Wilfrid Laurier Memorial facts for kids
| Monument à Sir Wilfrid Laurier | |
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 Location in Montreal
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| Coordinates | 45°29′57.804″N 73°34′13.7532″W / 45.49939000°N 73.570487000°W |
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| Location | Dorchester Square |
| Designer | Joseph-Émile Brunet (1893 - 1977) |
| Type | Monument |
| Material | bronze, granite |
| Opening date | October 12, 1953 |
| Dedicated to | Wilfrid Laurier |
The Wilfrid Laurier Memorial (French: Monument à Sir Wilfrid Laurier) is a special statue. It honors Wilfrid Laurier, who was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada. You can find this monument in Dorchester Square in Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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What is the Wilfrid Laurier Memorial?
This memorial was built in 1953. It was designed by an artist named Joseph-Émile Brunet. The statue stands on the south side of Dorchester Square. It faces towards the United States.
Why does Laurier face the United States?
Wilfrid Laurier believed in working closely with the United States. He wanted Canada and the U.S. to have a strong economic relationship. He supported early ideas for free trade between the two countries. This means making it easier for goods to move between them.
Laurier vs. Macdonald: A Tale of Two Statues
Wilfrid Laurier was Canada's first French Canadian Prime Minister. His statue faces the Macdonald Monument, which honors John A. Macdonald. Macdonald was Canada's first Prime Minister. His statue is across the street in Place du Canada.
The Macdonald monument is made of stone. It has copper pictures showing farming and industry. Laurier's statue stands among the big trees of the square. Behind him is a granite carving. It shows the provinces that joined Canada when he was in charge. There is also a carving of a man and woman sharing a harvest.
Laurier and the Boer War
The Laurier Memorial also has a special meaning related to the Boer War Memorial. Laurier's statue has its back to the Boer War Memorial. This war was fought in South Africa. Britain wanted Canada to send troops to help.
Laurier faced a tough choice. He did not want to automatically send Canadian soldiers to every British war. This decision caused a lot of discussion in his government. Sending troops could make it seem like Canada would always support Britain's wars. Laurier was a smart leader. He wanted to keep both Canadian Imperialists (who supported Britain) and French Canadians happy.
Laurier once said: "While I cannot agree that Canada should take part in all of Great Britain's wars, I also cannot say that she should not take part in any war at all... I believe that in the future, Canada should be free to act or not act, to get involved or not get involved, to do exactly as she chooses."
In the end, many people in Canada wanted to send troops. So, Canada sent about 7,300 Canadians to South Africa. About one-third of these were official groups of soldiers.
How the Memorial Was Built
A group called the Laurier Memorial Committee was formed in 1948. This committee wanted to build a monument to Sir Wilfrid Laurier. It was supported by groups like the Canadian Democratic Institute. The statue was officially opened on October 12, 1953. The committee finished its work by the end of 1954.
Images for kids
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The Wilfrid Laurier Memorial in Montreal.
