City of Kenora

The city of Kenora, Ont. is celebrating the safe return of two pieces of art, just days after launching an effort to get them back.

The city had declared that it would not be possible for the world to be a metal producer. Return them anonymously, the city said, and no questions would be asked.

They did not have to wait long for results, which came before the amnesty month. Two of the sculptures were discovered propped up against a ball field on Halloween day.

"It was kind of shocking," said Dave Canfield, "within no time two of them showed up immediately."

He added that he's hopeful the next two will be returned soon.

"It's amazing how pbadionate people get about certain things, and the public is quite pbadionate about these pieces of artwork," Canfield said, adding that it would be "great if we could have all of them back … by the end of November. "

A historic photo shows the Norman Bay Bridge in Kenora, Ont. The art is considered important to the city's heritage and reconciliation efforts, said Mayor Dave Canfield. (Lake of the Woods Museum)

The said figures are remembered by some members of the community, he said. They were built on stone pillars and displayed on a bridge that was constructed in 1948. However, the art was put under construction by the United States. The others disappeared in 2016.

How or why they were taken is a mystery, Canfield said, especially their size and weight.

"These are really big pieces of metal that have been cheated out of the cement work, and so it was not an easy job."

The city is here where the returned pieces of art might be displayed. They're like a place, said Canfield, noting that the city's roundabout – an entryway to the community – is one option.