Dozens of memorial plaques and medallions around Saint John were damaged or stolen last summer, and restoring them could cost north of $31,000, according to a council report. Last June, bronze plaques were stolen from three monuments in King’s Square: the Cenotaph (commemorating Canadians who served and died in the First World War and subsequent conflicts), a statue of Samuel Tilley (a Father of Confederation) and a statue of Charles Gorman (New Brunswick’s first Winter Olympian). Saint John staff launched an investigation and filed a police report after learning about the damage to the monuments, according to the report. They then identified 25 additional missing or damaged plaques and medallions across the city, including Queen Square South, Harbour Passage and the Loyalist Burial Grounds. “The missing plaques and medallions represent more than a physical maintenance concern,” the report reads. “They provide historical, commemorative, and interpretive information that helps residents and visitors understand the people, events, and stories associated with these locations and pieces. “Restoring these assets requires consideration of both their physical condition and the continued preservation of this information.” Staff consulted with other Canadian municipalities and found many of them are replacing bronze and brass plaques with alternative materials like etched granite or tooled aluminum in response to theft or vandalism. Replacing all 28 affected plaques or medallions with bronze would cost $55,155 while using etched granite or tooled aluminum will cost $31,204, according to the report. “The objective is to move away from bronze and brass where practical while ensuring that replacements are durable, compatible with existing structures, visually appropriate, and capable of preserving the historical or interpretive information associated with each asset,” the report reads. Staff noted replacing the bronze plaques on the Cenotaph with etched granite would cost roughly $6,983. That project was given priority due to the incoming Remembrance Day. At a council meeting on Monday, Coun. David Merrithew said the Cenotaph had been restored and complimented staff for their work. Restoration work on the other plaques and medallions is expected to continue into next year. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
