Queen Elizabeth’s statue goes up at Queen’s Park, despite misgivings of Indigenous MPP

A 3,500-pound bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth II was hoisted into place in front of the legislature.

Thestar.com
Sept. 19, 2023
Rob Ferguson

The queen has landed after years in limbo.

A 3,500-pound bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth II was hoisted into place in front of the legislature Monday while Premier Doug Ford hosted Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow at a meeting inside.

“I just wanted her there, and there she is,” sculptor Ruth Abernethy told the Star as she watched a construction crane lift the work of art into position -- first for a trial fit, then, after four mounting pins were repositioned by the installation crew, into final position.

Work began in July to prepare the site, starting with a deep hole for a concrete foundation to support the weight of the heavy stone pedestal assembled in pieces over the last week behind a wall of plywood hoarding painted the colour of the building’s stone.

The queen gazes southeast from her throne past the front doors of the legislature.

“In the end, she’s watching people come in,” Abernethy said.

She noted the location in front of the building’s west wing was one of three discussed as the project was conceived and approved almost a decade ago. That’s when the Liberal government of former premier Kathleen Wynne agreed to give it a home.

But a private fundraising effort by the Canadian Royal Heritage Trust did not pan out, which left the statue in storage long past its planned installation in 2017 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Then came Premier Doug Ford’s 2018 election win and a pandemic.

Last year, prior to the Queen’s death at the age of 96 last September, the forgotten plight of the statue came to the attention of Legislative Affairs Minister Paul Calandra, who decided to take action. The legislature’s Board of Internal Economy subsequently approved up to $1.5 million get the statue out of an Etobicoke foundry, pay the artist and finish the job.

The board includes New Democrat MPP Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong), who objected to the installation, saying the money would be better used finding the unmarked graves of Indigenous children at residential school sites.

Abernethy, who described her role Monday as “hovering,” was there to provide any necessary advice. With dark clouds gathering overhead for a time, she reminded the crew that “the wrapper has to come off” if it rains because wet fabric on the new patina would ruin the finish.

“I’m relieved,” she said when the job was done and a protective tarpaulin wrapped around the statue until the surrounding lawn is restored and an official unveiling arranged.