St. Catharines votes to remove controversial statue from city hall

The statue of Alexander Watson that has stood on the front lawn of St. Catharines City Hall for over 100 years will soon be removed. City councillors voted in favour of taking it down due to its impact on members of the Indigenous community.

St. Catharines mayor Mat Siscoe said, “The statue commemorates a soldier that fell at the Battle of Batoche, which was a part of what was called the North-West Rebellion, which we now call the North-West Resistance.”

Jessica Riel-Johns is one person who has been calling for the statue’s removal. “I do have a direct connection to the statue, my ancestor is Louis Riel.”

Louis Riel was a Metis leader, founder of Manitoba, and a central figure in the North-West Resistance in 1885.

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Watson fought against Riel. “The statue is a sign of oppression, my ancestor did fight to protect Indigenous people and ultimately paid the price, he was seen as a traitor to the country and was ultimately hung,” Riel-Johns said.

Riel-Johns works just across the street from where the statue stands at the corner of James and Church Streets. She says every time she walks by it, it’s a painful reminder.

“It’s kind of sombre for me because I know what it’s about, I know what was behind it.”

On Monday St. Catharines city council voted 12 to one to remove the statue. The motion was brought to council by Mayor Mat Siscoe.

“We now understand the North-West resistance was indigenous people fighting for their rights, to maintain their rights, so we felt it was a good time to bring it down, as part of our path to Truth and Reconciliation.”

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CHCH News was approached by multiple people outside city hall who told us they think the statue should stay.

“I think it could stay and put an explanation up, and just say you know things were different then and how does his family feel.”

Siscoe says city staff will report back on what is the most respectful way to de-commission the statue. He suggests moving it to Watson’s grave site at Victoria Lawn Cemetery.

“If it can’t though, staff are going to determine what the most respectful way is to deal with it, and they’ll come back with a report on that.”

City staff estimate the cost to remove the statue could reach around $60,000 which would come from the city’s reserve fund.

“There are some steps that we have to take that may have price tags attached to them, but if those steps are going to create a community where everyone feels welcome, we’re going to do it,” Siscoe said.

He says there is no clear timeline to remove the statue, but ensures it will be gone by Indigenous Peoples’ Day next year on June 21.

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