Figurehead at Stanley Park of the 'Empress of Japan', Vancouver, B.C.

In the distance is the Lions Gate Bridge

A fibreglass replica of the dragon figurehead of the Empress of Japan. This ship was built in England for the Canadian Pacific Railway's ocean fleet and arrived in Vancouver in June 1891.  By the time the CPR retired her in 1922, she had crossed the Pacific 315 times. More info here.

The name Empress of Japan was revived for a much grander Canadian Pacific ocean liner in 1930 (see earlier post).

A figurehead is a carved wooden decoration placed at the prow of ships, largely between the 16th and 19th centuries, usually representing a person, but also animals.

'would I make a good figurehead?'