Statue removal draws protest
VICTORIA — The statue of Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, was hoisted on a five-point harness from its place outside Victoria’s city hall early Saturday amid cheering, booing and disagreements about the politician’s legacy.
City crews started the process at 5 a.m. after some preparation, including erecting temporary fencing Friday night. The statue was driven away on a flatbed truck by 7:30 a.m. Afterward, crews remained to install an interpretive sign in the statue’s place.
The 635-kilogram bronze statue, installed in 1982, was cut with a saw under its limestone base — the metal rods holding it down were severed — and was removed with much care and attention.
At this point, some bystanders began singing O Canada, while others applauded and some booed.
The final stage of the lift and transportation of the statue was accompanied by people singing “na na na na, na na na na, hey, hey, goodbye” to drown out those with hands on hearts singing O Canada.
Matthew Breeden, one of a few young men wrapped in Canadian flags, said he came down to city hall to show respect for Macdonald, describing the removal of his statue as “like a funeral process.”
“I don’t support them taking down the statue; we want more debate,” Breeden said.
Bradley Clements, 28, held a sign reading: “No honour in genocide.”
Countering opinions that the presence of the statue promotes educational dialogue about history, Clements said: “If that’s the case, it’s failed.”
Clements said few who pass the statue know Macdonald, who was member of Parliament for Victoria from 1878 to 1882, as the architect of residential schools and other policies of assimilation under the Indian Act, and his refusal to supply food to starving First Nations on the Prairies.
“I think the act of removing it is starting that necessary dialogue,” he said.
His friend Kate Loomer, 25, said she has passed the statue — a statue that offends many Indigenous people — and never even noticed it.
“At no point did anyone ever say: ‘Let’s meet at the statue and talk about Indigenous rights and truth and reconciliation,’ ” Loomer said. “That’s the point.”
Tsastilqualus, 64, born and raised in Alert Bay and a fourth-generation residential-school survivor, was proud to witness the removal “of a shameful part of Canada’s history.”
Tsastilqualus wants the statue moved to a museum with an explanation of all facets of Macdonald’s policies — as well as an update on why the statue was moved from Victoria City Hall.
Eric McWilliam, 27, arrived on his electric bike about 5 a.m.
Until two days ago, McWilliam said, he was a fan of Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, but now he is offended that the mayor shut down public debate over the statue’s removal and that she “and a small group of political elites” made the decision.
“You can’t stop free speech,” McWilliam said.