Wilmot council passes motion to find options for statues of Prime Ministers Path

Wilmot Township council has passed a motion to determine a permanent plan for the controversial Prime Ministers Path.

The motion, brought forward by Ward 2 Councillor Kris Wilkinson, calls for staff to come up with options on how to proceed with the statues, including a potential referendum. The motion also asks staff to show what actions have been taken since the statues were taken down almost three years ago.

“The spirit of this is that I am asking for information and options on how we can move forward,” said Wilkinson. “Once we have that information, I want to hear from citizens on how they think we should move forward (…) and the options presented to us.”

The statues were removed in July 2021 following a report from First Peoples Group, an outside consultant group hired by the township to study the project. The report called for the removal of the statues, the discontinuation of the project and the establishment of a working group.

In the summer of 2020, red paint was thrown on the statue of Sir John A. MacDonald for his involvement with the residential school system. His statue was taken down shortly after.

Ward 4 Councillor Lillianne Dunstall said residents in New Hamburg felt unheard and excluded on the previous council’s decision to remove the statues.

“I look forward to receiving options on ways to proceed with a permanent plan for the statues that engaged a complete cross section of our community,” said Dunstall.

Residents in Wilmot voted in a new council during the 2022 municipal election.

The Prime Ministers Path was first introduced in 2016 to have statues on the path behind Castle Kilbride in Baden. The five statues included former Prime Minsters Sir John A. MacDonald, Sir Robert Borden, Kim Campbell, William Lyon Mackenzie King, and Lester Pearson.

Staff will report back to council on Feb. 26.