Dominion Square, now Dorchester Square, holds a monument frozen in time. The Guerre des Boers statue, unveiled in 1907, captures a Strathcona Horse scout, his bronze figure larger than life. He stands beside his rearing horse, reins in hand, atop a granite pedestal designed by Edward and William S. Maxwell. The Guerre des Boers statue isn’t just a monument; it’s a snapshot of a complex historical moment. It commemorates Canadian involvement in the Boer War, a conflict viewed with mixed emotions in Quebec. The statue faces north, a silent nod to the Mount Royal Cross, once visible from the square. The granite base of the Guerre des Boers statue is etched with inscriptions. One side honours Lord Strathcona’s contribution in raising the Strathcona Horse regiment. The other commemorates the Canadians who fought and died in the war. Bronze reliefs around the base depict key battles: Paardeberg, where Boers surrendered to Canadian infantry, and Komati River, where Canadian artillery captured enemy rifles. The names of regiments involved – Royal Canadian Artillery, Canadian Montreal Rifles, Royal Canadian Infantry, and Strathcona Horse – are also inscribed, a testament to their service. The Guerre des Boers statue offers a glimpse into a bygone era, a time of imperial tensions and emerging Canadian identity. The statue, with its English-only inscriptions, remains a poignant reminder of a past that continues to shape our present.
Parc Dickie-Moore
Who needs a time machine when you’ve got Parc Dickie-Moore? This little slice of Parc-Extension holds a century of Montreal