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Secondary sourceSculpture1893

Statue of John A. Macdonald, Gore Park

George Edward Wade · 1893

An 1893 statue of Macdonald in Hamilton, by George Edward Wade, removed in 2021 amid changing views of his legacy.

This statue commemorated Macdonald in Hamilton, and its later removal reflects changing views of his legacy.

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Bronze statue of a standing man in a long coat on a tall grey granite pedestal, flanked by two cannons on stone plinths, in a downtown plaza with autumn trees and city buildings behind.
George Edward Wade, Statue of John A. Macdonald, 1893. Gore Park, Hamilton.

About this source

What it is

This bronze statue of Sir John A. Macdonald stood in Gore Park in Hamilton, Ontario. It was made by sculptor George Edward Wade in 1893, flanked by two cannons, and placed on a granite pedestal.

Why it matters

Macdonald was Canada's first prime minister. This early statue, made soon after his final years in office, reflects how contemporaries celebrated him as a national founder. Its removal in 2021 shows how public attitudes toward his legacy, particularly regarding Indigenous peoples, have shifted over time.

Look closer

  • Why was this statue put up so soon after Macdonald's death?
  • What might the cannons beside the statue suggest about how he was being honoured?
  • Why do you think communities today reconsider whether to keep such statues standing?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sir John A. Macdonald on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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