Controversial Cornwallis statue removed from Halifax park

A statue of Edward Cornwallis, Halifax's controversial founder, was removed from the park that also bears his name Wednesday afternoon.

Crews strapped the statue, hooked it on to a crane and lifted it from its pedestal around 4:30 p.m. local time to a small crowd of cheering people. The statue was then placed on the back of a truckheaded for storage.Work to remove the statue started around 11 a.m.

Halifax regional council voted 12-4 Tuesday to remove the bronze monument commemoratingCornwallis,the military officer who founded Halifax in 1749.

The decision comes after increasing controversyover Cornwallis's so-calledscalping proclamation thatoffered a cash bounty to anyone who killed a Mi'kmaw person.

Both the statue and the stonepedestal on which it stands will be placed in storage.

Rebecca Moore, aMi'kmawand a member of Pictou Landing First Nation,helped organize protests against the Cornwallisstatue.She said removing it is an "awesome"step toward reconciliation.

"I know Mi'kmaw nation is very happy right now, I know that, so I would say that's a definite step forward in reconciliation," she told CBC's Information Morning.

The recommendation to remove the statue from the park was outlined in a report added as part of a last-minute motion to Tuesday'scouncil agenda. It cited public safety concerns and building better relationships with Halifax's Indigenous communities as reasons to put it in storage.

Moore said her group engaged inpeaceful protests and had no intention of escalating into violence.

"I can guaranteeand I can vouch for that we never planned violence on our part, but I think that what the city was finally recognizing is something that we were telling them for a long time and it's how this statue is a flashpoint for racial tensions," she said.

Moore said she would like to see the statue putin a museum with a description explaining the history behind Cornwallis and why the monument was removed from the park.

"It's not about erasing history at all, so that argument is not accurate because I feel like this whole process is actually bringing to light accurate history without offending a whole nation of the Indigenous peoples here," she said.

Founders could be honoured

Leo Deveau, strategic planning chair of the Halifax Military Heritage Preservation Society, watched as crews began taking apart the statue Wednesday.

Deveausaid he is nothappy with the process that led to the statue being removed, but said he wants to move forward.

"Obviously it's been divisive in different ways, but I really think that now is the time to look at what are our options in terms of this statue and other possibilities," Deveau said.

Deveau said the park could be used to highlight the city's founders with statues representing the Mi'kmaq and Acadiansand Cornwallis.

"It's not about putting it back up, it's about bringing it together with other elements of the historical narrative," Deveau said.

'A good step'

Corey Hincheyshowed up at the park to watchthe statue come down. He said his is "100 per cent on board" with it being removed.

"I'm not for burying it completely, but Ithink its purpose would be better served in a museum where people can read about the history of it. I think it's very offensive to a large group of people," Hinchey. "I think it's a good step in the right direction."

Sonia Losierworks across the street from the statue also said she is happy to see it come down.

"I'm Acadianso for me, to know what he didto the natives and to my ancestors, you know, it's a really good feeling. I had to see it," Losier said.

A 'learning' moment

Coun. Lisa Blackburn, who voted in favour of removing the statue, agrees a museum is a more appropriate placefor the statue.

"It's going to be about learning going forward," she said.

With the statue removed, Blackburn said she hopes theAssembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Chiefs will come back to the table and help form anexpert panel to make recommendations on how to handle other municipal properties named after Cornwallis.

Talks between the municipality and the assembly broke downafter some regional councillors rejected one of the panellists suggested by the assembly.

The dispute centred around Wilbert Marshall, the chief of Potlotek First Nation. Some councillors refused to accept Marshall's appointment because he was convicted in 2008 of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman.

Edward Cornwallis statue removed from Halifax park

7 years ago

Duration 1:00

Halifax regional council voted 12-4 Tuesday to remove the bronze monument commemorating Cornwallis, the military officer who founded Halifax in 1749.