On today’s date in 1953, a statue of former prime minister Wilfrid Laurier was unveiled in Montréal’s Dorchester Square (then known as Dominion Square).
Built by Canadian sculptor Joseph-Émile Brunet on the southern side of Dominion Square – facing the United States – the bronze and granite monument depicts Laurier standing beneath a granite relief of the provinces. A bas-relief of both a man and woman sharing the harvest is also shown.
A CELEBRATED CANADIAN
Laurier, who was Canada’s seventh prime minister, serving from 1896-1911, has been featured on several of the country’s banknotes since his death.
Most recently, he was depicted on the $5 note of the “Frontier” series. Entering circulation on Nov. 3, 2013, this $5 bill was not the first to don Laurier’s image.
Laurier was shown on several other banknotes issued by the Bank of Canada, including the $1,000 note of the 1935 Series and 1937 Series plus the $5 note of the 1972 “Scenes of Canada” series (including the 1979 update).
He also graced the 1986 “Birds of Canada” series; the 2002 “Canadian Journey” series (the series that brought us “Spocking Fives”); and the 2013 “Frontier” series.