Macdonald Monument: Difference between revisions

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Coordinates: 45°29′55.5864″N 73°34′10.578″W / 45.498774000°N 73.56960500°W / 45.498774000; -73.56960500
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This monument in memory of [[John A. Macdonald]] was unveiled by [[John Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair|Earl of Aberdeen]], [[Governor General of Canada]] on June 6, 1895.
This monument in memory of [[John A. Macdonald]] was unveiled by [[John Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair|Earl of Aberdeen]], [[Governor General of Canada]] on June 6, 1895.


===Calls for removal and vandalism===
===Vandalism and calls for removal===
Reassessments of Macondald's role in Canadian history, particularly his [[Cultural assimilation of Native Americans|assimilation]]ist policies toward [[Indigenous Canadians]] and [[racist]] views of Asian immigrants,<ref name="Fougere">{{cite news |last1=White-Crummey |first1=Arthur |title=Regina mayor has no desire to follow Victoria's lead on Sir John A. Macdonald statue |url=https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/regina-mayor-has-no-desire-to-follow-victorias-lead-on-john-a-macdonald-statue/ |accessdate=2 April 2020 |work=[[Regina Leader-Post]] |date=10 August 2018}}</ref> led to statues of Macdonald being removed and sometimes vandalized in other cities in the first decades of the 21st century.<ref name="Postey">{{cite news |last1=Postey |first1=Drew |title=Despite recent controversy Mayor Fougere disappointed to see MacDonald statue vandalized |url=https://www.620ckrm.com/2018/08/22/despite-recent-controversy-mayor-fougere-dissapinted-to-see/ |accessdate=2 April 2020 |work=620 CKRM |date=22 August 2018}}</ref> Since 2017, the Monument has itself been subjected to repeated vandalism, and was painted blue during an [[Extinction Rebelion]] protest.<ref>https://beta.ctvnews.ca/national/canada/2019/3/21/1_4346453.html</ref>
⚫
{{Main|George Floyd protests in Canada}}
⚫
In the midst of the anti-racism protests of 2020, which took place worldwide in solidarity with those following the [[death of George Floyd]] while in police custody, and the removal of [[Confederate Army]] statues in the [[United States]], Regina faced new calls to remove the Macdonald statue.<ref>{{cite news |title='Their time has come': Calls increase for removal of statues linked to colonial legacy |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada/their-time-has-come-calls-increase-for-removal-of-statues-linked-to-colonial-legacy-1.4979262?cache=yes?clipId=375756 |accessdate=22 June 2020 |work=[[CTV News]] |date=10 June 2020}}</ref> Early in June, it was reported that the Monument was on a list of fifteen statues across Canada subject to petition for removal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brimacombe |first1=Jody |title=15 racist statues in Canada that people want removed. |url=https://www.freshdaily.ca/news/2020/06/racist-statues-in-canada/ |accessdate=22 June 2020 |work=Fresh Daily |date=12 June 2020}}</ref> Several sculptures and monuments depicting historical figures across Canada "with ties to racist elements of Canada's past" were defaced, including a park bench statue of Macdonald covered in red paint in [[Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Teresa |title=John A. Macdonald statue in Charlottetown covered with red paint |work=[[Winnipeg Free Press]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |date=20 June 2020 |page=A16}}</ref>


===Renewed calls for removal amid anti-racism protests in 2020
== Vandalism ==
⚫
{{Main|George Floyd protests in Canada}}
⚫
In the midst of the anti-racism protests of 2020, which took place worldwide in solidarity with those following the [[death of George Floyd]] while in police custody, and the removal of [[Confederate Army]] statues in the [[United States]], Canadian cities have seen a rise in calls to remove Macdonald statues, and those of others linked to Canada's colonial legacy.<ref>{{cite news |title='Their time has come': Calls increase for removal of statues linked to colonial legacy |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada/their-time-has-come-calls-increase-for-removal-of-statues-linked-to-colonial-legacy-1.4979262?cache=yes?clipId=375756 |accessdate=22 June 2020 |work=[[CTV News]] |date=10 June 2020}}</ref> Early in June, it was reported that the Monument was on a list of fifteen statues across Canada subject to petition for removal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brimacombe |first1=Jody |title=15 racist statues in Canada that people want removed. |url=https://www.freshdaily.ca/news/2020/06/racist-statues-in-canada/ |accessdate=22 June 2020 |work=Fresh Daily |date=12 June 2020}}</ref> Several sculptures and monuments depicting historical figures across Canada "with ties to racist elements of Canada's past" were defaced, including a park bench statue of Macdonald covered in red paint in [[Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Teresa |title=John A. Macdonald statue in Charlottetown covered with red paint |work=[[Winnipeg Free Press]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |date=20 June 2020 |page=A16}}</ref>


