John A. Macdonald Legacy Review

Consultation has concluded

Please see the Legacy Review page on Regina.ca for updates on this project

As a community, we learn through the diverse experiences and perspectives that are our shared history.


The City of Regina invites you to join a community conversation on the legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald. The intent is to foster understanding and telling a complete story of Macdonald’s legacy, both his contributions to Canada as prime minister and founder of Confederation as well as the harmful impact his policies have had on Indigenous peoples and other ethno-cultural communities.

These conversations follow City Council’s decision on March 31, 2021 to relocate the Macdonald statue from Victoria Park. The statue is currently in secure storage in a City facility while consultation activities continue and Administration works with partners to identify options for a new location. A progress report on this work will be considered by City Council in spring 2022..

Since initiating a legacy review of the statue in June 2020, City staff have met with First Nations and Métis Knowledge Keepers, as well as Indigenous artists, curators and academics to seek guidance on how the statue can support a more complete story of the impact of Macdonald’s policies upon First Nations and Métis peoples and other ethno-cultural communities. .

While many historical texts document the negative impact of the Macdonald government’s policies on Indigenous and other ethno-cultural communities, many participants shared how these policies are still impacting them and their families today. For some, the statue is a regular reminder of colonial policies that relocated and restricted the movement of Indigenous Peoples, left their ancestors weaker and more prone to disease, and created residential and day schools.

Telling the full story is an important part of the City’s responsibilities as an institution engaged in Truth and Reconciliation. Moving forward, the City is considering programming and other resources to support increased understanding of Macdonald’s legacy.

We invite residents impacted by Macdonald’s legacy to use this online community to share their stories and the stories of their families. Through this, we hope to relearn a more inclusive history the experiences of Regina’s people.

Please see the Legacy Review page on Regina.ca for updates on this project

As a community, we learn through the diverse experiences and perspectives that are our shared history.


The City of Regina invites you to join a community conversation on the legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald. The intent is to foster understanding and telling a complete story of Macdonald’s legacy, both his contributions to Canada as prime minister and founder of Confederation as well as the harmful impact his policies have had on Indigenous peoples and other ethno-cultural communities.

These conversations follow City Council’s decision on March 31, 2021 to relocate the Macdonald statue from Victoria Park. The statue is currently in secure storage in a City facility while consultation activities continue and Administration works with partners to identify options for a new location. A progress report on this work will be considered by City Council in spring 2022..

Since initiating a legacy review of the statue in June 2020, City staff have met with First Nations and Métis Knowledge Keepers, as well as Indigenous artists, curators and academics to seek guidance on how the statue can support a more complete story of the impact of Macdonald’s policies upon First Nations and Métis peoples and other ethno-cultural communities. .

While many historical texts document the negative impact of the Macdonald government’s policies on Indigenous and other ethno-cultural communities, many participants shared how these policies are still impacting them and their families today. For some, the statue is a regular reminder of colonial policies that relocated and restricted the movement of Indigenous Peoples, left their ancestors weaker and more prone to disease, and created residential and day schools.

Telling the full story is an important part of the City’s responsibilities as an institution engaged in Truth and Reconciliation. Moving forward, the City is considering programming and other resources to support increased understanding of Macdonald’s legacy.

We invite residents impacted by Macdonald’s legacy to use this online community to share their stories and the stories of their families. Through this, we hope to relearn a more inclusive history the experiences of Regina’s people.

Share your story

What’s your story? We are especially interested to hear the stories that are unique to you and your experience. If you don’t have a story, you can also share your thoughts and ideas about local history and other issues or ideas that might be worth exploring. You can also upload photos, videos and insert links. 

We want this to be a safe space for everyone to share thoughts, feelings and opinions. Words are powerful, so please make sure yours are respectful to all. By sharing, you are helping to foster a community conversation that can give us all a better understanding of our collective history.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

  • Let's do Better

    by SK, over 5 years ago
    Hiding away history does not change the history. If we are wanting to have conversations of reconciliation is it not important to know the good, the bad, the ugly? Having the statue displayed is a good reminder that we can all grow, learn, and do better. Coming from an aboriginal background I do not see the need to remove the statue from its current location but it would be educational for visitors of the statue to have the full history displayed.
    Hiding away history does not change the history. If we are wanting to have conversations of reconciliation is it not important to know the good, the bad, the ugly? Having the statue displayed is a good reminder that we can all grow, learn, and do better. Coming from an aboriginal background I do not see the need to remove the statue from its current location but it would be educational for visitors of the statue to have the full history displayed.

  • Just my opinion on this matter (as well as other cancel culture issues)

    by James Afseth, over 5 years ago
    It is not our right to erase or hide history, no matter what!...ignorance of our history is far more dangerous than a monument that is offensive to a select few, and dooms us to repeat history.

    The good that Sir John A MacDonald did, should not be hidden from history...but neither should the his bad decisions.

