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.

  • You cant erase history

    by McDonald, over 5 years ago
    Right or wrong, the past is the past. You cant cancel history. Learn from the past and move forward and improve. Cancel culture is bullshit and the fact you take down a statue doesnt mean it didnt happen. wake up Regina
    Right or wrong, the past is the past. You cant cancel history. Learn from the past and move forward and improve. Cancel culture is bullshit and the fact you take down a statue doesnt mean it didnt happen. wake up Regina

  • John A Macdonald was not even Prime Minister when Saskatchewan join Federation

    by hkk, over 5 years ago

    Wilfrid Laurier was Prime Minister when Saskatchewan joined federation in 1905. You can argue he helped spur the railway across Canada but you have to acknowledge to build that railway they kicked off people from their lands, particularly in Saskatchewan.

    Wilfrid Laurier was Prime Minister when Saskatchewan joined federation in 1905. You can argue he helped spur the railway across Canada but you have to acknowledge to build that railway they kicked off people from their lands, particularly in Saskatchewan.

  • Canada and its History

    by SS, over 5 years ago
    It saddens me to see how our people have become complacent. We do have history and SJAM is part of that. If the City thinks the statue needs to be moved, perhaps the legislative grounds would be the best home. I don't think nasty plaques need to accompany it. SJAM did what he thought was best at that time in history. We must learn from our history and never forget it, because when you forget, is when it comes back to bite you! Therefore all our people no matter what color or religion needs to start working together for a... Continue reading
    It saddens me to see how our people have become complacent. We do have history and SJAM is part of that. If the City thinks the statue needs to be moved, perhaps the legislative grounds would be the best home. I don't think nasty plaques need to accompany it. SJAM did what he thought was best at that time in history. We must learn from our history and never forget it, because when you forget, is when it comes back to bite you! Therefore all our people no matter what color or religion needs to start working together for a better Canada. It seems today its the squeaky wheel that gets the grease but know one is trying to work together.

  • Being better than our past.

    by Dave Clampitt, over 5 years ago
    Asking to take down the statue is not the same as burying our past or hiding our ancestors transgressions. We must learn to be and do better than those who came before us. To do that we must study our history to learn what was good and right, but also where those that came before made mistakes.


    Moving the John A. MacDonald statue from a park downtown does not indicate that we are denying our past. It shows that we've seen the mistakes made and are willing to accept them and acknowledge that we are capable of being better. There... Continue reading

    Asking to take down the statue is not the same as burying our past or hiding our ancestors transgressions. We must learn to be and do better than those who came before us. To do that we must study our history to learn what was good and right, but also where those that came before made mistakes.


    Moving the John A. MacDonald statue from a park downtown does not indicate that we are denying our past. It shows that we've seen the mistakes made and are willing to accept them and acknowledge that we are capable of being better. There is no reason to have a daily reminder to a large group of our citizens of abuses endured by their ancestors.


    We cannot ignore the fact that we have fought for the freedom of all who live in this country and so we must strive to do better for everyone. Moving the statue to a museum alongside other artifacts of our history is the most appropriate place for this monument. There needs to be context given to the statue while our children learn about the history that it represents, just like artifacts of other genocidal leaders. We have a responsibility to all who will be here after us, that we preserve and appropriately give context to the artifacts of our past. Context is what will help them learn to be and do better.


    There will come a time when our actions will be scrutinized as heavily as we are scrutinizing our ancestors. We cannot hope to be completely infallible, but as a society we must strive to acknowledge the places that we can be better now. The moving of the John A. MacDonald statue is one of those places. By giving the statue a home where it is not front and center in our lives but is somewhere we can learn within context and proper understanding is better for all of us. We can be better than our past.

  • Do not glorify genocide

    by Anthony, over 5 years ago

    Statues in public places are meant to glorify persons, not to acknowledge history. If such person's ideas and acts cause so much resentment in a significant part of a society (like this case), it should be kept in a museum or history books only. Keeping this statue it will only cause more social division and resentment.

    Statues in public places are meant to glorify persons, not to acknowledge history. If such person's ideas and acts cause so much resentment in a significant part of a society (like this case), it should be kept in a museum or history books only. Keeping this statue it will only cause more social division and resentment.

