In the latter half of April, I stopped by at the grounds of the Garden Of The Provinces and Territories, which lies across from the headquarters of Library and Archives Canada. A new monument stands here. It is a monument with a long, tumultuous, and controversial history.
It is the Memorial To The Victims Of Communism: Canada- A Land Of Refuge. Dedicated last year, it started out as a concept under a Conservative government, to be placed close to the Supreme Court as a proverbial finger in the eye to the Court by Stephen Harper, the prime minister at the time, who had a grudge against the Court, among many other grudges. The original concept was a monstrosity of Stalinesque proportions that was put to an end towards the end of that government, and the concept was scaled down and entirely redesigned, and its place was moved to where it had originally been intended for- this spot.
Governments change, and a new Liberal administration approved the changes. Covid got in the way of its completion, as well as another controversy. It was found that some of the names intended to be on the central block had in fact been Nazis back in the day (this is what you get when you erect a memorial of this nature- some of them are going to be the very fascists who fought against the Soviet Union back in World War Two), and so the monument has no names on this block. The two sections of curving metal feature a series of bronze rods that span from downward to upward, and each day of the year is inscribed at the base.
From the photographer's point of view, it's photogenic. This was my second time up close to the Memorial, after the site had been fenced off during construction for years.
History can be complicated sometimes.
ReplyDeleteVery much so.
DeleteIt is a photographically interesting and challenging monument.
ReplyDeleteThat it is.
DeleteTypical Harper overkill and false equivalency. He would have been better to erect monuments, and effect real reparations, to the victims of residential schools and focus more resources and attention on the plight of missing and murdered indigenous women, some of who were callously tossed into a garbage dump. We don’t need to look at other political systems to find our villains. We need only look in the mirror.
ReplyDeleteThat's a monument that should be built. And he was a despicable man.
Delete...Ottawa has a wonderful collection of memorials.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely.
DeleteA complex and evolving monument, the Memorial to the Victims of Communism reflects both political shifts and historical sensitivities—its final form more restrained and reflective, shaped by controversy and the passage of time.
ReplyDeleteI do like it, from a photographer's view.
DeleteIt is an interesting looking monument. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteInteresting back story of the monument.
ReplyDeleteIt's complex!
DeleteImpressive sculpture.
ReplyDeleteThat it is.
DeleteI had totally forgotten that this monument was to be built. It is good that the changes were made.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteWhat's wrong with little political controversy! I like the monument with it's curving pattern as it passes through the years.
ReplyDeleteI do too. The redesign works.
DeleteI remember when they had that controversy and the one with the man who was honored with an award who was later found to have been a proud Nazi at one time. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteIt's is dismaying.
DeleteI like the two sculptural shapes, but the black marble with 4 panels mostly empty is really kind of strange.
ReplyDeleteThey could go with historical panels.
DeleteAwesome photos of the photogenic monument ~ wonderful post ~ thanks,
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores ~ clm
aka (A Creative Harbor)
You're welcome
DeleteImpressive monument with an interesting backstory.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteI echo Bill's comment. Thanks for sharing, William.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
Delete