Gordon Pinsent statue in hometown of Grand Falls-Windsor is a fitting tribute, says nephew

Troy Turner · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 16, 2025 4:30 AM EDT | Last Updated: 8 hours ago

There was Gordon Pinsent, the award-winning actor, director, writer and producer, the "codfather," dependable of Babar, the Rowdyman and 1 of the astir beloved characters Newfoundland and Labrador has ever known.

Then, determination was Uncle Gord, the fun-loving relative, who was ever speedy with a joke, and made clip for everyone successful the family, particularly the children.

"When Uncle Gord came home, helium didn't bring Gordon Pinsent with him," said nephew Ron Smith. "When helium was home, helium was Uncle Gord … Nobody got near out. For immoderate crushed that was precise important to him."

Now, there's Gordon Pinsent, the bronze statue — a tribute to the antheral who paved the mode for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians successful their pursuit of enactment connected signifier and screen.

Pinsent died successful 2023 astatine the property of 92.

The statue was a associated task of the municipality of Grand Falls-Windsor and the province. Morgan MacDonald created the sculpture, which was unveiled implicit the play during the Salmon Festival.

"He'd beryllium honoured, but I deliberation he'd decidedly beryllium somewhat humble, possibly a small embarrassed," Smith said.

"If helium were here, helium would effort and get astir that with humour. When Gord felt humbled oregon a small embarrassed, helium automatically went to humour."

The statue presently resides extracurricular of Grand Falls-Windsor's municipality hall. It volition beryllium moved to different determination truthful Pinsent looks down High Street, and the neighbourhood wherever helium grew up.

Holly Dwyer, a municipality councillor who helped spearhead the initiative, hopes to grow connected the tribute with storyboards and a show to further archer Pinsent's story.

"We wanted the statue to beryllium classy," she said. "We wanted it to perfectly lucifer him done the decades of enactment that helium was known for. But we besides wanted it to beryllium inviting."

Since the play unveiling, Mayor Barry Manuel said the effect has been phenomenal.

"This spot has been buzzing with activity," helium said. "People proceed to travel down and beryllium connected the seat and talk to Gordon successful immoderate cases. It decidedly brings up a batch of bully memories for people."

Manuel said Pinsent is simply a large portion of the assemblage and the statue represents the connection.

WATCH | Pinsent is present immortalized with a statue successful his hometown: 

For Smith, the tribute makes cleanable sense. If determination was ever an ambassador for the province, and Grand Falls-Windsor successful particular, his uncle led the way.

"He sold the state everyplace helium went, whether helium was talking to politicians, whether helium was talking to radical wrong the acting [community]. And it didn't matter," said Smith.

"If you asked him wherever you're from is from Newfoundland. And helium ne'er has said, 'I'm from Canada.' He said helium was from Newfoundland and, much specifically, Grand Falls."

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