A bronze statue of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II holding maple leaves to represent the Canadian provinces and territories has been unveiled at Queen’s Park.
Depicting the monarch in 1977 on the throne in the Canadian Senate where she delivered a speech on Canadian unity, the statue was designed and hand-sculpted by noted Canadian sculptor and artist Ruth Abernethy and cast by Mississauga art foundry MST Bronze Limited.
“For 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II put service before self and was a constant presence that people around the world looked to for comfort and strength,” said Premier Doug Ford. “This statue stands not only as a tribute to the late Queen and her many contributions to Canada and Ontario, but as an enduring symbol of our traditions, values and democracy.”
Located next to the Visitors’ entrance at the Legislative Building at Queen’s Park, the statue is an important contribution to Ontario’s history and heritage, the province said in a news release.
“I hope this statue will encourage everyone who passes by to think about Her Late Majesty’s remarkable life of service, and about how the values she upheld can help us bring forth the future we wish to see,” added Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell.
The statue which has been years in the making was first commissioned in 2016 by a group of private volunteers after receiving approval from Her Late Majesty to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Sapphire Jubilee and the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