    As a veteran of more than two decades of service to our country, both domestically and internationally, I've seen first hand how dangerous it is to erase or hide history...and I've seen the growing disrespect for our own war memorials, by people who have... Continue reading

    It is not our right to erase or hide history, no matter what!...ignorance of our history is far more dangerous than a monument that is offensive to a select few, and dooms us to repeat history.

    The good that Sir John A MacDonald did, should not be hidden from history...but neither should the his bad decisions.

    As a veteran of more than two decades of service to our country, both domestically and internationally, I've seen first hand how dangerous it is to erase or hide history...and I've seen the growing disrespect for our own war memorials, by people who have no respect for our past (good and bad).

    It is our duty to ensure that future generations can learn about our history (both good and bad). Most people don't go to museums, and to hide this monument in a museum, would effectively erase the ability of future generations to learn in a fully public setting...instead, this monument should be displayed in a very public space, side by side, with a monument for residential schools. These monuments should have protective fencing around them (to prevent vandalism)...outside the fencing (so the public can read it) there should be an abridged summary of his good and bad deeds, so that future generations can learn!

    The ancient Egyptians quite frequently erased people and their achievements from history...and now those things are lost forever...and most recently, Isis has actively worked to destroy history in the middle east...history that I've personally seen, while overseas on deployment...that history is now gone, forever!

    History must be presented equally, and not hidden away, or erased...it is not our right to erase or hide history, because we don't like it!

    This is just my opinion, and you are all free to like or dislike it as you please.

  • Bizzare Method of Assessment

    by Allison, over 5 years ago
    This is a bizzare way to publicly discuss this issue, as I have the impression that the type of audience that would typically post on a City of Regina page would be predominantly older and of European descent. And its showing up in the comments too, with a lot of "oops SJAM did a genocide but also Canada, and I value Canada more than indigenous people". It's not acceptable to give that opinion the same weight as those who say "SJAM's legacy and presence actively hurts me and mine". The lack of the statue downtown won't hurt anyone, and will... Continue reading
    This is a bizzare way to publicly discuss this issue, as I have the impression that the type of audience that would typically post on a City of Regina page would be predominantly older and of European descent. And its showing up in the comments too, with a lot of "oops SJAM did a genocide but also Canada, and I value Canada more than indigenous people". It's not acceptable to give that opinion the same weight as those who say "SJAM's legacy and presence actively hurts me and mine". The lack of the statue downtown won't hurt anyone, and will help some, and that's enough reason for me to want it gone elsewhere. There are many other colonial museums and places in Regina for that statue that aren't right in a public park downtown.

  • Sir John A and Tommy Douglas

    by schrjt, over 5 years ago

    Within our woke society, if we are to remove Sir John A. Macdonald we must remove any edifice concerning Tommy Douglas.

    Tommy Douglas supported eugenics and traveled to Nazi Germany in 1936 seeking additional “socialistic” knowledge because he supported much of Hitler’s socialist policies. Douglas’s thesis, entitled The Problems of the Subnormal Family, embraced eugenics along with forced sterilization and segregation for people of “sub-normal” intelligence and morality. Tommy Douglas proposed a system requiring couples seeking to marry to be certified as mentally and morally fit. Those deemed “subnormal” because of low intelligence, moral laxity or venereal disease would surrender... Continue reading

    Within our woke society, if we are to remove Sir John A. Macdonald we must remove any edifice concerning Tommy Douglas.

    Tommy Douglas supported eugenics and traveled to Nazi Germany in 1936 seeking additional “socialistic” knowledge because he supported much of Hitler’s socialist policies. Douglas’s thesis, entitled The Problems of the Subnormal Family, embraced eugenics along with forced sterilization and segregation for people of “sub-normal” intelligence and morality. Tommy Douglas proposed a system requiring couples seeking to marry to be certified as mentally and morally fit. Those deemed “subnormal” because of low intelligence, moral laxity or venereal disease would surrender to state farms or camps while those judged mentally defective or incurably diseased would be sterilized. And we call Tommy Douglas the “Father of Health care”.

  • Keep the Statue

    by Lynn, over 5 years ago
    Sir John A MacDonald is a very important part of our history. He did many things that we are proud of and some that we are not. We cannot change our history, but we can learn from the past.


    His statue should be taken out of storage and if it cannot be put back in its original place, it should be put in a place where people can see it and acknowledge it.


    Sir John A MacDonald is a very important part of our history. He did many things that we are proud of and some that we are not. We cannot change our history, but we can learn from the past.


    His statue should be taken out of storage and if it cannot be put back in its original place, it should be put in a place where people can see it and acknowledge it.


