The City of Kitchener wants community input on the choice on what should be done with the Queen Victoria statue that is placed in Victoria Park.
A variety of community participation activities, according to the city, will be held to enable the exploration of “various perspectives and possibilities relating to the statue’s destiny.”
Input from members of the Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities will be given preference over that of other groups, according to Kitchener.
The city claims to have recruited Jay Pitter Placemaking, a business that reduces “increasing socio-spatial disparities across several North American cities,” to assist with the effort.
Events such as an Instagram live session moderated by Jay Patter, a witnessing circle at the Kitchener Market, a discussion of placemaking alternatives, as well as a closing circle and evaluation, are slated to stimulate debate.
The city was contacted by Global News to inquire about the program’s cost, but no comment was given.
The statue, which received its initial dedication in 1911, has been painted red numerous times over the previous few years.
According to a city staff assessment, Kitchener has spent $60,000 over the previous 10 years preserving and repairing the artwork, and cleaning the statue has cost $5,000 each time.
The staff’s request to conduct a study on the controversial Queen Victoria statue in Victoria Park was approved by city council in June.
Kitchener seeks opinions from locals on the fate of the Queen Victoria statue
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