The Oarsman

Robert Spaith

This bronze sculpture commemorates the life of John Lecky (1940-2003), a Canadian businessman, athlete, outdoorsman, and philanthropist. Effie Lecky, his wife, donated it to the City of Calgary.

About this work

John Lecky contributed to Canadian sports in a number of ways, including as a rower in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. Along with his teammates, Lecky won a silver medal at these games in the Men's Coxed Eights. Some 24 years later, he was Canada's Chef de Mission for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States. This sculpture shows the athlete in a very dynamic pose. He is just about to pull back his oar, perhaps helping to propel his team to victory. "The Oarsman" was created by Robert Spaith, a Calgary-born artist. Although he creates sculptures of a variety of subjects, he is best known for works depicting horses and aspects of cowboy culture.

Details

Title
The Oarsman
Type
Sculpture
Creator
Robert Spaith(Artist)

Location & access

Elbow Drive between 30 Avenue and 29 Avenue SW

3016 Elbow Drive SW

Calgary, Alberta, CA T2S 2J2

Publicly accessible
Google Maps

Hours are subject to change for events or maintenance — please check on-site signage for the most up-to-date information.

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Last updated March 20, 2026

Designed and developed by Built by Field

© 2026 Built by Field. All artwork remains the property of its respective owners.

Data provided by Calgary Arts Development Authority, The City of Calgary, MapTiler, OpenStreetMap, and other open data sources.

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Calgary Public Art Guide

The Oarsman

Robert Spaith

This bronze sculpture commemorates the life of John Lecky (1940-2003), a Canadian businessman, athlete, outdoorsman, and philanthropist. Effie Lecky, his wife, donated it to the City of Calgary.

About this work

John Lecky contributed to Canadian sports in a number of ways, including as a rower in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. Along with his teammates, Lecky won a silver medal at these games in the Men's Coxed Eights. Some 24 years later, he was Canada's Chef de Mission for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States. This sculpture shows the athlete in a very dynamic pose. He is just about to pull back his oar, perhaps helping to propel his team to victory. "The Oarsman" was created by Robert Spaith, a Calgary-born artist. Although he creates sculptures of a variety of subjects, he is best known for works depicting horses and aspects of cowboy culture.

Details

Title
The Oarsman
Type
Sculpture
Creator
Robert Spaith(Artist)

Location & access

Elbow Drive between 30 Avenue and 29 Avenue SW

3016 Elbow Drive SW

Calgary, Alberta, CA T2S 2J2

Publicly accessible
Google Maps

Hours are subject to change for events or maintenance — please check on-site signage for the most up-to-date information.

Nearby

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Last updated March 20, 2026

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