The statue of Sir Wilfrid Laurier stands at the corner of Parliament Hill, eternally staring out over a grassy lawn and the road behind it. With one hand at his waist and his eyes looking towards Wellington Street, the figure of Canada’s first francophone prime minister seems to almost survey what he helped create – a vibrant downtown Ottawa.
Though cars and buses have since replaced horses and carriages on the streets of Ottawa, Laurier is still one of the most respected figures in Canadian history. Under his leadership, Canada saw itself transform into a nation of industrialization and immigration. Laurier was also determined to see Canada gain political autonomy and pushed for greater independence from Britain.
Canada’s seventh prime minister, he was known for his desire to reconcile Canada to itself, promoting unity between English and French Canada. He also had one of the longest tenure as prime minister, staying in office for 15 years. In addition, Laurier won more consecutive federal elections than any other prime minister in history, making him one of the most enduring politicians Canada has ever seen.
The race to design his statue began in 1922, when more than 40 artists from around the world submitted entries to a competition for the right to build the monument. The winning artist, Jean-Émile Brunet, was a young Montrealer who went on to become a well-known sculptor.
While a couple of tourists take photos at the statue’s feet, they take note of the numerals 1841 and 1919, indicating Laurier’s date of birth and his date of death. Then they walk away, the statue casting a shadow across their path in the afternoon sun.