Standing up for more statues
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Quebec's provincial slogan is "Je me souviens" ("I remember"). Those are no empty words. Quebecers do remember their history. On a recent visit to Quebec City and Montreal, I was awed by the number of statues that honour the memories of well-known politicians and historical figures.
As my wife and I strolled the grounds of the National Assembly in Quebec City, we saw statues at every turn. By my count, there are 22 of them. They include many of Quebec's 31 premiers and a sprinkling of other notable personages. Odd -- to me, at least -- was the statue of Rene Levesque. It's a poor likeness of the man, and it's marred by a small but significant historical inaccuracy. An omission, actually. The statue has no cigarette in its hands. Go figure.
I was no less surprised to find in Quebec City a statue of Gen. James Wolfe, the British officer who captured Quebec City in 1759. Mind you, it's located on the Plains of Abraham, not far from a bust of one-time French president Charles de Gaulle, who nowadays is mostly remembered for his infamous, inflammatory 1967 "Vive le Quebec libre" speech. (For the record: I tried to topple Chuck's head when I viewed it, but it was too firmly anchored.)
Montreal, like Quebec City, has statues galore. Some are serious. Some are whimsical. Many are memorable.
For example, I was intrigued to see that just inside McGill University's main gates on Sherbrooke Street there stands a bronze statue of James McGill, the British stateman and philanthropist who in 1821 played a key role in founding the school. Being a Queen's alumnus and a longtime employee, I couldn't help but wonder why there's no statue on campus to honour the Rev. George M. Grant, the legendary principal (from 1877-1902). "Wee Geordie" saved Queen's from being swallowed up by the University of Toronto or going bankrupt. Surely, the lack of a statue commemorating the man is an omission that should be corrected.
Other statues in Montreal honour important historical figures. The statue of Sir John A. Macdonald in Place du Canada grabbed my attention. The bronze likeness, created by English sculptor George Edward Wade, was unveiled in downtown Montreal in 1895, the same year as the Macdonald statue here in City Park. While Montreal's Sir John A. is grand and towering -- for better and worse -- Kingston's is relatively modest, austere even.
For a variety of reasons, cultural and economic, I think this city would be wise and would do well to follow Quebec's lead when it comes to honouring historical figures who've made a difference locally, provincially and nationally. Perhaps doing so could be a project for this city's 350th anniversary, which is coming up in 2023.
There's no shortage of candidates for us to immortalize in bronze or stone. I bet you can think of lots of worthy names. I know I can: politicians, royalty, military leaders, sports figures, scientists, writers, business leaders, etc.
Figures that spring to my mind -- take your pick! -- include: Count Frontenac and his associate La Salle; Thomas Kirkpatrick, who was Kingston's first mayor; Alexander Mackenzie, Canada's second prime minister (1873-78); Ontario Premier Oliver Mowat (1872-96); Queen Victoria; the aforementioned Queen's principal George Grant; grain merchant James Richardson; shipbuilder Delino Calvin; poet Charles Sangster; 19th-century scientist-philosopher Charles Allen; author Robertson Davies; rock musician Bryan Adams; actor-comedian Dan Aykroyd; Mohawk heroine-patriot Molly Brant; Hockey Hall of Fame brothers Bill and Bun Cook; Memorial Cup creator James T. Sutherland; and Donald S. Cherry. Yes, Cherry. Don't laugh! Tourists visiting Kingston would flock to have their photo taken with a statue of Grapes, just as they pose in front of The Tragically Hip Way street sign.
And speaking of that now-famous strip of asphalt, it seems to me that one ideal spot for the statues in downtown Kingston lies just in front of the main entrance to the Rogers K-Rock Centre. By dog-legging The Tragically Hip Way and moving it 20 or so metres south, the city could easily create space for a mini-plaza. People could safely gather here before and events in the K-Rock Centre -- rather than having to dodge cars and scramble across a busy street, as they do now -- and it would improve the look of the facility and would foster more of a sense of "occasion" for patrons who attend events at the entertainment centre.
There are other spots in the city's core area where statues could and should be erected. To me, the northwest corner of Springer Market Square cries out for one. So do Confederation Park, Queen's campus and Portsmouth village.
Statues. I say Kingston needs more of them. They'd foster awareness of this city's rich historical, political and cultural heritage. They'd create instant landmarks. And they'd delight tourists and other visitors to this city.
Statues are an old idea whose time has come for Kingston.
Ken Cuthbertson lives in Kingston.
The Kingston Whig-Standard 2017 ©
