Macdonald Monument facts for kids
| Monument à Sir John A. Macdonald | |
The monument as it appeared in 2011
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 Location in Montreal
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| Coordinates | 45°29′55.5864″N 73°34′10.578″W / 45.498774000°N 73.56960500°W |
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| Location | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Designer | George Edward Wade |
| Material | bronze, stone |
| Opening date | 6 June 1895 |
| Dedicated to | John A. Macdonald |
The Macdonald Monument (in French, Monument à Sir John A. Macdonald) is a special statue. It honors Sir John A. Macdonald, who was Canada's very first Prime Minister. The monument was created by a sculptor named George Edward Wade. You can find it in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, at a place called Place du Canada.
Contents
What the Monument Shows
At the very top of the monument, there is a female figure. She holds a "horn of plenty," which is a symbol of good things and lots of food. This figure represents Canada. Below her, you can see statues of children. These children stand for the seven provinces that were part of Canada back then.
The main statue of Sir John A. Macdonald is made of bronze. It stands under a stone canopy, which is like a decorative roof. This canopy has copper carvings that show different jobs. These jobs include farming and factory work. These were important trades in Canada when Macdonald was in charge.
The monument is set up so Macdonald looks towards the west-northwest. This direction points to the huge lands of Canada that were still developing. It's like he's looking out over the country. Interestingly, he also faces another monument. This one is for Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who was another Canadian Prime Minister. Laurier's monument is just across the street.
Two cannons stand on each side of the monument. These cannons were actually used in a war called the Crimean War. Queen Victoria gave them to the City of Montreal in 1892. This was a gift to celebrate Montreal's 250th birthday.
History of the Monument
The Macdonald Monument was officially revealed on June 6, 1895. A person named John Hamilton-Gordon, who was the Governor General of Canada at the time, did the honors.
Why People Are Discussing the Monument
In recent years, people have been looking more closely at Sir John A. Macdonald's role in Canadian history. Some of his past actions and ideas are now seen differently. For example, he had policies that aimed to make Indigenous Canadians adopt European ways of life. He also held views about Asian immigrants that are now considered racist.
Because of these concerns, some statues of Macdonald in other cities have been removed or damaged. Since 2017, the Montreal monument has also been spray-painted and changed several times. For example, during a protest by a group called Extinction Rebellion, it was painted blue.
Calls for Removal in Recent Years
In 2020, there were many anti-racism protests around the world. These protests followed the death of George Floyd in the United States. During this time, many people in Canada also started asking for Macdonald statues to be removed. They felt these statues honored people linked to Canada's colonial past.
In June 2020, it was reported that the Macdonald Monument was on a list of statues people wanted removed. A petition in Montreal asking for its removal gathered over 2,100 signatures. Other statues of historical figures in Canada were also spray-painted. This included a statue of Macdonald in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
On August 29, 2020, during a protest, the statue of Macdonald was pulled down and its head was removed. The mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, said this was wrong. She also stated that the city plans to fix and restore the statue.
Gallery
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Unveiling of the monument on June 6, 1895
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Place du Canada from René Lévesque Boulevard; Windsor Station in behind
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A cannon flanking the monument
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Canada Day, 2013
