Statues

Sir Wilfrid Laurier served as Canada's first Francophone Prime Minister from 1896 to 1911. During his premiership Canada experienced growth and prosperity. Under his administration, Alberta and Saskatchewan joined Confederation, the last British troops were withdrawn from Canada and the Royal Canadian Navy was founded.

In 1922, plans began for a statue of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. The competition for designing the monument received 40 entries from artists around the world. The winning entry was that of Joseph-Émile Brunet, a young artist from Montreal who would later become one of Quebec's foremost figure sculptors.

As the father of unemployment insurance, family allowance, and Canadian citizenship, King's accomplishments continue to affect the day-to-day lives of every Canadian. Leading the country in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, King held power for almost 22 years.

This statue was to be the first of four centennial statues to commemorate those Canadian Prime Ministers who played major roles in the shaping of the nation. In creating this monument, the Quebec artist Raoul Hunter strove to convey the forcefulness and determination that defined the strength of King's character.

As one of the Fathers of Confederation and Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald's role in shaping Canada's history is unparalleled. During his years as Prime Minister, Canada experienced rapid growth and prosperity. Manitoba, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island joined Confederation, while the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway's transcontinental line was driven into the ground.

The competition for the statue received approximately 44 submissions from artists in Canada, the United States of America, Great Britain and Europe. The committee of cabinet members and Public Works officials chose the statue designed by Quebec artist Louis-Philippe Hébert.

Depicted on her horse Centenial - the former RCMP horse officially presented to Her Majesty in 1977 - Queen Elizabeth II has reigned as Canada's monarch since 1952.

The monument was unveiled as part of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations. Jack Harman and his staff of ten worked for two years to create this monument.

This monument is the only one on Parliament Hill to honour two statesmen at once. Erected in 1914, it pays tribute to these two men who played a pivotal role in the peaceful movement towards responsible government in pre-Confederation Canada.

The competition for this statue was limited to Canadian artists. Walter Seymour Allward of Toronto was chosen unanimously by the then-newly formed Advisory Arts Council, a body formed to advise the Government on matters of art.

A Father of Confederation and a great orator, Irish-born Thomas D'Arcy McGee was one of the most vigorous supporters of Canadian Confederation. McGee was also known for speaking out against the Fenians, a group of Irish Americans who sought to invade Canada in the 1860s. His opposition to this group may have caused his death. He was shot and killed in 1868, by an assassin who many believe was a Fenian.

The competition for this statue was held simultaneously with one for a statue of George Brown. Both men were strong advocates of Confederation and both met violent and untimely deaths. Quebec sculptor George William Hill won both competitions.

The Victoria Tower Bell was cast in 1875 and installed in the Victoria Tower in 1877. The Bell fell from the Tower in the Centre Block fire of 1916 and is one of the few remaining links to Canada's first house of government.

This monument, restored in the year 2000 with the financial support of the Canadian Bankers Association, is a tribute to the role that the Bell played in an earlier time. It is showcased on a circular granite base, etched as the face of a clock, that represents its role in the keeping of time. The Bell's inclined position recalls the angle at which it came to rest after falling during the fire of 1916.

As a newspaper editor and politician, George Brown first became active in politics in 1844. Having founded a newspaper in Toronto called the Globe, he lent its support first to responsible government and later to the Confederation movement. He also fought for Confederation while serving as a Member of Parliament from the 1850s to 1867. Thirteen years after he retired from elected office, he was accidentally shot by an ex-employee of the newspaper and died from the subsequent infection.

Installed in 1913, this statue was created by Quebec artist George William Hill. In creating this statue, Hill emphasized the importance of Brown's support for the cause of responsible government.

Once a member of his cabinet, Sir Wilfrid Laurier described Mackenzie as "One of the truest and strongest characters to be met within Canadian History." During his 5 years as Prime Minister, the Supreme Court of Canada and the Auditor General's Office were established. He also introduced changes to election laws that included the right to secret ballot and universal male suffrage.

The competition for this statue was run concurrently with the monument in honour of Queen Victoria. After much deliberation both contracts were awarded to Quebec artist Louis-Philippe Hébert. After being displayed at the Universal Exposition in Paris in 1900, the statue of Alexander Mackenzie was placed on Parliament Hill in 1901.

Banished early in his political career for participating in the Rebellion in Lower Canada in 1837, Sir George-Étienne Cartier would go on to be created a baronet for the integral role he played in Canadian Confederation. Cartier formed a joint ministry for a United Canada from 1857 to 1862 with long-time friend Sir John A. Macdonald, thus serving as joint Prime Minister. Cartier died in 1873 at the age of 58.

Deeply affected by Cartier's death, Macdonald proposed that he be given both a state funeral and commemorative monument. As the first monument to be erected on Parliament Hill, the competition attracted entries from Canada, the United States of America, Great Britain, and Italy. The winner was Quebec sculptor Louis-Philippe Hébert. This would prove to be the first of four monuments he would create for Parliament Hill.

As Canada's 13th Prime Minister, from 1957 to 1963, John Diefenbaker introduced the Canadian Bill of Rights and extended the vote to include Native peoples. During his time as Prime Minister he was also the first to appoint a woman to the federal cabinet. He served as a Member of the House of Commons until his death in 1979.

In 1985, a motion for a monument in honour of John Diefenbaker was passed unopposed in the House of Commons. Twenty-one artists expressed interest in the project. It was awarded to Winnipeg-based artist Leo Mol, who had known Mr. Diefenbaker personally.

Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as Canada's capital in 1858. Nearly forty years later, a monument to Queen Victoria, intended as part of a lavish celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the sixtieth year of her reign, was proposed for the Hill.

The competition for this monument was only open to Canadian sculptors. Louis-Philippe Hébert, a sculptor from Quebec, won the contract. Before being placed on Parliament Hill, the statue was first displayed at the Universal Exposition in Paris in 1900.

When Lester B. Pearson became Canada's 14th Prime Minister, he had already received the Nobel Peace Prize for creating the United Nations peace-keeping force during his term as President of the General Assembly of the United Nations. While Prime Minister, Pearson's government established the Canada Pension Plan, universal health care and the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism. It also adopted a striking new flag. Thanks to Pearson's initiatives at the United Nations, that flag is now recognized world wide as the symbol of a peace-loving nation.

Danek Mozdzenski, the Edmonton-based sculptor responsible for creating this monument, completed the statue in 1989. From where the monument sits, at least twelve Canadian flags can be seen flying in the skies above Ottawa.

As Prime Minister during the First World War, Sir Robert Borden made a significant contribution to Canada's nationhood. He argued successfully that Canada and other countries in the British Empire should be recognized as autonomous nations, both in command of their own troops and in treaty negotiations at the end of the war. In 1918, his government passed the Women's Franchise Act, giving all women the right to vote in federal elections.

Of the 29 entries submitted to the contest for this statue, the winner was from Toronto-based sculptor Frances Loring. On the opening day of a new session of Parliament in 1957, the monument honouring Sir Robert Borden was unveiled.