The statue has been subjected to repeated vandalism since 2017, with calls for its removal due to the perceived racism of Macdonald's policies towards First Nations.
Now is painted blue as Extinction Rebelion going on in Montreal.
<ref>https://beta.ctvnews.ca/national/canada/2019/3/21/1_4346453.html</ref>


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==

Revision as of 16:38, 24 June 2020

Not to be confused with Statue of John A. Macdonald.
Macdonald Monument
Map
45°29′55.5864″N 73°34′10.578″W / 45.498774000°N 73.56960500°W / 45.498774000; -73.56960500
LocationPlace du Canada
DesignerGeorge Edward Wade
Materialbronze, stone
Opening dateJune 6, 1895
Dedicated toJohn A. Macdonald

The Macdonald Monument is a monument of sculptor George Edward Wade located at Place du Canada in Montreal.

Work

At the top, an allegorical female figure carrying a horn of plenty represents Canada. Below, the children symbolize the seven provinces that made up Canada at the time. The bronze is housed under a stone baldachin replete with copper bas reliefs of industrial and agricultural trades practised in the Dominion he first commanded. While the plaza is arranged along the skewed cardinality characteristic of Montreal, Macdonald looks west-northwest, under a canopy created by trades, at the vast expanse awaiting the command coming from Montreal. Also, he faces off against the tribute to Sir Wilfrid Laurier, across the street in what is now Dorchester Square. The whole monument constructed in the Dominion Square is the work of English sculptor George Edward Wade (1853-1933).

The two cannons flanking the monument were used at Sevastopol in the Crimean War and were a gift from Queen Victoria to the City of Montreal in 1892, to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the City.

History

This monument in memory of John A. Macdonald was unveiled by Earl of Aberdeen, Governor General of Canada on June 6, 1895.

Vandalism and calls for removal

Reassessments of Macondald's role in Canadian history, particularly his assimilationist policies toward Indigenous Canadians and racist views of Asian immigrants,[1] led to statues of Macdonald being removed and sometimes vandalized in other cities in the first decades of the 21st century.[2] Since 2017, the Monument has itself been subjected to repeated vandalism, and was painted blue during an Extinction Rebelion protest.[3]

===Renewed calls for removal amid anti-racism protests in 2020

Main article: George Floyd protests in Canada

In the midst of the anti-racism protests of 2020, which took place worldwide in solidarity with those following the death of George Floyd while in police custody, and the removal of Confederate Army statues in the United States, Canadian cities have seen a rise in calls to remove Macdonald statues, and those of others linked to Canada's colonial legacy.[4] Early in June, it was reported that the Monument was on a list of fifteen statues across Canada subject to petition for removal.[5] Several sculptures and monuments depicting historical figures across Canada "with ties to racist elements of Canada's past" were defaced, including a park bench statue of Macdonald covered in red paint in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.[6]


Gallery

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Sir John A. Macdonald Monument, Montreal.
  1. ^ White-Crummey, Arthur (10 August 2018). "Regina mayor has no desire to follow Victoria's lead on Sir John A. Macdonald statue". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  2. ^ Postey, Drew (22 August 2018). "Despite recent controversy Mayor Fougere disappointed to see MacDonald statue vandalized". 620 CKRM. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  3. ^ https://beta.ctvnews.ca/national/canada/2019/3/21/1_4346453.html
  4. ^ "'Their time has come': Calls increase for removal of statues linked to colonial legacy". CTV News. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  5. ^ Brimacombe, Jody (12 June 2020). "15 racist statues in Canada that people want removed". Fresh Daily. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  6. ^ Wright, Teresa (20 June 2020). "John A. Macdonald statue in Charlottetown covered with red paint". Winnipeg Free Press. The Canadian Press. p. A16.
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