Moose in the City
Moose in the City was a public art display in the year 2000 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada organized by the municipal government, which placed 326 life-sized moose sculptures throughout the city and decorated by local artists. Conception McDonald's Canada founder and senior chairman George Cohon conceived of moose statues being placed across Toronto in June 1999, after seeing Chicago's Cows on Parade. After suggesting the idea to Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman, he was named chairman of the campaign. Anti-globalization activist Naomi Klein was quick to criticize Cohon's involvement: "Mr. Cohon is an expert in transforming cityscapes with iconic plastic monuments." There was no cost to the city to run the campaign. Corporations paid $6,000 for the statues, with a standard $1,000 fee going to the artists. A July article stated the fee was $6,500. The fee included materials; one artist exceeded their payment by $140. Artists were given coupons for Benjamin Moore paint. During the project, he was given "hundreds of little moose things from everybody and anybody." They were at least considered, if not collected by the city, as were a large collection of personal papers. Fibreglass Fabricators Moose Productions Inc. created the plastic and foam moose. Business owner