Statue of Edward Cornwallis
| Statue of Edward Cornwallis | |
|---|---|
| Canada | |
 |
|
| For an assertion and a resounding expression of imperial triumph | |
| Unveiled | June 22, 1931 |
| Location | Cornwallis Square near Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Designed by | J. Massey Rhind |
The Statue of Edward Cornwallis is a statue of the military political figure Edward Cornwallis in Cornwallis Square, Halifax, Nova Scotia, opposite the Canadian National Railway station. The statue was made by J. Massey Rhind and unveiled on June 22, 1931, on the 182nd anniversary of Cornwallis' arrival to Halifax as Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia. The statue commemorates the various accomplishments Cornwallis contributed to Nova Scotia.
Since the 1980s, the existence of a statue of Cornwallis in a public space in Halifax has generated significant controversy. Historian John G. Reid writes that the conflicting viewpoints centred on the issue of historical memory, that is, "how the past should be publicly remembered." There have been recent proposals to remove the statue from the park and the City of Halifax is studying the issue.
The commemoration of Cornwallis statue was related to his accomplishments while in Nova Scotia. He founded Halifax, established the first school and orphanage in the colony, created courts to uphold the rule of law. He maintained the British tradition of separating church and state and he protected the local British migrants from Mi'kmaw raids. Along with the treaties of 1749, Cornwallis also created the Treaty of 1752 to end the long-standing warfare with the Mi'kmaq.
Historian John G. Reid asserts that the statue also reflects the imperialist, colonial times of its creators in the early part of the twentieth century. Reid writes that the creation of the statue "was governed not by history but by a potent mixture of imperialism, a racially-charged triumphalism based on the savagery-civilization binary, state promotion, and an economic agenda." He writes further, "The ideology that had underpinned the raising of the statue had offered a strong and positive answer to any such concerns [of imperialist conquest]- the establishment of Halifax was a triumph of civilization over savagery, and Cornwallis was the city's courageous founder" During one of the speeches at the unveiling of the statue, Cornwallis was described as "a virile, strong, stand fast face with a touch of sternness in it which is usually to be found in the faces of all men who achieve - all leaders of men and all pioneers." The Mi'kmaq militia had effectively executed armed resistance throughout Father Le Loutre's War, preventing the British from establishing a stronghold in Mi'kma'ki. The speeches at the unveiling of the Cornwallis statue played down the effective Mi'kmaq armed resistance, simply giving passing reference to the Mi'kmaq being obstacles to settlement.
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