Francois Thibault, Yellowknife artist, remembered

Francois Thibault, better known as T-Bo, started carving in Yellowknife in the 1980s.

Before long, he had established a reputation as one of the North's — if not the country's — top jewelers.

His work was shown at World Expos in Vancouver and Seville, Spain.

He was then commissioned to create official gifts for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip when they visited the North.

Thibault became the first Canadian jeweler in 75 years whose work graced the cover of the Gemological Institute of America's quarterly journal.

In 2009 his career literally took a "bigger" turn. Instead of working on small pieces, he turned his skills towards creating a 6-metre high sculpture of three drum dancers.

The sculpture, "United in Celebration," now stands on the shores of Yellowknife's Frame Lake across from city hall.

T-Bo became sick recently and died from a brain tumour.

CBC's Marc Winkler stopped by T-BO's workshop while he was working on the giant sculpture.

This story originally aired on the Trailbreaker in 2009.

• LISTEN Click the link on the top left to hear Marc Winkler visit T-Bo's workshop in Yellowknife

Winkler also spoke to Thibault’s friends and family to produce this look at his life and work.

• LISTEN Click the link on the top left for Marc Winkler's short documentary on T-Bo's life and legacy