Soldier statue missing in action

Something is missing from the centre of Winnipeg at the corner of Portage and Main — the historical First World War monument.

Upon the reopening of the famous intersection to pedestrian traffic, one would have thought that this important statue of a Canadian soldier would have been returned to its original location in front of the Bank of Montreal (BMO). The statue was originally placed there in 1923 by BMO to remember the 231 employees who gave their lives for our country’s freedom. Over the last 103 years, this monument has grown to become more than just BMO’s monument to citizens of Winnipeg. It came to also honour all soldiers who died in war.

In July 2025, the media reported that this statue was to be moved to the Brookside Cemetery Field of Honour (our military graveyard) when the Manitoba Métis Federation, which now owns the BMO property, gave the monument as a gift to the city last year.

According to Eric Bench, policy analyst in the mayor’s office, who I recently contacted, “The relocation was necessary because the monument currently occupies both private property and the public right-of-way, and its existing placement does not allow sufficient space for safe pedestrian crossings now that Portage and Main has reopened.”

In my opinion, that is a lame excuse when you consider the monument had been there for more than 50 years — 1923-1978 (with the pedestrian crossing closed 1979-2024) — with far more pedestrian traffic during the 1923-1978 period than the present time, and with no reported safety problems that I am aware of.

Why was safety suddenly an issue, since to my understanding, no evidence was ever given to support this safety concern?

As far as the issue of the statue being on both private and public land, the city could have negotiated a settlement to preserve the original historical location/intention of this monument. They had the power to do so but failed to do it.

Additionally, removing this monument from a highly visible spot location where thousands of people see it every day, and placing it in a military cemetery, where few people now see it, devalues its original purpose.

This monument is for the living, not the dead, a daily reminder to us of the devastating cost of war.

Bench pointed out that the MMF and the Royal Canadian Legion of Manitoba and Northwest Ontario were also consulted and supported this move. However, one might wonder how genuine their support was when the city told them there was a pedestrian safety concern.

My understanding is they were really presented with only two options, Brookside Cemetery or see it left in long-term storage indefinitely.

Finally, the biggest issue of all to me was the apparent lack of public consultation on this important historical monument. Bench also directed me towards the official approval process: “There was no separate vote of the full city council specifically on the monument. However, the standing policy committee on property and development voted unanimously to approve the recommendations in the Oct. 3, 2024 report.”

After a short discussion, the standing policy committee voted unanimously to pass it, and later was rubber-stamped by the city council. For the committee, the biggest issue was about what to do with the time capsule buried in the base of the monument.

What next?

Is this just a case of another important issue where the public was being left out of the loop?

Maybe there needs to be a public watchdog agency to publicize important current and future issues to the citizens of Winnipeg.

I’m very disappointed with how this issue was dealt with. Isn’t this just another example of erasing our history one monument and story at a time?

Ed Hume is a retired teacher and school board trustee. He writes from Winnipeg.