Located in Mount Royal Park in Montréal, Qubec, the George-Étienne Cartier Monument has come to define the area and is connected to the entire nation of Canada. Its’ creation is a credit to Cartier’s worldwide appeal as well as a showcase of what it can mean for history to connect to the present and future of a city, region and nation.
“Above all, be Canadian”
Sir George-Étienne Cartier was a Canadian statesman and one of the 36 Fathers of Confederation for Canada. He is considered one of the most prominent of the entire group, compelling the efforts to create a monument to him. Those efforts began in 1912 and culminated with the unveiling of the George-Étienne Cartier Monument in 1919.
Articulated around 18 figures, the monument is topped by a winged Goddess of Liberty. The figure of Cartier is portrayed standing on a podium and performing his parliamentary duties, holding a document bearing the inscription “Avant tout, soyons Canadiens” (Above all, be Canadian).
Four recumbent lions symbolize the power and protection of the British Empire while various quotes attributes to Cartier and others have been engraved into the monument. A bronze banner below the statue reads “Ô Canada, mon pays mes amours” (O Canada, my country, my love), which is connected to a patriotic song written by Cartier in 1835. Additionally, the statue of Cartier towers over allegorical figures that represent the first four provinces of Canada: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Five women on the back side of the monument represent five provinces that joined the confederation later.
Features in maps and guides to the park and for the entire city, the George-Étienne Cartier Monument is both a physically powerful and spiritually important connection to the legacy of Monreal and all of Canada. It anchors the park and compels engagement with residents and visitors, highlighting what it can mean for a monument to become so much more to an entire community.
The most imposing landmarks in Montréal
Considered to be one of the most imposing landmarks in Montréal, the George-Étienne Cartier Monument has become a location that connects the context of changing empires, nations and entire civil societies. It highlights what it can mean for a monument to connect the past with the present in a way that compels interest from audiences of all types.