  • Living in the past!

    by Dotty, over 5 years ago

    We all make mistakes,we are human; I believe SJ did what he thought was right at that time in Canada. I believe it is unhealthy to live in the past . Removing a statue does nothing to change the past. We all need to move forward collectively, no matter what colour you are. We all need to become respectful of one another and this starts at home!

    We all make mistakes,we are human; I believe SJ did what he thought was right at that time in Canada. I believe it is unhealthy to live in the past . Removing a statue does nothing to change the past. We all need to move forward collectively, no matter what colour you are. We all need to become respectful of one another and this starts at home!

  • We can not rewrite history

    by Trex, over 5 years ago
    History is full of both good and bad decisions but that does not mean that we can alter those decisions from long ago. He was our first prime minister and because of him and his colleagues visions, we are living in the best country in the world. He had his flaws but then again, we all do! Please don’t mothball is great statue which represents what we have become, we have learned from past mistakes but that does not give us the right to obliterate or past.
    History is full of both good and bad decisions but that does not mean that we can alter those decisions from long ago. He was our first prime minister and because of him and his colleagues visions, we are living in the best country in the world. He had his flaws but then again, we all do! Please don’t mothball is great statue which represents what we have become, we have learned from past mistakes but that does not give us the right to obliterate or past.

  • Education, not vilification

    by Bob R, over 5 years ago

    Rather than laying the blame for the damage to Indigenous peoples solely on individuals such as MacDonald, Dewdney and Davin, due to them being evil, it would be better to provide information on what were the commonly held views of the times that caused so much damage. For instance, from my reading of the historical section of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it appears Davin had good intentions when he recommended setting up boarding schools. It was ignorance on his part, and societies', rather than bad intentions, along with government underfunding, that led to such a... Continue reading

    Rather than laying the blame for the damage to Indigenous peoples solely on individuals such as MacDonald, Dewdney and Davin, due to them being evil, it would be better to provide information on what were the commonly held views of the times that caused so much damage. For instance, from my reading of the historical section of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it appears Davin had good intentions when he recommended setting up boarding schools. It was ignorance on his part, and societies', rather than bad intentions, along with government underfunding, that led to such a bad result. Rather than blaming the problems on specific individuals, it would be better to provide information on the commonly held racist views of the times.

  • Leave it for both !!

    by A Proud Canadian !!, over 5 years ago
    Leave the statue as it is so that people who believed in him , can share his legacy with their upcoming generations and people who think he was a dark mark on canada’s great history can make their future generations learn about the past.

    You can remove his statue from the park but not from the history of Canada. I am from India and every year we celebrate Diwali in which we remember both the good and the evil , good inspires us to do better and bad motivates us to be kind to everyone otherwise you will also be... Continue reading

    Leave the statue as it is so that people who believed in him , can share his legacy with their upcoming generations and people who think he was a dark mark on canada’s great history can make their future generations learn about the past.

    You can remove his statue from the park but not from the history of Canada. I am from India and every year we celebrate Diwali in which we remember both the good and the evil , good inspires us to do better and bad motivates us to be kind to everyone otherwise you will also be a part of the history but for a different reason. Our first prime minister did so many wrong decisions and conspiracies but we still have streets statues institutions under his name , coz everyone has a different opinion and we should respect everyone’s belief.

  • turf it

    by Silas Dogood, over 5 years ago

    I am not Indigenous he never set foot in the city and his National Policy basically left us with a resource extraction dependent economy we still can not get out from under 150 years latter , he was also an alcoholic who criminalized abortion and homosexuality . He imposed the chines head tax and also did not want chines immigrants to be able to vote .
    we should have statues of people who at least set foot in Regina on Regina public lands !

    I am not Indigenous he never set foot in the city and his National Policy basically left us with a resource extraction dependent economy we still can not get out from under 150 years latter , he was also an alcoholic who criminalized abortion and homosexuality . He imposed the chines head tax and also did not want chines immigrants to be able to vote .
    we should have statues of people who at least set foot in Regina on Regina public lands !