I was a part of the first committee formed by Parks Canada that consulted with Rama First Nation, the Wendat of Quebec City and the people of Orillia in an attempt to re-imagine the Champlain Monument. It was a comprehensive process spanning over a year that resulted in several suggested outcomes. The overwhelming consensus of Orillia residents was that the monument should be reinstalled as it was but with different story boards that would provide a more fulsome accurate rendering of Champlain’s visit as well as the history of the actual statues. Other folks wanted it reimagined while others did not want it returned in any form at all. Ultimately the decision was Parks Canada’s alone and they recommended that the statue should return but in an altered form, an altered form to be determined by further discussions with all parties.
This decision predated the residential school revelations. Once the long suspected tragic truth about residential schools started to surface the proposed consultations broke down with our indigenous neighbours expressing concern and respectfully asking that they be excused from further discussions of the matter.
Parks Canada, at that time, respecting the sensitivity of the issue, mothballed the project.
Early in the present term of Council it was decided to look into the City reacquiring the bronze pieces and taking back ownership of the land they originally sat on in Couchiching Park.
I supported this action as I felt whatever the eventually resolution was regarding the statuary, Orillia was in a better position to understand local sensitivities and do the appropriate thing.
Because of my previous involvement I was asked to join the committee tackling the transfer.
I agreed to participate with the caveat that I was not in favour of doing any thing but bringing the statue back to be stored in Orillia until some future date when constructive discussions could perhaps occur- all parties willing.
The committee quickly became focused on re installing the monument in altered form as soon as possible. My opinion had not changed so I decided that it was not fair to the committee or the issue, so stepped down.
Council ultimately decide that the time was not right to pursue the Champlain initiative any further and that the appropriate thing to do given the tensions that existed on all sides was to put the Statue in storage and refer the issue to a more appropriate time in the future.
What has occurred over the past spring and summer months regarding the Champlain Monument, in my opinion, substantiates the wisdom of Council’s decision.
I don’t know what the final resolution will be but I look forward to a day when we arrive as neighbours at a place where everyone is comfortable.
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