Statue of Oscar Peterson facts for kids
A statue honoring the famous Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson stands in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. You can find it at the corner of Elgin and Albert streets. It is located right outside Canada's National Arts Centre. This special statue celebrates one of Canada's greatest musicians.
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What the Oscar Peterson Statue Looks Like
This life-size statue shows Oscar Peterson sitting at a piano. He has a big smile on his face. There is even an empty space on the bench. This allows visitors to sit right next to him. The artist wanted it to look like Peterson had just finished playing. He would then turn to greet his audience.
Who Created the Statue?
The statue is made from bronze. It was created by a Canadian sculptor named Ruth Abernethy. Abernethy said she designed the statue to be very welcoming. She wanted people who loved Peterson to feel close to him. It's a chance to have a special moment with Oscar.
The Piano's Special Keys
The piano in the statue has 97 keys. A normal piano usually has 88 keys. This design is based on an Austrian piano that Peterson really liked. Abernethy added the extra keys for a reason. She said they represent his amazing musical creativity. Peterson was a musician who loved to imagine new things with the piano. Ruth Abernethy also created a statue of another Canadian pianist, Glenn Gould. That statue is outside the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto.
How the Statue Was Funded
The statue cost $300,000 to create. Money for the project came from private donations. Many people and groups helped fund it. Major donors included Allan Slaight's charitable foundation. Fred and Anne Ketchen from Mississauga also gave money. The Toronto-Dominion Bank and the Mayor of Mississauga's Foundation also contributed.
Unveiling the Statue
The statue was officially revealed on June 30, 2010. Queen Elizabeth II unveiled it herself. She was the reigning sovereign of Canada at the time. The unveiling happened during her nine-day visit to Canada.
Queen Elizabeth and Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson had performed for Queen Elizabeth before. He played for her during her Canadian tour in 2002. That visit celebrated her Golden Jubilee. At the unveiling ceremony, the Queen met Peterson's wife, Kelly Peterson. She also met his daughter, Celine. The Montreal Jubilation Choir performed Peterson's song, "Hymn to Freedom."
Family's Reaction
Kelly Peterson shared her feelings about the statue. She said it was "like walking in and seeing him." She found it amazing how real it looked. She also said it was "an overwhelming honour for Oscar." She felt very proud and pleased about it.
Recent Events at the Statue
In August 2014, the statue was vandalized. Two people painted gold tears onto Peterson's eyes. An outdoor concert was held by the statue in August 2015. This event celebrated what would have been Peterson's 90th birthday.