  • There is no place for that statue in our city

    by Amy, over 5 years ago
    As a non-Indigenous Canadian, I share the belief that there is no place for the statue of John A. MacDonald in Victoria Park, or in our city. I can appreciate that he was a founder of this country, but the heft of his legacy -- and this country's -- is colonialism. I am done hearing the tired arguments about this being "our history" and the "past is the past." Shamefully, colonialism is not in the past for the Indigenous peoples on this land: it is their present reality. We are so far from being where we need to be in... Continue reading
    As a non-Indigenous Canadian, I share the belief that there is no place for the statue of John A. MacDonald in Victoria Park, or in our city. I can appreciate that he was a founder of this country, but the heft of his legacy -- and this country's -- is colonialism. I am done hearing the tired arguments about this being "our history" and the "past is the past." Shamefully, colonialism is not in the past for the Indigenous peoples on this land: it is their present reality. We are so far from being where we need to be in this regard. As such, I see no need to continue to highlight the painful actions of this man, no matter how "important" he is to the founding of this country. We cannot except the horrible things he has done from his legacy in order to uphold some narrative about the greatness of our country. Grappling with this legacy and making meaningful change begins with listening to our Indigenous peoples of this land and showing them this first and most basic respect.

  • Equality

    by Reflection, over 5 years ago
    In my opinion Sir John A McDonald did more for Canada than Louis Riel. Why do we have to hide the statue and at the same time have to drive on a Highway named after Riel.
    In my opinion Sir John A McDonald did more for Canada than Louis Riel. Why do we have to hide the statue and at the same time have to drive on a Highway named after Riel.

  • Genocide

    by Downtoearth, over 5 years ago
    If we wouldn’t have a statue of Adolph Hitler, why have another leader who practiced genocide. Take down Mcdonald’s statue.
    If we wouldn’t have a statue of Adolph Hitler, why have another leader who practiced genocide. Take down Mcdonald’s statue.

  • Who among us is perfect?

    by Maple Leaf Eh, over 5 years ago

    I lived in Regina in the 90s, and left when my job was moved. I still have ties in the community.

    Popular historical reinterpretations of controversial figures is a dangerous argument. There is no single perfect person, and it is easy to find fault with anyone who rises to authority. I cannot accept revision of Macdonald's contributions without sincerely weighing the essential good he did.

    Canada's first prime minister was a flawed human. He would not have survived the political scrutiny we put on our leaders today, and likely would not have even been allowed to run. In the mid-1860s... Continue reading

    I lived in Regina in the 90s, and left when my job was moved. I still have ties in the community.

    Popular historical reinterpretations of controversial figures is a dangerous argument. There is no single perfect person, and it is easy to find fault with anyone who rises to authority. I cannot accept revision of Macdonald's contributions without sincerely weighing the essential good he did.

    Canada's first prime minister was a flawed human. He would not have survived the political scrutiny we put on our leaders today, and likely would not have even been allowed to run. In the mid-1860s what became Canada was widely scattered and mostly disinterested in cooperating with each other. Macdonald watched as the American Civil War destroyed that nation, and was horrified in 1866 when discharged Irish war veterans looked northward with the intentions of holding Canada hostage until Britain got out of Ireland. They attacked Canada once in 1866 and again in 1870. The reluctant provinces agreed to Confederation. Without Macdonald, there would be no Canada.

  • Live in Harmony

    by Debbie, over 5 years ago
    The statue of J.A.M. Cannot remain as it was if we are serious about working towards reconciliation. From reading some of the stories, it is clear we still have a long way to go. As an Indigenous person, I am not looking to erase or rewrite history as so many have claimed is the purpose behind removal of the statue. I do however, want to see a true representation of the man and history - and I don’t want to see it in Victoria Park. It could be where someone is intentionally looking for it - such as a museum... Continue reading
    The statue of J.A.M. Cannot remain as it was if we are serious about working towards reconciliation. From reading some of the stories, it is clear we still have a long way to go. As an Indigenous person, I am not looking to erase or rewrite history as so many have claimed is the purpose behind removal of the statue. I do however, want to see a true representation of the man and history - and I don’t want to see it in Victoria Park. It could be where someone is intentionally looking for it - such as a museum, not causing pain because someone has to walk by it if they unknowingly choose a route where it is displayed. The whole story is important. We must also be clear that we are not attempting to erase or rewrite history, we are simply clarifying what should have been done long ago. It is just as important to ensure we have statues of indigenous leaders both Métis and First Nations that helped the settlers so that they could survive here they wouldn’t have done well without this freely given help. Indigenous peoples welcomed settlers as brothers. There was never an intent for a parent child relationship, but this was the path the settlers chose. Indigenous peoples had lived here for thousands of years, so clearly they were able to survive and thrive. This was not done in a European fashion, not because they couldn’t but because that was the lifestyle they chose. It was not what the settlers had in mind - but it does not mean the settlers way was better. J.A.M. Didn’t try to ensure equality, or build the country by himself - let’s not give him more credit than he deserves.