Link near 10th Anniversary

A new Canadian book has highlighted an unusual and welcome link between Wolverhampton and the city of Thompson in Manitoba.

The book, The Spirit Way Story by Volker Beckmann, celebrates Thompson’s famous Spirit Way, a trail known for its striking wolf sculptures, public art and its role in promoting the city’s identity as part of the “Wolf Capital of the World”.

Of special interest to readers in Wolverhampton is the book’s recognition of the connection between Thompson’s Spirit Way and the Wolves in Wolves 2017 sculpture trail which brought decorated wolf statues to locations across Wolverhampton and over 100,000 people to the City in the summer of 2017.

The link between the two places is a natural one. Wolverhampton has long been proud of its wolf emblem, its civic identity and its footballing association with Wolves, while Thompson has built an international reputation around wolves through art, tourism and education. That shared symbolism helped create a cultural bridge between the West Midlands and Manitoba, showing how public art can connect communities separated by thousands of miles.

Particular thanks are due to Volker Beckmann, of Thompson, for helping tell the story of Spirit Way and its wider connections, and to artist Jasyn Lucas, the native Canadian artist whose work helped strengthen that bond during the 2017 Wolverhampton trail.

The inclusion of Wolverhampton in The Spirit Way Story is a reminder that the city’s wolf identity continues to resonate far beyond the Black Country. Wolves in Wolves was created and delivered by Paul Darke of Digital Disability in partnership with organisations across the city including the University of Wolverhampton.

It is a proud and touching link and one that shows how two very different communities can find common ground through art, heritage and the enduring symbol of the wolf. Although the organisers in Wolverhampton have wanted to do it again since 2017 with new artists and new sculptures the Wolverhampton City Council have not wanted to do it again despite similar projects happening across the UK and the Wolves in Wolves project being the lowest cost project in the Country bringing over £2 million to the city.

Around 15 Sculptures are still available to see in the city as well as an additional one from Wolverhampton – The Panto Wolf – being at Thompson Airport in Manitoba.