Orillia City Council came to a verdict on its controversial Samuel de Champlain monument in Monday’s meeting, voting against the return of the polarizing statue to its Couchiching Beach Park site, even with proposed modifications. It last stood in 2017, when it was removed for restoration, but it has remained absent due to the controversy that surrounds the historic French explorer. Prior to council’s decision, they heard deputations that reiterated those concerns and opposed the $950,000 cost to restore and reinstall the monument. “I would not want to be a councillor who votes yay of erecting a monument of a person who would try to purchase a 12-year-old,” said Joel Lees, Orillia resident, in his deputation. Others highlighted the monument’s economic potential and how it could present an opportunity to learn from Champlain’s impact on Orillia and nearby Rama First Nation. “Moving forward allows the monument to serve as a placemarker for dialogue, positioning Orillia as a leader for truth and reconciliation engagement,” said Allan Lafontaine, Orillia District Chamber of Commerce executive director. “This will be a visual metaphor that respects and honours, in the best way we thought possible, the original nations on which the territory, the city exists,” added Guy Freedman from First Peoples Group, which Mayor McIsaac and council had consulted with. Mayor McIsaac repeated his support of the motion. “Reconciliation cannot be compelled,” said McIsaac in his remarks. “It must be invited. It must be earned. And it must be patient.” Council’s ensuing discussion at times got heated and personal. Mayor McIsaac reaffirmed in council and to CTV News that the working group he led consulted with Chief Ted Williams from Rama First Nation, and that Chief Williams had chosen to not participate in the voting process. “I wrote to Chief Williams, and I respectfully said, ‘hey, we know you don’t want to be involved and you’ve chosen not to, but I just want you to affirm your position,’” recalled Mayor McIsaac, in his interview with CTV News. “He was very gracious. He wrote back and said we affirm our position.” In a statement to CTV News, Chief Williams said in part: “Rama First Nation will not participate in any new working groups related to the Samuel de Champlain Monument. Our community has experienced significant harm, racism and division throughout this process, and we are not prepared to relive those impacts.” The monument is currently being kept in Etobicoke and McIsaac says the city’s focus will shift to figuring out its long-term storage plans. The timeframe for when those decisions will be made remains to be determined.
