"Holding Court" John A. Macdonald Statue

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Consultation has concluded

Public feedback for this project has now closed.

The “Holding Court” John A. Macdonald statue will remain in its current location on Picton Main Street following a decision by County Council at a special meeting on Tuesday, November 17. Read more on the County of Prince Edward website.


The Sir John A. Macdonald statue "Holding Court" was returned from storage to Picton Main Street at the Picton Library in early 2020 (after its original installation in 2015). Its return was a catalyst for conversation about Sir John A. Macdonald's past, within the broader context of colonialism. From this conversation

Public feedback for this project has now closed.

The “Holding Court” John A. Macdonald statue will remain in its current location on Picton Main Street following a decision by County Council at a special meeting on Tuesday, November 17. Read more on the County of Prince Edward website.


The Sir John A. Macdonald statue "Holding Court" was returned from storage to Picton Main Street at the Picton Library in early 2020 (after its original installation in 2015). Its return was a catalyst for conversation about Sir John A. Macdonald's past, within the broader context of colonialism. From this conversation came the Prince Edward County Public Library's Speaker Series (Dr. Niigan Sinclair, Sarah Midanik, Kateri Lucier-Laboucan and Calvin Brook) addressed the need for projects which aim to restore Indigenous presence within communities, among other things. Other speakers were scheduled into March, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused the series to be cancelled due to public health measures.


The "Holding Court" Statue Working Group" was formed under the Prince Edward Heritage Advisory Committee (PEHAC) to conduct public consultation, research and ultimately to make recommendations to PEHAC about the future of the "Holding Court" statue. Their mandate is to advise PEHAC in their recommendation to Council in regard to the current installation in Picton of the "Holding Court" Sir John A. Macdonald statue.


Their goals are as follows:


  1. Follow the scope of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 10 Principles of Truth and Reconciliation
  2. Conduct research, carry out public consultation and prepare documentation, as necessary, to assist PEHAC in their recommendation to assist Council in their decision on the future of the Holding Court" statue
  3. Assist staff to prepare a report to PEHAC and ultimately Council by December 1, 2020, or as soon as feasible, outlining a recommendation for the future of the "Holding Court" statue.

Through this Have Your Say public engagement page, the Working Group will share information relevant to the public discussion, including their terms of reference, the 10 Principles of Truth and Reconciliation, and other documents (located in "Resources").


The Working Group would like to hear your views on what should be done with the "Holding Court" statue.


Individuals and organizations can tell the Working Group their views:


  • Directly (in person or virtually) by presenting deputations (see "Deputation Guidelines" for more information on making public deputations)
  • During a Town Hall event planned for Fall 2020.
  • Via email to: ecowan@pecounty.on.ca
  • By fax at: 613.476.5727
  • By mail to: The "Holding Court” Statue Working Group, c/o County of Prince Edward, 332 Main Street, Picton, ON, K0K 2T0.

Please note that deputations and all comments are public.


Please explore the feedback options available on this page (below) to give your feedback. Register for updates to this page to get notified when new consultation tools are added as the Working Group progresses towards their goal.


In the words of Dr. Niigan Sinclair during his address in Picton, "What do we do with this history we have inherited together?"

Tell us what the Holding Court statue means to you?

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share No Monuments to Racism on Facebook Share No Monuments to Racism on Twitter Share No Monuments to Racism on Linkedin Email No Monuments to Racism link

    No Monuments to Racism

    by Matt Vincent, over 5 years ago
    A statue glorifies. People who are racist or progress racist agendas don’t deserve monuments. Statues don’t cause people to have well thought out discussions of legacies, they either instill pride or remind people of pain.


    By saying you want this monument to remain you’re essentially saying you don’t give a damn about other people’s pain. What’s more important if you truly believe in reconciliation?

    A statue glorifies. People who are racist or progress racist agendas don’t deserve monuments. Statues don’t cause people to have well thought out discussions of legacies, they either instill pride or remind people of pain.


    By saying you want this monument to remain you’re essentially saying you don’t give a damn about other people’s pain. What’s more important if you truly believe in reconciliation?

  • Share Unwelcome on Facebook Share Unwelcome on Twitter Share Unwelcome on Linkedin Email Unwelcome link

    Unwelcome

    by Meghan Beatty, over 5 years ago
    While I reside in Quinte West, I spend a great deal of time in the County visiting friends and patronizing the local businesses. If I were to move, I'd gladly move to Picton as it's one of the most welcoming and genuinely friendly small towns I've ever encountered.


    However, the Sir John A. MacDonald statue takes away from the welcoming nature of the community. Statues don't educate, they celebrate, and to have a statue of a man who committed so much harm to Indigenous people planted squarely in the centre of downtown at best celebrates the good deeds of our... Continue reading

    While I reside in Quinte West, I spend a great deal of time in the County visiting friends and patronizing the local businesses. If I were to move, I'd gladly move to Picton as it's one of the most welcoming and genuinely friendly small towns I've ever encountered.


    However, the Sir John A. MacDonald statue takes away from the welcoming nature of the community. Statues don't educate, they celebrate, and to have a statue of a man who committed so much harm to Indigenous people planted squarely in the centre of downtown at best celebrates the good deeds of our first Prime Minister and whitewashes the suffering he had a direct hand in. At worst, it sends a message that the lives of those Indigenous individuals and families who suffered, died, and lost their ways of life simply don't matter.


    The fact that there was controversy when the statue was first discussed and commissioned should have given pause, this working group should have happened back then. We can no longer (and never should have, to begin with) rally around our historical heroes and treat the history of BIPOC and other marginalized communities as secondary. The harm is not over, it's still happening. Racism is active every day in our community whether we wish to acknowledge it or not, and it should not be shrugged off. If the County wishes to be a welcoming community where everyone matters, it cannot continue to shine up the bloody legacy of the man who happened to be Canada's first prime minister.


    By all means, put the statue in a museum. Create an exhibit around it that offers context and education. Macaulay Heritage Park has done an excellent job of showing the history of all residents of PEC and not ignoring the harms of past and present. History is in no danger of being forgotten. As well, Picton has proven itself able to move into the necessary future by welcoming the LGBTQ+ community in a visible way, BIPOC individuals and families deserve the same. Removing the statue from Main Street is the first step.

  • Share He needs to go on Facebook Share He needs to go on Twitter Share He needs to go on Linkedin Email He needs to go link

    He needs to go

    by Jamie Boomhour, over 5 years ago
    Macdonald is the reason aboriginal children were stripped from their families and suffered physical, mental and sexual abuse in the Indian Day Schools. To have a monument celebrating his legacy is to accept the injustices suffered by First Nations people at the hands of this man.
    Macdonald is the reason aboriginal children were stripped from their families and suffered physical, mental and sexual abuse in the Indian Day Schools. To have a monument celebrating his legacy is to accept the injustices suffered by First Nations people at the hands of this man.