Located in front of Barbour's General Store on King Street in downtown Saint John, in New Brunswick, Canada, is a set of eleven life-sized wood figures depicting people patiently waiting for something. One man buries his face at a newspaper. Another in trench coat, hands in pockets, lurks behind dark glasses. A bald gentlemen with a blond-haired child holds to a pinwheel while the child clutches a lollipop. Two guys chat on a motorcycle next to a lady. A woman sits on a bench, hands folded in her lap, as her child mischievously peeks over the back. An elderly man feeds a pigeon.

The sculptural pieces called “People Waiting” was made by English-born Canadian sculptor John Hooper back in 1977 for Canada Post, and originally stood in front of the Rothesay Avenue post office for 30 years. The sculptures were commissioned as part of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's plan to grace government building with public art. But once the pieces started to weather, Canada Post did not wanted to pay for its upkeep. The city of Saint John then stepped in and paid the $15,000 needed for refurbishment. The statues were restored and relocated to its current site on King Street.

Photo credit: Joe Schumacher/Flickr