Kingston prepares to remove Sir John A. Macdonald Statue from City Park
As the city of Kingston prepares to remove the Sir John A Macdonald statue from City Park, residents are reacting to the news the monument will be relocated.
On Wednesday evening, city council voted to remove the statue from the park, place it in a temporary location, with the goal of giving it a new home in the Cataraqui Cemetary, which is a National Historic Site where Canada's first prime minister is buried.
The decision to remove the statue from City Park follows a week of peaceful protests by Indigenous residents and allies in the park.
Indigenous residents told CTV News Ottawa they weren’t prepared to speak yet, but ally Viktor Thorson said he’d been at the event, which consists of a sacred fire and ceremony.
"My first reaction was a spark of joy but also a sense of resolve," he says.
Thorson says the atmosphere is one of momentary relief.
"I heard from people, 'I don’t come to this part of town because I don’t want to see this figure on a pedestal,'" Thorson says. "And I think at the very least when the physical marker is removed then some healing may be able to take place."
Kingston’s connection with Macdonald runs deep, and the city considers itself to be Macdonald’s hometown. Some are disappointed to see the statue being moved.
Resident Mark O'Farrell spoke about Macdonald's legacy and connection to the region during Wednesday's Council meeting.
"He was one of the founders of this country. A country that is today revered as one of the best to live," he said. "He was prime minister of Canada and he built the railroad that binds Canadians from coast-to-coast."
The statue will go into temporary storage, and the city will begin consultations with Indigenous members of the community.
In an interview Thursday morning with CTV News, Mayor Bryan Paterson called the decision to move it the best possible compromise.
"Those that are calling for the statue to be removed, the statue is being removed," he said. "Those that are concerned about removing history, that's not going to happen. The statue will remain. There’s a commitment that it will continue to be displayed."
The Limestone Public School Board also voted Wednesday to remove the name of Canada’s first prime minster from a school in the east end.
Paterson says Indigenous groups will be consulted on the statues destination and display in the coming weeks.
"This is all a chance for a community conversation," he explained.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.