The toppled statue of a historic Acadian figure in New Brunswick is gone, at least for now. The statue of Father Camille Lefebvre located at the former Memramcook Institute on Centrale Street was torn down last week. According to the Sackville RCMP, the incident took place between 7:35 p.m. on Aug. 25 and 8:10 a.m. on Aug. 26. Police say someone pushed the monument off its base and they continue to look for a suspect or suspects. Village of Memramcook spokesperson Xavier Lord-Giroux said the statue was taken by its owner, Heritage Developments, Wednesday evening, the same day it was discovered toppled. “Heritage Developments is keeping us updated, but no date has been targeted to put the statue back up. Repairs and maintenance are the priority,” said Lord-Giroux in an email. Lord-Giroux said the frame of Père Lefebvre’s glasses were broken during the fall and will need to be repaired. Lefebvre founded the former Catholic Acadian University of St. Joseph’s College in the Village of Memramcook and he is revered in the Acadian community. Lord-Giroux said the municipality has noticed many residents have visited the site since the incident. “There is a renewed interest in Père Lefebvre’s legacy in our community as a result of the vandal attack. Some people left flowers on the base that usually holds the statue,” he said. The RCMP continue to investigate. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
